Overview
- The municipal decision, announced Tuesday, removed the February 2027 listing for Alexis Michalik’s play Passeport from the Théâtre municipal de Castres’ published season.
- Alexis Michalik said the show had been programmed, validated and included in the season brochure and denounced the move on Instagram as a threat to artistic freedom.
- Mayor Florian Azema defended the change, saying no contract had been signed so the town had the right to alter the schedule and that public money must be spent appropriately.
- Azema suggested the slot could be replaced with locally focused events such as school performances, dance and music, tying the choice to campaign promises to favour local artists.
- The episode follows similar actions by newly elected RN local councils and raises questions about who controls public cultural programming and how disputes over bookings will be resolved, with no legal challenge or reversal reported so far.