Photo : Emmanuel Pestrinaux - Clément Debailleul
Show: In my palm: first voyage
A remarkable sensory experience, In my palm: first voyage takes you back to the childhood of artistic gesture: that which invents, surprises, and gathers.
MAIF Social Club (Paris 3rd)
About
"The very first work of humanity was the outline of a hand traced on a stone wall."
The first is passionate about sounds and images. His accomplice excels in shadowgraphy. By their side, a writer lends his voice and imagination to the adventure. Together, Clément Debailleul, Philippe Beau, and Arthur Dreyfus unite their languages to take a fresh look at prehistory and cave art, going back to the source of performance. As in the early days of humanity, the magic begins when a few flames are enough to bring stories to life.
In the heart of a mysterious paper cave, the illusion is total. A man steps forward. He seems to be discovering this secret place for the first time. In the darkness, a wall rises – a border or a passage to another world. Suddenly, a child calls out to him. Animals emerge. A drawing illuminates on the rock. Then comes the moment of meeting.
This poem-play tells the story of a timeless universe, where all living things are connected by deep and enigmatic forces. On stage, the combined disciplines awaken our senses: shadows come to life, populated by a myriad of characters. The sound design resonates with the crackling of flames and the rustling of nature. The eye adjusts to the flickering glow of the fire, revealing drawn projections and a ballet of hands in perpetual metamorphosis. The narrative questions the mystery of our existence, making us dream.
Before these haunting images, the imagination runs wild. We shiver. We have fun. We witness magic. A remarkable sensory experience, In my palm: first voyage takes both young and old back to the childhood of artistic gesture: that which invents, surprises, and gathers.
The session on Friday, December 18 will be followed by a post-show talk with paleoanthropologist Jean-Jacques Hublin and the show's participants.
Our take on this event
Travel back to the dawn of creativity inside an immersive paper cave where silhouettes dance against flickering light. This sensory spectacle beautifully weaves together shadow puppetry and haunting sounds to reveal the primal origins of our human imagination.
From December 18 to 23, 2026, the MAIF Social Club presents Dans ma paume: premier voyage, a poetic performance exploring the origins of prehistoric art. Through a blend of shadow puppetry, storytelling, and immersive soundscapes, creators Clément Debailleul, Philippe Beau, and Arthur Dreyfus transform the stage into a mysterious paper cave. Designed for audiences aged 5 and up, this free event invites you to witness how simple light and movement can bring ancestral stories to life. It is an evocative journey that connects the audience to the very dawn of human creativity and artistic expression.
Located in Paris's 3rd arrondissement, the MAIF Social Club invites you to a unique performance that bridges the gap between ancient history and modern illusion. Dans ma paume: premier voyage reimagines the birth of art through the eyes of three distinct artists. Within a hand-crafted paper cave, the audience is immersed in a world where shadows dance, animals emerge from rock faces, and the flickering light of fire guides the imagination. This piece-poem explores the mysterious forces that link all living things, utilizing hand movements and atmospheric sound design to create a sensory experience for all.
The show is suitable for children aged 5 and over. Performances run from Friday, December 18 to Wednesday, December 23, 2026, and are free of charge. For those interested in the scientific context of the performance, the session on Friday, December 18, will be followed by a Q&A session with paleoanthropologist Jean-Jacques Hublin and the show's creators, offering a unique opportunity to discuss the intersection of prehistory and artistic performance.
