The Swiss institution had mentioned "differences on the working philosophy between the artistic direction of the project on the one hand and the general management and the permanent and temporary teams on the other".

Krystian Lupa acknowledged in Libération on Monday "two incidents" and a "very violent reaction to the unexpected interruption of the translation by the translator Agnieszka Zgieb — in private a friend and a long-time collaborator".

"I want to officially apologize, this time to all the people in whose presence this happened," he continued in the French daily.

The Festival d'Avignon in turn deprogrammed its creation, after having "dialogued with the partner theatres of this production, the artistic and technical team of the show and the director Krystian Lupa".

"We regret to announce that the production conditions (constraints and calendar, financial and logistical impasses) do not allow the presentation of this project this summer in Avignon," the Festival said in a statement.

"We hope that this important work – which the Festival has accompanied with all its commitment – can be presented in January 2024 at the Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe, which considers all the solutions for the creation to be carried out in a peaceful setting," he continues.

A great figure of contemporary European theatre, a regular at the Avignon Festival, Krystian Lupa is one of the precursors of the novel adaptation to the stage, using the slowness of the narrative to probe the human soul.

"Les Émigrants" is co-produced by the Comédie de Genève, the Festival d'Avignon, the Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe in Paris, Le Triennale di Milano, Le PCM/Cité du théâtre in Montpellier and Le Maillon Théâtre de Strasbourg.

Born in Silesia in 1943, influenced by the painter, director and theater man Tadeusz Kantor and the Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, Krystian Lupa trained in graphic arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow.

Most of his productions draw on Russian or Austrian literature. He has staged or adapted Chekhov, Thomas Bernhard and Dostoevsky.

© 2023 AFP