Paris theatre soul-searching after allegations of sexual abuse

PARIS – A feted left-wing French theatre company based in a park outside Paris is soul-searching after accusations it has left underage volunteers vulnerable to sexual abuse.

The Theatre du Soleil, a collective based since 1970 in a disused munitions factory in the Bois de Vincennes park east of the capital, is famed for its critically acclaimed plays.

It is also known for paying all its members the same salary, and until recently demanded that even lead actors help out in the kitchen.

But the troupe says it has been in shock since a former volunteer alleged in March “attempted rape” at the theatre in 2010 as part of a parliamentary inquiry examining sexual abuse in the arts.

The probe’s final report – a major achievement in France’s #Metoo movement – on April 9 called on the creative industry to stamp out what it called “endemic” mistreatment of performers.

As part of the probe, actress Agathe Pujol, in her early 30s, told a parliamentary inquiry that a 39-year-old actor attempted to rape her in front of “several witnesses” at a party at the Theatre du Soleil in December 2010.

Ms Pujol said she discovered the experimental theatre in March that same year, as a shy 16-year-old with dreams of becoming a stage actor.

Speaking to a parliamentary panel, she described a tense atmosphere in which teenagers were allowed to drink alcohol, and “sexual misconduct” was often swept under the carpet.

“It always had to be hushed up,” she said.

Ms Pujol also described working for free in the theatre’s kitchens, where the unnamed 39-year-old actor would seek to “charm” her and at least four other underage volunteers.

‘Such a shock’

A source inside the theatre, speaking anonymously, said Ms Pujol’s allegations against it has been a bombshell.

“It was such a shock,” the source said. “Some actors may have been a bit heavy handed, but there wasn’t a constant sexual atmosphere.”

The theatre has said in two public statements it was “stunned” and was launching an internal inquiry to “determine possible neglect, errors, mistakes, misdemeanours or crimes that might have been committed within its walls 15 years ago, before then or since”.

Ms Ariane Mnouchkine, the theatre’s 86-year-old co-founder, immediately called a meeting after Ms Pujol’s accusations.

“This meeting is one of the most serious in the history of the Theatre du Soleil,” the half-English, half-Russian director told attendees, according to a reporter from the Le Monde newspaper who was present.

In a separate case, Ms Pujol has also accused another actor, whose career started out at the Theatre du Soleil in the 1970s, of sexual abuse.

She told French left-wing newspaper Liberation in January that Mr Philippe Caubere, now 74, repeatedly raped her and recruited dozens of strangers to abuse her during a toxic decade-long relationship that started when she was a vulnerable 17-year-old.

Mr Caubere has denied “imposing any sexual relations” on her, and the Theatre du Soleil has said he left it in 1978.

‘Tough job’

Other members of the company did not wish to speak publicly.

But the source at the theatre said after someone was accused of “inappropriate behaviour” in 2024, the company hired an adviser to avoid situations of sexual misconduct.

Ms Mnouchkine confirmed this, but did not provide additional details.

The source said two members have been fired in recent months, but the theatre director said the “painful” incident was “unrelated” to Ms Pujol’s accusations.

Ms Clemence Massart, an 80-year-old actress who was part of the troupe in the 1970s, said she never experienced sexual pressure.

“I never felt any pressure other than that of work,” she said.

“It’s a tough job and it’s a place where you have to be good. You need good mental and physical health, and you have to accept to ask yourself questions,” she said.

French actress Judith Godreche, 53, called for the parliamentary inquiry in 2024 after accusing two French directors of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. AFP