“Passport” by Alexis Michalik should finally be performed in the Tarn. The play had been canceled by the far-right mayor of Castres. The department takes the matter in hand and wishes to organize the event in another city.
“We, elected officials, must ensure cultural freedom and equal opportunities to have access to the same horizons, which is why I am fighting to reschedule this piece” announces Christophe Ramond, president (PS) of the Tarn Departmental Council this June 16, 2026.
He announces that “Passport” should ultimately be played in the department. But it will not be in Castres, where the mayor Florian Azéma (RN) did not want it.
This play by Alexis Michalik tells the story of a young Eritrean with amnesia, left for dead in Calais, with the only tangible memory of his identity document. His journey to obtaining his residence permit is then recounted. A story censored by the Castres councilor on June 9 when he deprogrammed the play.
Also read: “A tool for ideological selection”: Alexis Michalik is alarmed after the cancellation of his play on refugees in Castres by the RN municipality
For Christophe Ramond, behind this cancellation of the piece lies in reality a more serious censorship, demonstrating an assumed extreme right line.
It is an assumed political act which describes a worrying vision of culture and democracy, a desire to gag artists and reduce cultural diversity.
Christophe Ramond, president of the Tarn department
This deprogramming is reminiscent of a tool well used by extremist parties, that of ideological propaganda. “Culture does not belong to elected officials, it is not a propaganda tool in the hands of power, it must remain a tool of pluralism” underlines the president of the Tarn department.
Christophe Ramond explains that he puts this tool to good use, in particular by providing a culture voucher for middle school students of 200 euros as well as by promoting access to theater for schoolchildren with one show per year.
Faced with the sensitivity of the subject, the controversy is gaining momentum. The deprogramming of the play caused the Catholic sphere to react. Monsignor Jean-Louis Balsa, Archbishop of Albi, reacts in a press release published on social networks: “No censorship will force Christians and men and women of good will to close their eyes to the cry of suffering human beings, whatever their origin.“
“Passport“, initially scheduled for Castres in February 2027, should therefore be played in another town in the Tarn department. No date is known for the moment but Christophe Ramon assures us.”It’s on track“.
