Photo : Marie Charbonnier, Frank Sotton, Matthieu Bonicel
Should We Separate the Man from the Artist?
Forget sterile social media debates and head to the theater to truly challenge your perspective. This hybrid performance blends investigative journalism with stage craft to explore the delicate tension between appreciating art and holding creators accountable. It is a sharp, nuanced investigation that ditches easy answers in favor of a profound look at our modern values.
Théâtre de la Concorde (Paris 8th)
About
From October 29 to October 31, 2026, the Théâtre de la Concorde presents Faut-il séparer l’homme de l’artiste ?, a documentary theater production by Étienne Gaudillère and journalist Giulia Foïs. This hybrid performance blends investigative reporting and personal narratives to challenge how we view creative works in the context of misconduct and #MeToo. Suitable for audiences aged 15 and up, the play invites viewers to navigate the complexities of art and morality through a mix of humor and critical reflection. Performances run from 20:00 to 21:30. Please be aware that the content addresses sexual and gender-based violence, which may be distressing for some individuals.
With Should We Separate the Man from the Artist?, director Étienne Gaudillère and journalist Giulia Foïs tackle one of the most pressing questions of our time. Born in the wake of the upheavals caused by #MeToo, this hybrid show blends journalistic investigation, documentary theater, personal stories, humor, and collective reflection.
Using facts, figures, high-profile cases, and intimate questions, the artists explore the contradictions that run through our society. Must we distinguish the work from its creator? Can artistic genius mitigate the gravity of committed acts? How should we look today at a cultural heritage built, at times, in the shadow of long-silenced violence? These are questions that require moving beyond ready-made answers to accept the complexity of reality.
On stage, Giulia Foïs does not merely contribute her expertise as a journalist and engaged author: she takes part in the debate, confronts facts with narratives, and embodies her own perspective. Alongside Étienne Gaudillère, she turns the stage into a space where journalistic investigation meets theater to shed light on one of the most sensitive issues of our time.
At the Théâtre de la Concorde, in a month dedicated to courage, this show resonates with an essential question: how much courage does it take to look differently at the works we love, to hear long-muffled voices, and to accept shifting our certainties? Between public debate and intimate experience, Should We Separate the Man from the Artist? reminds us that courage does not always consist of being right, but sometimes of accepting to question what we thought was certain.
Cast and Crew
Conception Étienne Gaudillère and Giulia Foïs
Director Étienne Gaudillère
With Giulia Foïs, Étienne Gaudillère, Astrid Roos, Jean-Philippe Salério
General Stage Management Romain de Lagarde
Lighting, Video, Sound Management Romain de Lagarde, Sandrine Sitter, Simon Frézel
Artistic Collaboration Angélique Clairand, Éric Massé
Technical Collaboration Quentin Chambeaud, Bertrand Fayolle, Thierry Pertière
Production Théâtre du Point du Jour as part of Grand ReporTERRE
Executive Production Compagnie Y
Photo Credits Marie Charbonnier, Frank Sotton, Matthieu Bonicel
Grand ReporTERRE
The concept of Grand ReporTERRE was created in 2020 by Angélique Clairand and Éric Massé, co-directors of the Théâtre du Point du Jour, to create a new stage dialogue between artists and journalists and to "stage" current events. These narratives, like seismographs, measure the power of the tremors shaking our world. For this fifth episode, author and journalist Giulia Foïs and author and director Étienne Gaudillère delve into the thorny question of separating the artist from the work.
This show makes reference to sexual and gender-based violence and may be distressing for some audience members.
Our take on this event
Étienne Gaudillère and Giulia Foïs bring an intense, investigative theatrical experience to the stage with Faut-il séparer l’homme de l’artiste ?. Part of the Grand ReporTERRE project, the performance serves as a creative dialogue between journalism and the performing arts, examining whether it is possible or necessary to dissociate a creator from their artistic legacy. Through a blend of factual reporting, personal testimony, and humor, the production explores the contradictions of our modern society.
Alongside the authors, performers Astrid Roos and Jean-Philippe Salério take the stage to unpack the uncomfortable questions surrounding artistic genius and accountability. The production seeks to move beyond simplistic answers, encouraging the audience to re-examine cultural works that were often built in the shadow of silenced violence.
The performances take place at the Théâtre de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement. The show runs from Thursday, October 29, to Saturday, October 31, 2026, with daily performances from 20:00 to 21:30. Tickets are available between 8 and 20€. Due to the sensitive nature of the show, which explicitly discusses sexual and gender-based violence, it is recommended for viewers aged 15 and over, and audience members should be prepared for potentially challenging subject matter.
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