Shake Shake Theatre was founded in 2014, when Pierre Filliez (Swiss) and Jessica Nicholls (Australian) began collaborating on their first puppet show, ‘The Story of Mr B’. Since then, they have created many more shows, toured across Europe, led a wide range of creative workshops and collaborated with various companies and artists. Along the way, they also got married, started a family, and had two children.
Pierre and Jess both have a background in physical theatre, having trained at Lecoq in Paris and with Antonio Fava in Italy. They love to integrate masks and puppets into their productions. All of their shows are handmade, and they aim to recycle materials as much as possible. In this way, they take a sustainable approach to their work. Themes such as ecology, nature conservation, and mutual respect are close to their hearts and are reflected in the stories and shows they create.
Pierre Filliez began his acting career in his native Switzerland in 2000. He then completed a diploma in Physical Theatre at the International Theatre School of Jaques Lecoq in Paris, France. Since then he has co-founded Shake Shake Theatre, with his wife and partner Jessica Nicholls. In Germany, he collaborated with Drehbühne Berlin, OFAJ he taught theater at the Menagerie e.V. and produced and performed his own theatre pieces throughout Europe. Established in Australia, with his family since 2022, he teaches regularly physical theatre at NIDA , Sydney, provide workshops in drama and puppetry, and work with the Humour Foundation as a clown doctor in the children’s hospitals. Pierre also creates masks, puppets and commissioned art works, which are sold internationally. Personal website: www.pierrefilliez.com
Jessica Nicholls is Australian, with a BA in Theatre/Media from Charles Sturt University. In Italy she studied Commedia dell’ Arte, comic acting and mask making with Antonio Fava. She has toured puppet shows around Australia, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany with Shake Shake Theatre, School Performance Tours, Vision Mechanics and Drehbühne Berlin. Established in Australia, with her family since 2022, she work with the Humour Foundation as a clown doctor in the children’s hospitals.
