The Comédie de Genève has canceled the production of the show “Les émigrants”, the premiere of which was scheduled for next Wednesday. “Differences in the work philosophy” between the artistic direction of this project by Polish director Krystian Lupa and the management of the theater are in question.
“These differences have caused communication difficulties making the creation of the show unrealizable,” said the Comédie de Genève in a press release on Friday. The management of the theater noted “shortcomings in the respect of values, sources of operational disputes which made this decision necessary”.
The two co-directors of the theatre, Natacha Koutchoumov and Denis Maillefer, affirm the defense of strong values within the institution, according to the press release. These values are found in staff regulations, a charter of behavior and contracts signed with each artistic team, specifies the institution.
“Inadequate Attitudes”
“Inadequate attitudes have been observed repeatedly,” Olivier Gurtner, communications director, told Keystone-ATS. He also mentions “constant contradictory instructions given to the teams”, without being able to give more details for legal reasons.
This show, presented as the creation-event of the 2022-2023 season of the Comédie de Genève, was to be shown to the public next Wednesday and until June 17. It had also been sold by the Comédie de Genève, which is its co-producer, at the Festival d’Avignon and at the Théâtre de l’Odéon in Paris.
Independent decision
“The financial consequences for the Comedy are being assessed,” said Olivier Gurtner. Tickets for the fourteen performances scheduled in Geneva will be reimbursed. “The decision to cancel the show was made regardless of the financial consequences,” noted the communications director.
The contracts of the nine actors hired for the play and who have been rehearsing since March will be honored, assures La Comédie de Genève. The production cost of this show is 900,000 francs. Scenery had already been created.
“Total Artist”
The creation of the play was led by Krystian Lupa, whom the Comédie presented as “a sacred monster of European theatre, “a captivating man of the theatre, a total artist”. The show was inspired by a novel by WG Sebald which describes the trajectory of four characters forced into expatriation.
This cancellation comes a few days before the end of the mandate of co-directors Natacha Koutchoumov and Denis Maillefer. They will pass the torch in July to the French director Séverine Chavrier.
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