Paris theatre warns of bankruptcy amid occupancy by homeless migrants

A theatre in Paris has said it faces going out of business after hundreds of homeless migrants began to occupy the venue last month, leading to weeks of cancelled performances.

The occupation of Gaîté Lyrique theatre began on 10 December, after the venue, known for presenting politically left-leaning shows, hosted a free conference called “Reinventing the welcome for refugees in France”.

The Times reports that more than 250 African migrants attended the conference to hear talks by academics and senior Red Cross officials, later refusing to leave. Numbers have increased to 300 in the time since.

Gaîté Lyrique said in a statement that it was “unthinkable” for the theatre to “throw these people out onto the street in the middle of winter”.

However, with performances cancelled until 24 January, its loss of income from ticket sales has left it struggling to pay its bills and wages for its 60 employees.

Paris’s Socialist-led council, which owns the building, said it was unable to find other accommodation for the migrants, who all arrived in France claiming to be aged under 18, requesting President Macron’s minority centrist government tackle the issue.