Located in the Plainpalais district, the Théâtre de Marionnettes de Genève (TMG) has a rich history dating back to the 1940s, establishing itself as one of the rare European theaters exclusively dedicated to puppetry. TMG presents captivating performances tailored for audiences ranging from 2 years old to adulthood. Offering approximately 14 shows annually, the theater also hosts workshops, further enhancing its mission to promote the appreciation and exploration of puppetry as a captivating form of artistic expression.
Directed by Isabelle Matter, La chance follows Sacha on a poetic quest to rid herself of bad luck. Drawing on the little-known tale Celui qui n’avait jamais de chance, the staging blends bunraku-style puppetry, inventive lighting and an electro-acoustic score to create an enchanted, slightly mischievous atmosphere. The intimate ensemble uses physical theatre and subtle sound design to explore chance as perception rather than fate, inviting children and adults into a sensitive, imaginative fable about noticing the small fortunes around us.
In French.
Ultra Saucisse is a bold puppet-theatre piece by Delphine Bouvier and Fanny Brunet that follows Charlie, an eight-year-old chipolata caught in the vicious cycle of school bullying. Performed with live table puppetry and music, the duo manipulates a menagerie of sausage marionettes to balance humour and gravity. The staging features scenography and object work by Fredy Porras, lighting by Claire Firmann, costumes by Irène Schlatter and an original song by Emmanuel Villié, offering a poetic, empowering experience for young audiences.
In French.
Directed and performed by marionnettist Estelle Charlier with musician Martin Kaspar Orkestar, La Manékine is a dark, initiatory tale about a young woman sold to the devil who survives through purity but loses her hands. The staging blends live music, gaine and wearable puppets, masks and a chimera-like film projected behind the performers. The piece probes female emancipation, bodily reclamation and the invention of destiny with chiaroscuro intimacy and hope.
In French.
Bord de plateau sessions invite the audience into the creative backstage of La Manékine. The artistic team discusses staging choices, puppet-making techniques, lighting and sound decisions, and the dramaturgical intentions behind the performance. Expect an intimate, reflective conversation that reveals technical challenges and creative risks, and highlights the collaborative work of performers and designers. Accessible to families and young audiences from nine years old.
In French. Talk with the artistic team of La Manékine
Step into a gentle, bucolic world centered on a single majestic tree that becomes both set and first character. Two strangers wander beneath its branches without ever meeting, while playful puppet animals pop out to spark curiosity and wonder. The tender, poetic performance invites quiet contemplation and gentle interaction, offering adults a fresh perspective. After the show, the set becomes a 25-minute discovery space for little ones to explore and share stories.
In French. Kids ages 9 months to 3 years.
Ne m’attends pas… is a poetic puppet theatre piece by the French company La neige sur les cils, conceived and performed by Vera Rozanova. Using glove puppets, shadow theatre and video, and a stage apparatus inspired by Calder mobiles, the show stages delicate balances of movement and form. It follows a man who searches for his drifting home and, through encounters, explores exile, resilience and cultural between-ness, suggesting that unknown words can be understood by the heart.
In French.
Culture, curated weekly.
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