Far-right French mayor causes outrage after barring staging of play about migrant

According to The Guardian, a far right mayor in France has banned a production of the play Passeport by playwright Alexis Michalik. The play centers on a young migrant who awakens in the Calais refugee camp with no memory, possessing only an Eritrean passport bearing the name Issa. It follows his attempt to build a life in France rather than risk the Channel crossing to Britain. The ban has triggered accusations of cultural censorship. Michalik warns the decision signals what may come if France's far right National Rally gains national power—a sobering indication that political extremism could threaten artistic freedom.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton