‘Utterly hilarious’: Simon McBurney on how the great clown Philippe Gaulier changed his life

Simon McBurney, the renowned founder of the Complicité theatre company, published a poignant tribute in London on February 10, 2026, following the death of his mentor and legendary clowning instructor Philippe Gaulier at the age of 82. This reflection serves to honor Gaulier’s profound influence on the world of performing arts and his role in shaping the artistic vision of contemporary theatre’s most innovative practitioners. McBurney credits the French master with revolutionizing his understanding of performance through a unique and often provocative pedagogical approach that emphasized the raw humanity within comedy. Gaulier was widely regarded as a 'clown guru,' famous for his school in France where he taught generations of actors, including Sacha Baron Cohen and Emma Thompson. His teaching style was notoriously demanding, characterized by a 'wicked laughter' and a refusal to accept anything less than total presence and vulnerability from his students. McBurney recounts that while many find their inspiration in early childhood education, his own life-changing moment occurred only under Gaulier’s tutelage, where he learned that the essence of theatre lies in the 'pleasure of play' and the connection between the performer and the audience. Beyond the humor, McBurney highlights Gaulier’s infinite generosity and his ability to see the inherent beauty in failure. The master taught that a clown’s power comes from their willingness to be ridiculous, a lesson that became a cornerstone for the Complicité company’s physical and experimental style. The passing of Gaulier marks the end of an era for international theatre, leaving behind a legacy of artists who continue to apply his philosophy of 'Le Jeu'—the game—to create works that are both profoundly moving and technically precise.