Spring of comedians: the Montpellier festival singled out for its management

The Spring of Comedians, one of the most important theater festivals in France, is facing criticism from the Regional Chamber of Accounts (CRC) of Occitanie, which criticized its financial situation on Monday June 8 “concerning” and declare “significant management and control dysfunctions”.

“The management of the Printemps des codiens association highlights several notable dysfunctions which were favored by a certain erasure of governance bodies for the benefit of the director alone”, theater man Jean Varela, who directed the institution from 2011 to the end of 2025, indicates the CRC in a report initiated by a report from the president of the Hérault departmental council.

“Thus, without having the necessary powers and delegations, the director has concentrated a large part of the decision-making. In this context, many expenses prove insufficiently justified,” adds the financial jurisdiction, whose report covers the period 2019-2024. The CRC cites as an example “two conventional ruptures” for a total amount of 143,000 euros signed by the director, as well as the budgets “peu détaillés” of two major productions: 720 529 euros concerning After the rehearsal/Person of Ivo van Hove in 2023 and 911 517 euros pour Bérénice, created in 2024 by Romeo Castellucci in Montpellier with Isabelle Huppert.

The Spring of Comedians benefited over the targeted period from a “significant public support of 12.8 million euros” (department, Métropole de Montpellier, State and region), but these authorities “did not exercise fully” their role of control, also underlines the CRC.

Announcing the departure of Jean Varela in December 2025, the Metropolis was then content to indicate that“no contractual agreement” had not been found to extend his mission. In her response to the CRC, she explains having terminated the director’s duties due to “financial uncertainties and lack of transparency from management”.

Jean Varela for his part indicated to the CRC that “loin d’être en déficit”, the Printemps des comediens association presented “positive accounts, with a surplus of 183,000 euros”. A reading of the accounts contested by the mayor and president of the Montpellier Metropolis, Michaël Delafosse. “I myself noted the extent of the deficit, which the Metropolis came to compensate for. For the administrators, it was always very complicated to have serious explanations”, declared Michaël Delafosse to AFP, specifying that he “nothing is forbidden” on the judicial level.

The name of Jean Varela’s successor, selected by a jury, must be announced on Wednesday, also indicated the mayor of Montpellier.