Mille secrets de poussins
Collectif Quatre Ailes
Schedule
Friday, October 23, 2026
Run Time: 25 min
North American Premiere
French with English surtitles
No late seating
A narrator begins reading Claude Ponti’s beloved book, Mille secrets de poussins, but things don’t go as planned… Full of mischief, the poussins (chicks) have hidden themselves in the library and start popping out of the books to play tricks on him—especially Blaise, who wears a funny red mask.
Accompanied by animated videos and multimedia effects, the performer, who acts as both storyteller and puppeteer, leads the audience into a playful world. Designed for audiences 3 and up, the show draws on the playful, poetic, and bizarre questions and answers that fill Claude Ponti’s work. Everyone is invited to travel freely to the other side of the pages and discover the magical world of the chicks.
“Between high-tech ingenuity and pure poetic wonder, the company captures the whimsical essence of Claude Ponti’s world. A stunning sensory experience for all generations.” — La Terrasse
Venue
Event Pricing
All other schools: $5 per student
Accompanying teachers and chaperones are free
Collectif Quatre Ailes
Since 2003, Collectif Quatre Ailes has produced eleven stage and site-specific productions, establishing itself as a leading voice in contemporary visual and youth theater. Designed for audiences from age 3 to adulthood, the company’s work offers an innovative imagery-driven theater characterized by a sophisticated aesthetic and multi-layered dramaturgy that builds organic connections between generations.
At the core of its artistic process, the Collective deploys a hybrid language where video is poetically repurposed to become a living partner on stage. Through the lens of magical realism, its creations explore the “coming-of-age” journey and the power of imagination as an act of resistance. Each production, adapted from literary masterpieces (Murakami, Dickens, Walser, Maeterlinck, Supervielle) or iconic graphic novels and children’s books (Claude Ponti, Brian Selznick), serves as a vibrant invitation to rediscover literature.
Founded by Michaël Dusautoy (director and video artist) and Damien Saugeon (actor and acrobat), joined in 2005 by Annabelle Brunet (video and visual artist), the collective frequently collaborates with composer Nicolas Séguy, writer Frédéric Chevaux, and dramaturg Julie André.
Their productions have been presented across France’s most prestigious venues (National Dramatic Centers, National Stages) and internationally (Morocco, South Korea, Chile, Russia, Taiwan). Deeply committed to social engagement, the Collective leads extensive arts education and outreach programs within its local communities.
Billing Credits
Stage Director & Artistic Director: Michaël Dusautoy
Performer / Lead Actor: Damien Saugeon
Original Author (from the book Mille secrets de poussins): Claude Ponti
Video Artist / Visual Design: Annabelle Brunet
Composer / Music: Nicolas Séguy
Sound Design: Damien Rottier
Set Construction: Emmanuel LabordeProduction Credits
Production: Collectif Quatre Ailes
Coproduction: Espace Jean Vilar (Arcueil).
Residency Support: Tréteaux de France – National Dramatic Center (CDN); Le PIVO – National Interest Commissioned Stage (Scène Conventionnée).
Institutional Support: Collectif Quatre Ailes is supported by the Région Île-de-France and the Conseil Départemental du Val-de-Marne
© Damien Journée
{acf_additional_info_event_event_expanded_info_heading}
{acf_additional_info_event_event_expanded_intro}
