Simon McBurney Reflects on Philippe Gaulier's Transformative Influence
Many individuals recall a childhood teacher who profoundly shaped their worldview, imparting wisdom that endures for a lifetime. For Simon McBurney, founder of the renowned theatre company Complicité, such a figure emerged not in his youth, but at age 24 while living in Paris. It was there he stumbled into a class taught by Philippe Gaulier, a moment that would irrevocably alter his path. Gaulier, who has passed away at 82, was described by McBurney as provocative, demanding, deliberately inappropriate, and utterly hilarious. His core teaching was to shed all baggage and preconceived ideas, embracing the notion that knowing nothing is sufficient because, in his view, we are all inherently ridiculous.
The Unconventional Educator and His World
Gaulier's background was as colourful as his teachings. His mother was Spanish, and she would often cook meals for him in his apartment, which was adorned with his writings, many bearing the word "rêves" (dreams) on their spines. He spoke of his father with disdain, referring to him as "ce salaud bourgeois" (that bourgeois arsehole). A rebellious streak was evident from childhood; Gaulier recounted being expelled from school at eight for punching a gymnastics teacher who attempted to impose military-style discipline on the boys.
His contempt extended to various professions and attitudes, including the military, the church, hypocrisy, sham, inauthenticity, politicians, academics, and fascists. Among these, "collaborateurs" held a special place of ire, a term steeped in postwar French history reserved for those he deemed most deserving. He would spit out insults like "C'est un collabo de merde de chien" (a dog-shit collaborator) with a mix of pleasurable disgust and gastronomic relish, his words accentuated by his distinctive moustache.
First Encounters and Foundational Lessons
McBurney first met Gaulier on a cold November evening in 1980 at his studio on Rue Alfred de Vigny. He was immediately captivated by Gaulier's appearance: a tangled black moustache obscuring his upper lip, a pipe clenched between his teeth, wild hair, a bright green sagging sweater, ageing boots, and eyes behind round glasses that missed nothing yet took nothing seriously. Those eyes, McBurney noted, ferociously studied every possibility of the hilarious or the pretentious.
The room was filled with individuals unsure of what to expect but drawn by rumours of Gaulier's unique offerings. After a handshake and exchange of greetings, Gaulier's first lesson was delivered with a sparkle in his eye and wicked laughter: "Tout le monde a des problèmes" (Everyone has problems). He established rules of the game, declaring himself the teacher and the students as pupils, parodying authority figures like the gymnastics teacher to undermine and shatter power structures through laughter.
Pedagogy of Play and Humanity
Gaulier's teaching method eschewed style and set ideas, focusing instead on each individual with scrupulous attention. He would take students apart, build them up again, invite, insult, cajole, delight, and, most importantly, play with them. This play was characterised by infinite generosity, stomach-aching hilarity, indefatigable persistence, and utterly spontaneous flexibility.
Students learned to fail and start anew, jettisoning their own ideas because, as Gaulier believed, ideas were never the issue—only performing them was. He taught that laughter reveals truth, and while being laughed at in real life is often hated, embracing this vulnerability was essential to revealing one's humanity. Sharing this fallibility in a complicitous relationship with the audience was seen as a radical, anarchic act unique to theatre.
Legacy and Personal Insights
Gaulier often emphasised the importance of childlike play, stating, "If an actor has forgotten what it is like to play as a child, they should not be an actor." McBurney recalled moments when Gaulier, having decided McBurney was his assistant, would take him to a bar during lunch breaks to discuss the "serious business" of afternoon sessions. Over drinks like "deux grands martini gins," Gaulier would seek inspiration, blending humour with mentorship.
Philippe Gaulier's impact on theatre is immense, but his lesson to embrace the ridiculous extends beyond the stage, offering a universal message about authenticity and human connection. Through his provocative demands and hilarious teachings, he left an indelible mark on students like Simon McBurney, reminding all of the power of laughter in uncovering our shared humanity.
