12/02/2026
What an absolute honour to have shared just a fraction of time on this earth, with such a man as Philippe Gaulier.
I adored my time there, I adore what he and the other teachers taught me, stuff I’m still learning from today.
It’s not often you can pinpoint a period in your life you know for certain changed you.
Professionally yes, but even from a human perspective, the way he moved through the world, with such an unequivocal yearning for play, and of course, a fantastical berating waiting round the corner for anyone that would grace his presence and refuse to play…most often than not, the poor soul, wouldn’t even know they were refusing. I fell into this trap many times.
From the moment he walked down the stairs, and greeted us as we prepared for our day of learning by the lockers, it would not be him that would meet us, yet you’d bare witness to his inner child, his inner clown, provocative and playful in equal measure.
I learnt an incredible amount in my 8 months in Etampes, things I will carry with me for aslong as I live.
To dream, to play, to laugh, to fail.
‘To be an expensive actor, one must have a light body and a light spirit’
And what I know for certain is this…boy oh boy, he was as EXPENSIVE as they come.
For all that you taught me, for the winks, the beatings, and of course the handshakes as we said goodbye, a legend you were and a legend you’ll stay.
Au revoir,
James
🤡
