The Royal Theatre Toone (french: Théâtre royal de Toone, nl, Koninklijk Poppentheater Toone), often simply referred to as Toone, is a folkloric theatre of
marionette
A marionette (; french: marionnette, ) is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a marionettist. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden or reveale ...
s in central
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
, Belgium, active since 1830, and the only traditional Brussels puppet theatre still in operation.
Originally founded by Antoine "Toone" Genty in the
Marolles/Marollen district of Brussels, since 1966, the theatre has been located at the end of two narrow alleyways, at 66, /, near the
Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square). The theatre's premises also house a
tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food such as different types of roast meats and cheese, and (mostly historically) where travelers would receive lodging. An inn is a tavern that h ...
and a small
puppet
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or Legendary creature, mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. The puppeteer uses movements of their hands, arms, or control devices such as rods ...
ry museum.
The current director is Nicolas Géal, also known as Toone VIII.
The theatre still puts on puppet plays in the
Brusselian dialect (also sometimes referred to as Marols or Marollien), the traditional
Brabantian dialect
Brabantian or Brabantish, also Brabantic or Brabantine ( nl, Brabants, Standard Dutch pronunciation: , ), is a dialect group of the Dutch language. It is named after the historical Duchy of Brabant, which corresponded mainly to the Dutch provi ...
of Brussels. Performances are also given in other languages interspersed with Brusselian, always in the spirit of ''
zwanze'', a sarcastic form of folk
humour
Humour (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) or humor (American English) is the tendency of experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement. The term derives from the humorism, humoral medicine of the ancient Gre ...
considered typical of Brussels.
History
Early history
Around 1830, Antoine "Toone" Genty (1804–1890) opened his ''poechenellenkelder'' (literally "puppet cellar"), a traditional theatre of
marionette
A marionette (; french: marionnette, ) is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a marionettist. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden or reveale ...
s in the
Marolles/Marollen district of Brussels.
The origin of Brussels' puppetry stems three centuries earlier from an order of
Philip II of Spain
Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...
, son of
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
* Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690)
* Infan ...
, who, hated by the population, had closed the city's theatres to prevent them from becoming meeting places likely to encourage hostility towards the Spanish authority. The people of Brussels had then replaced the actors with ''poechenelles'' ("puppets") in underground theatres.
At the start of the 19th century, puppet theatres were one of the most successful entertainment options for adults in Brussels'
working-class
The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...
neighbourhoods. They allowed for great freedom of tone, using a varied repertoire borrowed from
popular legends, stories of
chivalry
Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It was associated with the medieval Christianity, Christian institution of knighthood; knights' and gentlemen's behaviours we ...
,
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
s or even religious or historical pieces, cut into acts and interpreted very freely. They were also a mode of popular education. Indeed,
illiterate
Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, hum ...
people could not afford the opera or the big theatres. The puppet shows thus allowed them to keep abreast of cultural news. This popular form of entertainment still exists and has grown today into the Royal Theatre Toone.
20th century
![1971 Jef Bourgeois & José Géal Het Laatste Nieuws 004](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/1971_Jef_Bourgeois_%26_Jos%C3%A9_G%C3%A9al_Het_Laatste_Nieuws_004.jpg)
Since the 1930s, renowned Belgian artists, writers, and
patron
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
s have taken part in the defence of this heritage, among them the
avant-garde
The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...
dramatist
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays.
Etymology
The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...
Michel de Ghelderode
Michel de Ghelderode (born Adémar Adolphe Louis Martens, 3 April 1898 – 1 April 1962) was an avant-garde Belgian dramatist, from Flanders, who spoke and wrote in French. His works often deal with the extremes of human experience, from death an ...
(1898–1962), who also wrote plays for the theatre. Later on, some of his other works were adapted to theatre plays by the current owners; José Géal (also known as Toone VII), and his son Nicolas (also known as Toone VIII). Other personalities who supported the theatre and its creations in their lifetimes include the sculptor and jeweller
Marcel Wolfers
Marcel Wolfers (1886–1976) was a Belgian sculptor, and medallist, well known for his war memorials completed in the Interwar Period (1919–39).
Early life
Marcel Wolfers was born into a talented artistic family in Brussels. His grandfather Lou ...
