The story of the theatre Théâtre Delemarre begins with the birth of Prosper Delemarre in 1810. Born with a hand malformation, he learned on his own how to use his feet with remarkable dexterity. He made his debut at ten years old on the stage of the Théâtre Comte, where he earned the nickname ‘Pied-d’Œuvre’ (literally Foot-Work).

Shortly after, he left the small theatre and began an independent career. He created, decorated, and improved his own puppet plays; he manipulated the puppets with his feet, which captivated his audience. Later, he married and started a family. He had three children, but the eldest distanced himself.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, his family barely survived with the earnings of their performances, but they then gradually gained success. After Prosper’s death in 1881 in Givors, the theatre was officially named Théâtre Delemarre Frères.

La Nonne sanglante (The Bloody Nun) became part of the repertoire between 1865 and 1875. It is an adaptation for puppet theatre of Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Julien de Mallian’s romantic drama in five acts written in 1835. The play is part of the tradition of the gothic melodrama, with themes of revenge, passion, and the supernatural. It was taken on by Gaston Baty in his collection of string marionettes plays from the repertoire of travelling theatres of the 19th century, Trois p’tits tours et puis s’en vont [Three little turns and then they go away; line from the popular French nursery rhyme “Ainsi font font font” (Thus they do do do) also known as “Les petites marionnettes” (The little puppets)].

Conrad, Mattéo, and Stella are in the catacombs. Conrad insists that Mattéo, the servant who accompanied them, leave. Once alone, Conrad forces Stella to swear that she loves him. She trembles in fear, and he thinks that it is proof of a lie; his suspicion comes from a letter he discovered, written by Stella for a certain Strozzi but that she never sent. In a fit of jealousy, he abandons her after cutting the thread that showed them the way out of the catacombs. Stella tries to find the exit, but she collapses in the darkness. A silhouette appears.

Four years later, in an inn, Conrad encounters a stranger who seems to recognise him. The stranger introduces himself as Cagliostro, a friend who came to rescue him. He promises to see Conrad again on the day of his wedding with Mathilde de Sarnen, with whom he is in love. Before he leaves, Cagliostro gives Conrad a hammer, a mask, and a rose, and gives him a place and time.

At the convent of Aarau, Mathilde de Sarnen asks the abbess Marie de Rudenz for permission to go and see her fiancé. When she discovers the name of the man Mathilde loves, Marie is incredibly furious and forbids their union. Conrad, wearing a mask, slips inside the convent and when he sees Marie, he recognises… Stella. She tries to clarify the letter that caused his jealousy, but Conrad says that he came here for his fiancée, Mathilde.

Enraged, Marie threatens to kill Mathilde if he tries to leave with her. She assures him that everything obeys her in the convent, and proves her power. To stop her from ordering him, Conrad fatally hits her throat.

The wedding between Mathilde de Sarnen and Conrad de Caldorf is to take place soon. However, Mathilde is suspicious of her fiancé and keeps her distance: she thinks that he murdered Marie. Cagliostro promises Conrad that he will fix everything. He pretends that Marie’s murderer has been caught. Mathilde is now reassured and feels more peaceful.

Later, Marie’s ghost appears in front of Conrad. Terrified, he screams, which alerts the guests. Amongst them is the count Henri, who bursts out laughing because of Conrad’s fear. Furious, Conrad challenges him to a duel. Before the duel, the Nonne Sanglante (Bloody Nun)–Marie’s ghost–kills Henri and promises Conrad to find him on his wedding night.

During the wedding night, Conrad sees the Nonne Sanglante sitting on the bed next to Mathilde. Frightened, he tries to kill Marie, but blinded by his fear, he fatally hits his wife. The Nonne offers him to run away after setting the building on fire to hide Mathilde’s murder. Conrad pretends to agree, but he locks up the Nonne in the burning building.