Pierre Notte, a French playwright and writer, has been indicted for the rape of one of his former theater students at a high school from 2004 to 2005. The case, part of the #metoo movement in the theater industry, involved a police custody in late April and a filmed confrontation between the award-winning director, 54, and the plaintiff, now 37 years old. Notte was indicted on April 25 and placed under judicial control for rape committed “by a person abusing the authority conferred by his position” between March 2004 and January 2005, when the plaintiff was 17. Notte has denied the accusations, stating that he trusts the judicial services and is devastated by the situation.
The victim, referred to as Alban K., was a student in Notte’s theater program at a high school in the Paris region. He described himself as isolated and fragile, suffering from harassment and the ill health of a sick father. He spoke positively of Notte initially, finding him open, kind, curious, and protective. However, after a school trip in February 2004, where Notte allegedly became closer to the student, the adolescent was led to a cafe by the teacher, where the first sexual assault occurred. Alban K. describes subsequent encounters as leaving him shocked and disgusted, feeling frightened by the teacher’s domineering behavior.
Their relationship continued after Alban K. went to university and eventually ended in 2010 when he moved to Canada. Notte, on the other hand, was placed under the status of an assisted witness for marital rape from 2005 to 2011. Alban K. filed a complaint in December 2021, appalled by Notte’s perceived impunity and exploitation of the #metoo movement in his work. The plaintiff was particularly disturbed by the content of Notte’s autobiographical book, which depicted a character who seduces a young person and praises their child-like body.
The lawsuit also references Notte’s journal entries, where he referred to Alban K. as “my prince” and controlled aspects of his personal hygiene. Following their breakup, Alban K. experienced anxiety attacks triggered by memories of Notte. However, during their confrontation, he found himself responding to the accusations in a rational and controlled manner. The plaintiff expressed concern that Notte’s behavior could harm others and called for accountability for his actions. Despite the trauma caused by the relationship, Alban K. found it empowering to confront Notte and assert his truth.