(1886–1976), as well as the painters
Jef Bourgeois
Jef is a Dutch-language masculine given name primarily used in Belgium. It is a short form of Jozef/ Josef, used also in Breton. People with the name include:
*Jef Billings (born 1945), American figure skating costume designer
* Jef Boeke (born ...
(1896–1986) and (1924–1996).
The Royal Theatre Toone was relocated in 1963 by José Géal (or Toone VII) to its current premises, a building dating from 1696 on the /, near the
Grand-Place
The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...
in central Brussels.
The building which now houses the theatre and the alleyway where it is located have been
designated as a protected ensemble since 27 February 1997.
21st century
![Belgique - Bruxelles - Estaminet Toone VII - 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Belgique_-_Bruxelles_-_Estaminet_Toone_VII_-_01.jpg)
Until 2018, the permanent museum of Toone was located on the first floor of the main building, and could be visited free of charge during performance hours. As part of extension works, three houses adjacent to the historic building were acquired and fully renovated thanks to a contribution of €1.3 million from
Beliris. The main goal of these works, which lasted two years, was to improve accessibility and comfort for visitors, artists and suppliers, as well as to allow access to the museum outside performance hours.
A proposal is underway for the theatre to obtain from
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
the status of
Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and th ...
, a status already enjoyed by some eminent fellow puppeteers of popular tradition.
Ownership
Since the theatre's humble foundation in the Marolles in 1830, and during its eventful history, nine showmen have succeeded the Toone dynasty. The transition does not necessarily take place from father to son, nor even within the same family, but is often transmitted through apprenticeship with the approval of the public, the narrator being enthroned by the previous owner.
After Genty, the name ''Toone'' (Brussels' diminutive of Antoine) was adopted by all of the theatre's unrelated (with the exception of two) successive owners.
In 2003, the eighth "generation", Toone VIII, took office.
Historical owners
* Toone I, known as ''Toone the Elder'' (french: Toone l'Ancien, link=no): Antoine Genty (1804–1890), marollien, car painter by day and puppeteer by night. He could neither read nor write and made his own puppets. He cared little for historical truth and recounted popular legends, medieval
epics and religiously inspired plays to a loyal audience, during a 45-year career.
* Toone II, known as ''Jan van de Marmit'': François Taelemans (1848–1895), marollien, painter and friend of Toone I. He apprenticed as a puppeteer alongside ''Toone the Elder'' and succeeded him whilst keeping up the tradition. He had to change "puppet cellars" several times for hygiene and safety reasons.
* Toone III: after Toone II’s death, a turbulent period followed. Toone’s reputation was envied and around fifteen competing theatres attempted to appropriate the name. Two serious contenders claimed the title:
** Toone III, known as ''Toone de Locrel'': Georges Hembauf (1866–1898), marollien, workman. Trained by Toone II, he gave his theatre a new dimension by adding to it a new repertoire, sets and puppets, which allowed him to keep his audience, despite the competition. His son was named Toone IV, the first hereditary succession.
** Toone III, known as ''Jan de Crol'': Jean-Antoine Schoonenburg (1852–1926), marollien,
hatter
Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter.
Historically, milliners, typically women shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of g ...
. Initiated with ''Toone the Elder'', he resorted to a more evolved method of playwriting: he read novels, took notes, developed a canvas, and improvised the dialogues in front of his audience. His performances could sometimes last two months during which, every evening, the same regulars would come watch the show. Forced to give up the profession, which had become unprofitable, he ceded his theatre to Daniel Vanlandewijck, future Toone V, and hanged himself among his puppets.
* Toone IV: Jean-Baptiste Hembauf (1884–1966), marollien, son of ''Toone de Locrel''. Associated with a puppet maker, Antoine Taelemans (son of Toone II), he directed his theatre for 30 years. However, with the break of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
and the appearance of cinema, Toone IV was forced to close the doors of his theatre. The ''Amis de la marionnette'' ("Friends of the puppet"), a group of patrons, safeguarded the Brussels puppets and allowed Toone IV to resume his activities. He created ''Le mystère de la Passion'', a play by
Michel de Ghelderode
Michel de Ghelderode (born Adémar Adolphe Louis Martens, 3 April 1898 – 1 April 1962) was an avant-garde Belgian dramatist, from Flanders, who spoke and wrote in French. His works often deal with the extremes of human experience, from death an ...
written from oral tradition.
