The far-right mayor of Castres in south-east France, Florian Azéma, has cancelled a scheduled performance of Alexis Michalik's play Passeport, triggering outrage and accusations of cultural censorship. The play, which tells the story of a migrant who loses his memory after being beaten in the Calais 'Jungle' camp, was due to be part of the town's 2027 cultural season. Azéma dismissed the work as 'political propaganda' that did not align with his election platform.
Play's plot and significance
In Passeport, a young man wakes up after an attack in the Calais refugee camp known as 'the Jungle', with no memory except a blue Eritrean passport bearing the name Issa. He decides to stay in France and seek legal status, rather than attempt the dangerous Channel crossing. Michalik, one of France's most acclaimed playwrights with five Molière awards, says the play addresses exile, endurance, and identity through a human story. It premiered in Paris in 2024 and has toured nationally since.
Mayor's justification and backlash
Azéma told Agence France-Presse that the play featured 'the promotion of illegal immigrants and a rather strange depiction of the police,' adding that it did not correspond to his campaign promises. The cancellation prompted protests and questions in the French parliament. Culture minister Catherine Pégard stated: 'I would like to remind everyone that freedom of artistic expression is protected and enshrined at national level by the law.'
Michalik's warning
Michalik described the mayor's decision as 'Trumpish' and a warning of what could happen if the National Rally (RN), which leads polls for the 2027 presidential election, were in power. 'Creative freedom and the independence of cultural programming are neither rightwing nor leftwing. They are one of the cornerstones of our democratic way of life,' he said. 'People have the right to like the play or not, but everyone should be able to see it.' He noted that the RN has claimed to respect cultural independence, but this local action shows otherwise.
Broader context
The incident has sparked debate about cultural censorship in France. Michalik expressed sadness over growing hostility toward migrants, saying: 'Throughout history there have been migrants and through history it's always the same people who label them as the problem.' He added that no government can simply stop immigration, and society must evolve with it. Passeport was removed from Castres' programme just hours before its announcement, with no budget excuse—only a clear political motive, according to Michalik.
