Royal Toone Theatre, puppetry company from Brussels
The Royal Toone Theatre is a small traditional puppet stage in Brussels operating since around 1830 in a building from the late 1600s. The hall contains wooden benches, colorful decorations, and a working area where puppeteers craft and perform with their figures.
Puppet entertainment began secretly in Brussels in the 16th century as authorities banned public theatre gatherings. Antoine Genty, known as Toone, founded the present theatre around 1830 and the tradition has passed from generation to generation since then.
The theatre carries the name of a legendary puppeteer in Brussels tradition. Performances happen in multiple languages, showing how the city keeps its local art alive for visitors from around the world.
The theatre is located near the old town, easily accessible on foot, with a bar on the ground floor for relaxing before or after shows. Performances last about one hour and occur in multiple languages, so booking ahead is recommended.
The puppet figures weigh around 8 kilograms and require careful handcrafting of costumes and carved faces by multiple artisans. The current puppeteer was formally enthroned as Toone VIII by the Brussels mayor in 2003, officially recognizing a centuries-old craft dynasty.
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