The bankruptcy of Just for Laughs shook the culture of the cultural sector in Quebec, humor in particular. For the first time in ages – if we exclude the pandemic – there will be no Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal this summer.
That said, Just for Laughs’ competitor, ComédiHa!, based in Quebec. comes to the rescue of the Quebec metropolis and will present a festival this summer, from July 18 to 28.
Catherine Beauchamp and Patrick Lagacé welcome the president and CEO of ComédiHa!, Sylvain Parent-Bédard, who explains how the operation got started.
“As soon as the bankruptcy of Just for Laughs was announced, we put our shoulders to the wheel to help different projects, different organizations, different artists,” he says.
“We saw it, among others, with the revival of the musical Waitress in Montreal and Quebec, because it was very, very important for us. The comedy industry received a good blow, but also the cultural industry, indirectly, then the tourism industry. So, from that moment, when we saw that people wanted to work with us, wanted to put their shoulder to the wheel… Immediately, I would tell you, in the week when the announcement was made the cancellation of the festival, then the bankruptcy protection law, we began to work and bring together several stakeholders from the world of humor, the world of entertainment, the world of culture, tourism, governments, private partners, broadcasters, television broadcasters and others.
“So it took two months and I would tell you it’s a bit of a miracle. But we are lucky to have a permanent team who works year-round on the organization of the comedy festival. So it made the operation easier for us, quote unquote.”
And what will the festival look like? Outdoors? Indoors? A return of galas?
We listen to Sylvain Parent-Bédard…
