Richard Martin, the director of the Toursky theater, which he founded in 1971 in a deprived area of Marseille, died Monday October 16 at the age of 80, according to a press release from the city which pays tribute to “an emblematic figure of the Marseille cultural landscape. “I would like to salute the tireless commitment of an artist, activist for culture and working-class neighborhoods for more than 50 years,” underlines the left-wing mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan, referring to the “flamboyant temperament” of this actor and director. on stage, “spiritual son of Léo Ferré”.
“What sadness, and what loss! He had such a special role in the cultural life of Marseille and our region, that he had become essential,” reacted for his part, in another press release on Monday, the Renaissance president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d region. ‘Azur Renaud Muselier. “Despite our differences, we had always kept the bonds of friendship, and had been able to find the path to dialogue for the future of the Toursky theater,” continues the mayor of Marseille, referring to the battle that took place at the beginning of the year the director of the theater at the municipality.
On February 7, Richard Martin began his fourth hunger strike to protest in particular against the removal of 80,000 euros in subsidies by the town hall and the latter’s desire to return to compliance with the law concerning the occupation agreement. of the theater, which occupies a municipal building. “We had renewed peaceful contacts with the board of directors of his company to work on the future of Toursky,” Jean-Marc Coppola, the deputy in charge of culture, responded to AFP.
“I am sincerely sad this evening because beyond the tensions, he remained for me a friend with whom we walked for peace in the Mediterranean, on the Danube and in Toursky who represented the commitment of his life as an acrobat,” said he added. Established for more than 50 years in the heart of the 3rd arrondissement of Marseille, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Europe, the Toursky theater, whose largest room has some 700 seats, hosts around fifty shows each year, including creations.
