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Theatre built as tribute to Anglo-French friendship vandalised Theatre built as tribute to Anglo-French friendship vandalised
(about 5 hours later)
France’s first Shakespearean-style theatre, built as a tribute to the entente cordiale, has been vandalised one week before it was due to open.France’s first Shakespearean-style theatre, built as a tribute to the entente cordiale, has been vandalised one week before it was due to open.
The New Elizabethan theatre, and the walls of the nearby Chateau d’Hardelot at Condette in northern France, were daubed in orange paint with slogans such as: “Irresponsible politicians”, “shame on you”, and “wart”. The New Elizabethan theatre, and the walls of the nearby Chateau d’Hardelot at Condette in northern France, were daubed in orange paint with slogans such as: “Irresponsible politicians”, “shame on you”, and “carbuncle”.
Andrew Todd, the British architect behind the theatre, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s Globe in London, said he deplored in the “strongest possible terms” what he described as a “politically motivated desecration” of the buildings on Friday night.Andrew Todd, the British architect behind the theatre, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s Globe in London, said he deplored in the “strongest possible terms” what he described as a “politically motivated desecration” of the buildings on Friday night.
“I arrived on site Saturday morning at 10am to find the just-finished building covered in graffiti insulting its presence and cost; there were similar orange tags throughout the Chateau d’Hardelot site, including on the 13th-century walls of the castle itself,” Todd said.“I arrived on site Saturday morning at 10am to find the just-finished building covered in graffiti insulting its presence and cost; there were similar orange tags throughout the Chateau d’Hardelot site, including on the 13th-century walls of the castle itself,” Todd said.
“This was not the act of a bunch of teenage malcontents; it was a well-organised, adult, carefully executed stunt relaying through violence the messages expressed already in the political sphere by the extreme right.”“This was not the act of a bunch of teenage malcontents; it was a well-organised, adult, carefully executed stunt relaying through violence the messages expressed already in the political sphere by the extreme right.”
The €6m (£4.6m) Globe-style theatre is about 48km (30 miles) south of Calais and was commissioned by the Socialist-controlled local authority. It was due to officially open next weekend with a series of concerts and performances.The €6m (£4.6m) Globe-style theatre is about 48km (30 miles) south of Calais and was commissioned by the Socialist-controlled local authority. It was due to officially open next weekend with a series of concerts and performances.
Critics have attacked the building as elitist and a waste of public money. The word combien? (how much?) was scrawled twice in orange paint. The far-right Front National has drawn increasing support in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.Critics have attacked the building as elitist and a waste of public money. The word combien? (how much?) was scrawled twice in orange paint. The far-right Front National has drawn increasing support in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.
Todd, who is based in Paris, told the Guardian he would prefer to concentrate on the positive aspects of what the building represents as “an incarnation of Franco-British understanding”.Todd, who is based in Paris, told the Guardian he would prefer to concentrate on the positive aspects of what the building represents as “an incarnation of Franco-British understanding”.
He described the theatre, with its natural ventilation and low energy consumption, as “absolutely unique … and light years ahead in ecological terms” of other similarly sized cultural buildings in France.He described the theatre, with its natural ventilation and low energy consumption, as “absolutely unique … and light years ahead in ecological terms” of other similarly sized cultural buildings in France.
The Chateau d’Hardelot is home to the Entente Cordiale Cultural Centre and is situated a few miles from the Field of the Cloth Gold where Henry VIII enlisted King François I of France to help persuade the pope to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The Chateau d’Hardelot is home to the Entente Cordiale Cultural Centre and is situated a few miles from the Field of the Cloth of Gold where Henry VIII enlisted King François I of France to help persuade the pope to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
This weekend the theatre, which seats 400 people, will hold three days of opening festivities, including a Beatles karaoke evening on Saturday. It will also mark the start of a midsummer festival featuring tributes to Shakespeare and Purcell.This weekend the theatre, which seats 400 people, will hold three days of opening festivities, including a Beatles karaoke evening on Saturday. It will also mark the start of a midsummer festival featuring tributes to Shakespeare and Purcell.
Todd said the building cost €4.3m and the rest was “taxes, expenses and fees”.Todd said the building cost €4.3m and the rest was “taxes, expenses and fees”.
“The building’s construction budget went almost entirely to local companies – workers, craftsmen, artisans, entrepreneurs – who are as directly affronted by its degradations as I am,” Todd said.“The building’s construction budget went almost entirely to local companies – workers, craftsmen, artisans, entrepreneurs – who are as directly affronted by its degradations as I am,” Todd said.
He added: “Built on a formerly listed site, the theatre has undergone a rigorous and democratic consultation process led by the competent local and national authorities.He added: “Built on a formerly listed site, the theatre has undergone a rigorous and democratic consultation process led by the competent local and national authorities.
“The criminals behind these cowardly acts of destruction had every opportunity to express – and have taken into account – their disagreements with the appearance of the building through legal, democratic channels. Instead they chose anonymous violence after the fact.“The criminals behind these cowardly acts of destruction had every opportunity to express – and have taken into account – their disagreements with the appearance of the building through legal, democratic channels. Instead they chose anonymous violence after the fact.
“Ironically, on Saturday night, I organised a private performance to thank the builders, in which local amateur musicians shared the stage with internationally famous theatre artists.“Ironically, on Saturday night, I organised a private performance to thank the builders, in which local amateur musicians shared the stage with internationally famous theatre artists.
Todd linked the vandalism to the “febrile atmosphere preceding the British EU referendum, in which Europe’s far-right parties are attempting to stoke trouble. The building is – fundamentally – an incarnation of Franco-British understanding, and will remain necessary whatever the result on Thursday.”Todd linked the vandalism to the “febrile atmosphere preceding the British EU referendum, in which Europe’s far-right parties are attempting to stoke trouble. The building is – fundamentally – an incarnation of Franco-British understanding, and will remain necessary whatever the result on Thursday.”
Audrey Azoulay, France’s culture minister, deplored the vandalism. “This cultural venue that the people of the region can be proud of represents the universal values of the theatre, a place that mixes amateurs with the big names … for the pleasure of the many,” she said.Audrey Azoulay, France’s culture minister, deplored the vandalism. “This cultural venue that the people of the region can be proud of represents the universal values of the theatre, a place that mixes amateurs with the big names … for the pleasure of the many,” she said.