Philippe's father wanted him to enter a military career, but when he
was given a magic set for Christmas at the age of six, there was no
looking back. He didn't care for school (and was expelled from five of
them), and ran away from home at the age of 15. In Paris he became a
street performer, juggler, mime, and unicyclist, and taught himself
aerialism by walking across a rope between two trees in a park by the
Seine.