Mélissa has been teaching theatre to students on the autism spectrum for 17 years. Through them, she finds a unique way of being in the world, free from conventions, and notices the place that imagination holds in their lives.

The starting point of the project was a question asked by Carmi, a student from the CASA groups (classes adapted for the autism spectrum):

"If you could create a world, what would it be?"

Within seconds, all hands went up, as if a door had opened onto the universes that live inside them, sometimes since childhood. Ideas burst forth. Something magical happens. Amongst them. Within them.

At that very moment, something becomes clear: their imagination is essential territory. It must be opened up. Cared for. They need a space to shape their worlds and to express a part of themselves that is too often unheard.

That's when Catherine and Paul joined the project. She comes from theatre, and he from film. These worlds needed to be brought to life, and art emerged as the ideal way to do so: augmented reality, animated capsules, theatre, documentary. So many forms to give voice to these universes and celebrate them.

In this momentum, other partners who are sensitive to the mission joined Bulles and helped bring this ambitious project to life.

For the autistic students involved, it is an act of reclaiming creative power and affirming their identity.

And for all those who take an interest, know that Bulles suggests one thing: to shift the gaze, beyond difficulties and statistics; to shine a light on their sensitive intelligence and their capacity to imagine.