Guignol de Paname

Guignol de Paname brings a storied French tradition to the Parc de Choisy. This theater serves as a permanent home for performances featuring Guignol, a puppet character originally created in the early nineteenth century by a struggling silk weaver named Laurent Mourguet. Mourguet initially developed the character to entertain patients while working as an itinerant tooth extractor, using the puppets to distract people from the pain of his procedures. Over time, the character evolved from a local medical distraction into a cultural icon representing the common person. The plays at this site continue the tradition of interactive puppet shows where the audience is encouraged to shout warnings and offer advice to the characters on stage during their adventures.