In Toulouse, a play on a transgender character provokes controversy
In Toulouse, the criticism of a play on the journey of a transgender person played by a woman provokes controversy and cancellation.
Must the actor have lived what his character lives? For some transgender activists in Toulouse, yes.” But especially for questions of gender identity”, nuance Alice Needle. This actress campaigns for the “visibilization of transgender people in cultural circles”. It is in this capacity that on November 19, she was on the forecourt of the Sorano theater in Toulouse to distribute leaflets with other activists.
The actress also declaimed the text of the play “Pour un temps très peu”, a monologue written by Laurène Marx, which recounts her gender transition. In the theatre, the play directed by Léna Paugam is performed. The founder of the Lyncéus collective had bought the rights to the text of the transgender author Laurène Marx. She assigned the lead role to actress Hélène Rencurel. A decision that provoked the indignation of activists.
“The play makes transgender people invisible”
Outside the theater as inside, the question of gender identity is raised. A debate followed the play. “This play makes transgender people invisible. With our mobilization, we wanted to create questions,” asks Alice Needle.
She regrets that it was not Laurène Marx – who after a return of situation decided to also play her monologue on the boards – was not programmed in Toulouse. The controversy won the theater 13, in Paris, which was not insensitive to this outcry, it decided to deprogram the performance scheduled for December. A decision that transgender activists regret, who would have liked a “non-cisgender” person to play this role.