Castres – 14.06.2026: The decision by the municipal administration of Castres to cancel the scheduled February 2027 performance of the play “Passeport” by Alexis Michalik has caused great controversy. Alexis Michalik, the play’s author and director, condemned the measure as an “attack on artistic freedom” and spoke of an “ideologically motivated decision.” He warned of a restriction on the independence of culture and art due to political intervention.
The mayor of Castres, Florian Azéma, affiliated with the right-wing populist party Rassemblement National (RN) and elected in March 2026, defended the cancellation. According to her, the municipal administration has the right to review cultural programming and adjust it to the political guidelines of the new majority. She explained that the play “Passeport” does not meet the city’s obligations and that public funds should not be used for “a production with a clear political tint.”
“Passeport” tells the story of Issa, a young migrant from Eritrea living on the edge of the so-called “Calais Jungle Camp” and desperately struggling to obtain a residence permit in France. Since its premiere in January 2024, the play has been performed more than 750 times in Paris and has been presented in almost 80 other French cities. It is considered a significant work addressing flight, migration, and human destinies.
The cancellation has sparked debates across the country about the role of politics in cultural promotion. Opponents of the RN decision accuse the new Castres administration of restricting cultural diversity and politically instrumentalizing the freedom and variety of art. Alexis Michalik himself speaks of an “ideological selection” and demands a clear separation between culture and political influences.
The conflict raises fundamental questions about cultural policy in France, especially regarding public funding and political control over cultural content. Within the French cultural sector, concerns are growing about the independence of theater and other artistic forms in the face of a political climate that increasingly applies ideological criteria.
Voices from Europe have also spoken out: Aleksandar Nikolic, an RN MEP, stated in an interview that the taxes of Castres residents should not be used for works that “represent total ideological positions.” This statement was harshly criticized in artistic and political circles, being seen as an attempt at political appropriation of art and culture.
The development of this situation and whether other municipalities in France will make similar decisions remains to be seen. What is certain is that this controversy has reignited the debate about artistic freedom and the limits of political influence in the cultural sphere.