Le Théâtre Royal de Toone

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

The origin of the puppet theater goes back up to the Spanish period, during the reign of Philippe II. In the cellars of the Marolles, the Brusselses replaced the comedians by wooden puppets, 'poechenelles'. This kind of theatre allowed the illiterate people to remain in a state of revolt during the Spanish period.

Toone generations

The theatre of Toone began in 1830, with Antoine Genty, Toone I, who settled down in the Marolles with his puppets. Toone VI, sick and old, decided in 1963 to close the doors of the last theater of traditional puppets of Brussels. Furthermore, cinema and television replaced the amusement and education brought by the puppet theater.

Fortunately, in 1966, the Theatre Toone began a new life by Toone VII. The puppet theater settled down in a house dating from 1696 in the old city centre. The building is acquired and renewed by the City of Brussels in the course of the 70s. In 1997, the house was finally classified.

The Theatre of Toone and the City of Brussels

The City of Brussels saved the theatre from permanent closure. The restoration of the theatre allowed Toone to immortalize the tradition of the puppet theater. Toone VII wants to reproduce the popular tradition of former days, but always in touch with current reality. It does not hesitate to launch new creations or to realize personal adaptations of big classics.

Toone changed into a real professional company. The traditional techniques of puppets are maintained, as well as the Brussels dialect. The Theatre Toone also presents shows in Dutch, German, English, Italian and Spanish. The building also contains a cafe and a puppet museum.

ON THE AGENDA : Exhibition. The painters of the Brussels puppets and the treasures of the library of Toone

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. The 3 Musketeers

ON THE AGENDA : Theatre. Guillaume Tell