Young Puppeteerโ Revives Traditional Art Form, Drawing Crowds toโค Versailles Shows
VERSAILLES, Yvelines โ- Aโฃ Sunday afternoon puppet show โคinโฃ Versailles isโ proving a surprisingโ hitโข with families, thanksโ to โthe artistry of โ23-year-old Lyes โคOuzeri andโข his “Marionnettes Again” theater. The โperformances, held atโค the International Academy of Performing Arts (AIDAS),โ are โbreathing new life into the โtraditional French art of Guignol puppetry, captivating audiences of allโ ages.
Ouzeri’s passion for โGuignolโค began in childhood, โฃattending shows with his mother โขat theโ Montesson โขshopping center. “I was 3 years oldโฆ Itโ became a ritual, then aโ passion,” he recalls.โค Now,he’s not only performing but alsoโ craftingโค many of the glove โpuppets himself,showcasing โa remarkableโค skill that โhas earned him international recognition. A mere โฌ5โ entry fee makes the show โaccessible for families,โค with one recent attendee โnoting, “it reminds us โคof our โคchildhood. โฃArthur is so hooked that he does โthe show again at home.”
The Marionnettes Again theater is a true family affair, with Lyes’s father, Mehdi, assisting with each Sunday performance. Ouzeri’s talent extends โbeyond โlocal audiences; he hasโ participatedโ in numerous French and international festivals, winning the prize for bestโ young puppet talent in Bangkok, Thailand in 2014, and โขthe prize for best traditional show at the Borneo festival (Indonesia) in 2015.
His artistry even extends to the silver screen, appearing with his Polichinelle puppet in Tony Gatlif’s 2022 film,โ Tom Medina, thanks to a 50th-anniversary โคcastleโ puppet offered by Guy Baldet of theโฃ Chignolo company.
Performancesโค are held atโฃ Domaine des Grands chรชnes (17, rue Anatole-France), โคVersailles. More information can be found at www.marionnettes-again.com and www.aidas.fr.