* Toone V: Daniel Vanlandewijck (1888–1938), factory worker. He bought ''Jan de Crol'' 's practice. Victim of an audience crisis and increasing hygiene requirements, he gave up the profession and sold his puppets. Bought by the ''Amis de la marionnette'', the heritage was fortunately preserved.
* Toone VI: Pierre Welleman (1892–1974), workman. First associated with Toone V, he then succeeded him with his four sons. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, a bomb fell next to his workshop and destroyed 75 puppets. Moreover, television and football represented new competitors. Struck with expropriation, Toone VI, discouraged, began to sell his puppets.
Current owners
* Toone VII: José Géal (1931–), comedian, he discovered the Toone Theatre and founded his own company. When in 1963, exhausted by the difficulties encountered in safeguarding this folklore, Toone VI stopped playing, José Géal officially replaced him as Toone VII. As he did not find an ideal place to set up his theatre in the Marolles, he moved to the current building, a stone's throw away from the
Grand-Place
The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...
. In 1971, the City of Brussels bought this house to help Géal keep his puppets alive.
Far from looking towards the past, Toone VII opened the Royal Theatre Toone to Europe and the world by updating the repertoire and translating his shows into English, but also Spanish, Italian and German (always interspersed with the
Brussels dialect), thereby attracting a new audience. Tourists, students, the faithful and the curious are now replacing the marollien spectators.
He was made Officer of the
Order of Leopold in 2004.
* Toone VIII: Nicolas Géal (1980–), comedian, son of Toone VII, he was crowned Toone VIII on 10 December 2003 at
Brussels' Town Hall, under the aegis of the then-mayor of Brussels,
Freddy Thielemans
Freddy Thielemans (11 September 1944 – 29 January 2022) was a Belgian socialist politician who was the mayor of the City of Brussels from 2001 to 2013, and previously also for a period in 1994.
Freddy Thielemans learnt to play rugby with Br ...
.
His first creation in 2006 was a ''
Romeo and Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
'' after
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
.
Practical information
Location and accessibility
The theatre is located north of the
Grand-Place
The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...
, at the end of two narrow alleyways known as the / and the / (themselves located at, 66, /). The district, commonly called ''Îlot Sacré'' since the 1960s, due to its resistance to demolition projects, is located within the perimeter of the Grand-Place and consists of very dense city blocks testifying to the urban organisation of Brussels during the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. The old buildings, meanwhile, belong to the so-called "reconstruction" period which followed the
bombardment of the city in 1695.
Opening hours
The theatre is open all year round, except in January. At least four shows are organised per week, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m., and on Saturdays also at 4:00 p.m. Shows can be played in short version (+/- 45 minutes) or in full version (+/- 2 hours). The folkloric
tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food such as different types of roast meats and cheese, and (mostly historically) where travelers would receive lodging. An inn is a tavern that h ...
on the ground floor is open every day from 12:00 to 24:00, except Monday (closing day).
Gallery
File:Toone 3038.jpg, Entrance of the theatre
File:Toone 3041.jpg, Theatre room
File:Belgium-6571 - Puppet Show (14098577176).jpg, Puppet show
File:Brussel - Toone - Interieur.jpg, Tavern
File:Belgium-6563 - Old Puppets (13935061727).jpg, Old Puppets in the museum
File:Belgium-6580 - Hundreds of Puppets (14118447801).jpg, Puppet collection
See also
*
History of Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
*
Culture of Belgium
Belgian culture involves both the aspects shared by all Belgians regardless of the language they speak and the differences between the main cultural communities: the Dutch-speaking Belgians (Flemish) and the French-speaking Belgians (mostly ...
*
Ommegang of Brussels
The Ommegang of Brussels (french: Ommegang de Bruxelles, nl, Ommegang van Brussel) is a traditional Ommegang, a type of medieval pageant, celebrated annually in Brussels, Belgium.
Originally, the Ommegang was the largest lustral processio ...
*
Meyboom
The Meyboom plantation (or Meiboom in Dutch, "May tree" – a bastardisation of the Dutch ''tree of joy'') is the oldest tradition in Brussels, Belgium, attested since 1308. It is held every year on 9 August, the eve of St Lawrence's Day, and ...
*
Saint-Verhaegen
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Theatres in Brussels
Culture in Brussels
Tourist attractions in Brussels
City of Brussels
Belgian folklore