Students remember Philippe Gaulier on clowning, failure and mischief

Philippe taught me to laugh at myself, Louise Brealey said, with an understanding of people’s darkness, fears and flaws — and their shiny bits as well. He described her as “a Protestant church-mouse, sex-mad Brownie” and taught that everyone has a clown; David Mitchell, she noted, has an angry clown.

Brealey added that Gaulier gave her permission to be an idiot, which allowed her to take the piss out of herself without it hurting. Rachel Weisz remembered his bouffon workshops, where Philippe played the “king” and the students were clowns who had to keep him entertained or be expelled from his imaginary court.

philippe gaulier, clowning, bouffon, louise brealey, rachel weisz, david mitchell, workshops, clown, mischief, failure