Geneva theatre crisis: Audit finds foundation unprepared for turmoil

A state audit has concluded that the Foundation for Dramatic Arts (FAD) lacked the necessary resources and structure to effectively manage the crisis that engulfed the Comédie de Genève theatre. The audit, delivered by the Court of Audit, found the foundation's 15-member board was not agile enough, was too large, and lacked proper control mechanisms to prevent or address the escalating situation.

The crisis began to unfold in late December 2024 when the institution's staff commission sent a letter to the FAD, then led by lawyer Lorella Bertani. This letter detailed alleged dysfunctions attributed to director Séverine Chavrier. The situation gained public attention in October 2025 through articles in La Tribune de Genève and on the RTS website, revealing employee distress.

Chavrier expressed surprise at not being informed of the staff's discontent. Joëlle Bertossa, a socialist magistrate responsible for Culture and Digital Transition, publicly supported Chavrier at the time. The Court of Audit's magistrate, Nathalie Brender, presented the findings, which, while not implicating anyone directly, delivered a severe verdict on the foundation's management capabilities.

The report suggests that the FAD's structure and operational tools were insufficient to navigate the turbulent period between the first signs of crisis in late 2024 and the spring of 2025. The audit aimed to provide an independent assessment of how the foundation managed the theatre's internal turmoil.