Philippe Trépanier’s Clip! brings a triumphant mess to Aylmer

Tashi Farmilo

More than a decade after its creation, the internationally acclaimed clown show Clip! is headed to Aylmer. Created by Philippe Trépanier and directed by Yves Dagenais, the production will be staged on May 10 at 2:00 pm at the Centre culturel du Vieux-Aylmer, inside Cabaret La Basoche at 120 rue Principale. The performance is part of a youth-oriented cultural series presented by the Ville de Gatineau.

Clip! was originally commissioned in 2010 by Théâtre Les Gros Becs in Québec City, intended for a limited run. Instead, it quickly became a signature work in the evolution of clown performance in Quebec. It was first produced under the Centre de Recherche en Art Clownesque, then acquired by the company Les Deux de Pique, co-founded by Trépanier and Tamara Bousquet. Since its debut, the show has been performed more than 290 times across four continents.

The performance follows Philippe, a theatre employee whose attempts to prepare for an international conference are repeatedly interrupted by his irresistible need to play. Whether he is mimicking a keynote speaker, juggling a diabolo, or getting lost in theatrical fantasy, his actions reveal both chaos and charm. The performance leans into the vulnerability and emotional agility central to clowning, echoing the impulsive responses and rapid shifts of childhood experience.

Trépanier’s performance is grounded in two decades of experience across major circus stages worldwide, including with Cirque du Soleil. His skill as an improviser and slapstick performer makes Clip! both technically refined and emotionally resonant. While children laugh at his physical misadventures, adult audiences often connect with the deeper portrayal of persistence and naïveté.

The show includes elements of diabolo juggling, slapstick, and tap dance, but it is the emotional clarity of the performance that sets it apart. The world of Clip! is deliberately stripped of irony, presenting clowning as a sincere, generous form of theatrical expression. This approach reflects the broader philosophy of Les Deux de Pique, whose work is defined by humour, tenderness, and a strong connection with audiences across age groups.

Founded in 2016, Les Deux de Pique brings together Trépanier and Bousquet, both in life and on stage. Their other works include Trattoria, a tragicomic portrait of loneliness and imagination, and La Famille GoldenCrust, a circus satire on consumer culture. Their productions have toured widely and been featured at leading festivals and venues in Canada, Europe, and the United States.

Clip! marks a return to one of the company’s earliest creations, now reimagined for new audiences. The performance runs 55 minutes and is recommended for ages four and up. Tickets are priced at $12 for children and $14 for adults, with discounted packages available through the venue.