Parisians endure cold temperatures to attend a nude performance

Actors are known for revealing their emotions on stage, but the cast of a new French play took it a step further—so did their audience.

The one-time performance of “Nu et Approuvé” (Naked and Approved) at the Palais des Glaces theater in Paris on Sunday required both the actors and the audience to strip down.

This challenge was made even more difficult by the cold weather, with temperatures in Paris barely above freezing on Sunday (32°F or 0°C).

For those who braved the cold, the performance seems to have been a success. The theater praised the “successful experience” on Twitter, and the French nudist community welcomed it enthusiastically.

“There’s no better way to enjoy laughter than to do so in the nude,” said Cédric Amato, head of a Paris naturist group, speaking to AFP at the Sunday performance.

“It’s also a way for us to talk about our way of life and our needs,” he continued. “We need to challenge social norms in spaces like this to be our true selves and have fun.”

The title of the play is a twist on the French expression 'lu et approuvé,' meaning 'read and approved,' typically used for signing documents.

The play centers on a brother and sister who visit their parents' beach house, only to find that everyone around them is naked.

Audience members were reminded to put their clothes back on before leaving after the performance and were advised to bring their own towels to sit on for hygiene purposes, as reported by AFP. VIP guests were provided with microfiber seat coverings.

'Casual conversation'

The inspiration for the play, directed by Pascale Levyn and written by Genéstia Giachino, came from an 'innocuous conversation' between two of its creators, during which they learned they both shared a passion for naturism, as stated on its Facebook page.

The creators describe the play as 'the first nudist performance, created by naturists, for naturists.'

There are roughly 2.6 million practicing naturists in France, and this show is not the first attraction designed for them.

In June 2018, Paris' Nudists Association hosted a large picnic where attendees were invited to join in the nude, with hopes of making the event an annual tradition.

However, embracing nudity may not always be risk-free, as the city’s first nudist restaurant is set to close in February for financial reasons, after just over a year of serving diners in the buff.