Until the 2000s, the repertory of the Guignol Guérin theatre had almost exclusively consisted in traditional Guignol plays. But it began producing educational shows in the early 2000s. It first aimed at raising awareness about domestic accidents. Since the play was a great success, local authorities commissioned the company to create a show about environmental issues. This is how Guignol à la plage ou les maléfices du Monsieur Lerouge (Guignol at the beach or Monsieur Lerouge’s evil spells) came to be, although it was advertised under the title Guignol et le tri sélectif (Guignol and recycling). It teaches children about recycling and the importance of protecting the environment.

Michel Suffran’s original play was deemed too literary, so Patrick and David Guérin adapted it so it would fit an oral production.

Guignol à la plage was staged on the beaches of France’s Côte de Beauté (in Gironde, South-West of France) in July and August 2002, and in the following 5/6 years.

Guignol and his son Bobino are on the beach of Royan (on the Atlantic Coast). Bobino is bored and has finished his candy. When he throws the empty package on the beach, Guignol scolds him. He tells him about the recycling bins on the beach and explains what recycling is. When Guignol leaves to buy some groceries for Madelon, Gnafron arrives and offers to share his bottle with Bobino. Although Bobino initially refused, he finally accepts. But when he does, the bottle is empty, and Gnafron discards it on the beach. Bobino picks it up and puts it in the appropriate bin. He suggests that he and Gnafron clean the beach together, but Gnafron comes up with another idea: they should ask a magician. The magician happens to be the Devil. The Devil tells Bobino that the pieces of rubbish buried in the sand are valuable treasures he could sell. Bobino doubts it, but the Devil takes advantage of him. He puts up a board on which is written “the Beach Bazaar”. The owner of the Bazaar is Bobino. Then, the Devil hides backstage and talks through Bobino’s mouth when the first client – the Grosse Dame (the Big Lady) – comes. He quickly convinces her that what she is looking at is unique and precious: she buys it all for a thousand euros. When Bobino comes around, he tries to stop the Devil. But it is already too late – the Devil took the money and disappeared when he saw Guignol. The lady is proud of her purchase and flaunts it in front of Guignol. But Guignol wants to discard it all – thinking that it is rubbish she had picked while cleaning the beach. The lady is offended: she gathers her “treasures” and leaves. Guignol is dumbfounded, until he notices the board. He gets very angry at his son. However, when Bobino explains that Monsieur Lerouge is at the bottom of it and when he describes him, Guignol understands that he is talking about the Devil. He asks Bobino to call him. When the Devil appears, Guignol strikes him with his club and sends him back to Hell. The Grosse Dame realises that she has bought rubbish. Guignol reassures her and gives her back her money. Guignol and Bombino clean the beach together.