| Royal Theatre Toone | |
| Address: | French: Rue du Marché aux Herbes|italic=no / Dutch; Flemish: Grasmarkt|italic=no 66 |
| City: | 1000 City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region |
| Country: | Belgium |
| Coordinates: | 50.8472°N 4.3533°W |
| Type: | Puppet theatre |
| Opened: | 1830 |
| Publictransit: | Brussels-Central |
The Royal Theatre Toone (French: Théâtre royal de Toone; Dutch; Flemish: Koninklijk Poppentheater Toone), often simply referred to as Toone, is a folkloric theatre of marionettes in central Brussels, Belgium, active since 1830, and the only traditional Brussels puppet theatre still in operation.[1]
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, French: rue du Marché aux Herbes|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Grasmarkt|italic=no, near the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square). The theatre's premises also house a tavern and a small puppetry 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 of Brussels. Performances are also given in other languages interspersed with Brusselian, always in the spirit of zwanze, a sarcastic form of folk humour considered typical of Brussels.[2]
Around 1830, Antoine "Toone" Genty (1804–1890) opened his poechenellenkelder (literally "puppet cellar"), a traditional theatre of marionettes in the Marolles/Marollen district of Brussels.[3] The origin of Brussels' puppetry stems three centuries earlier from an order issued by Philip II of Spain, son of Charles V, who, hated by the population, had the city's theatres closed to prevent them from becoming gathering places likely to encourage hostility towards the Spanish authorities. The people of Brussels had then replaced the actors with poechenelles ("puppets") in underground theatres.[4]
At the start of the 19th century, puppet theatres were one of the most successful forms of entertainment for adults in Brussels' working class neighbourhoods. They allowed for great freedom of tone, using a varied repertoire borrowed from popular legends, tales of chivalry, operas, and even religious or historical pieces, broken down into acts and interpreted very freely. They were also a means of popular education. Indeed, illiterate people could not afford the opera or the big theatres. The puppet shows thus allowed them to keep abreast of cultural events. This popular form of entertainment still exists and has evolved today into the Royal Theatre Toone.
Since the 1930s, renowned Belgian artists, writers and patrons have taken part in the defence of this heritage, among them the avant-garde dramatist Michel de Ghelderode (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 (1886–1976), as well as the painters Jef Bourgeois (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 French: Rue du Marché aux Herbes|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Grasmarkt|italic=no, near the Grand-Place in central Brussels.[5] The building that now houses the theatre and the alleyway where it is located were designated as a protected ensemble on 27 February 1997.[6]
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 times. 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 times.[7]
An application is underway to grant the theatre's marionettes the status of Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, a status already enjoyed by some eminent fellow puppeteers of popular tradition.[8] On 11 April 2024, Toone was bestowed with the European Heritage Label in recognition of its cultural significance and historical importance.[9]
Since the theatre's humble foundation in the Marolles in 1830, and during its chequered history, nine showmen have succeeded one another in the Toone dynasty. The transition is not necessarily from father to son, nor even within the same family, but is often passed on by apprenticeship with the approval of the audience, the narrator being "enthroned" by the previous owner. After Genty, the name Toone (Brussels' diminutive of Antoine) has been adopted by all of the theatre's unrelated (except two) successive owners. In 2003, the eighth "generation", Toone VIII, took office.[10]
The theatre is located north of the Grand-Place, at the end of two narrow alleyways known as the French: Impasse Schuddeveld|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Schuddeveldgang|italic=no and the French: Impasse Sainte-Pétronille|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Sint-Petronillagang|italic=no (themselves located at, 66, French: rue du Marché aux Herbes|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Grasmarkt|italic=no). 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 in the Middle Ages. The old buildings, meanwhile, belong to the so-called "reconstruction" period that followed the bombardment of the city in 1695.
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 on the ground floor is open every day from 12:00 to 24:00, except Monday (closing day).