Pierre Filliez

The wonderful world of theatre masks, I fell into it when I was little… as Obelix would say!

Portrait of Pierre Filliez, mask maker, theatre maker and artist, in 2026
Pierre Filliez without a mask, wearing his glasses.

I caught the bug during after school Commedia dell’Arte classes at the Bagnes secondary school in Valais, Switzerland, when I was still a young teenager. This experience left a deep impression on me and inspired me to became an actor.

My theatrical journey continued at the Teatro Comico in Sion, Switzerland, where I spent several years training and collaborating with Bernard Sartoretti. In 2008, I left Switzerland and moved to Paris. I obtained my diploma from the International Theatre School Jacques Lecoq and completed the Laboratory for the Study of Movement (LEM) in 2010. I also had the opportunity to work with Omar Porras during a masterclass devoted to masked theatre.

At the same time, I became interested in mask-making. I had the opportunity to learn and refine this craft, particularly the art of making leather masks, with my friend Gilles Brot, who inherited his expertise from Donato Sartori, and my wife, Jessica Nicholls, who studied Commedia dell’Arte with Antonio Fava in Italy.

Pierre Filliez wearing the commedia dell'arte mask of Pantalone, on stage at Acud Theater Berlin.
Pierre Filliez, wearing the Pantalone mask (without glasses)

Since then, mask-making has become an important part of my artistic practice, at the crossroads of theatre and craftsmanship.

I then moved to Berlin, where I lived for ten years. It was there that I met my wife, Jess, and together we founded Shake Shake Theatre. I also collaborated with Drehbühne Berlin and FGYO, and taught theatre at La Menagerie e.V.

As my wife is Australian, we decided in 2022 to move near Sydney, where we live now, together with our two children, Rose and Léo.

I also create and perform my own puppet shows, taking part in every stage of their creation, from writing and directing to building the sets and making the props.

I teach theatre at NIDA Open, as a casual teacher and in my own drama classes. I also work as clown doctor in the children’s hospitals for Clown Doctors Australia.

An artist and painter in my spare time (or time well spent), I also have a passion for music and have become hooked on the ukulele.

Pierre Filliez avec un masque larvaire entrain de pêcher dans un étang en Australie.
Jessica Nicholls, my wife.