A foggy Monday evening in November, in the heart of Bourges. That evening, more than 200 people had reserved their evening at the Incontournable bar.
It’s after 10 p.m. when comedian Rabah Benachour climbs onto a high stool as a stage… A high stool. A microphone. Some random lights. A comedian standing in front of the guests. The stage is set. Simple. Basic.
Here, no “fourth wall”, as they say. The public is a stakeholder. The valve is a dialect mastered by everyone. Laughter too.
In France, for several years, not a city has escaped the “stand up” phenomenon. As is often the case, Paris is considered the center of the world, with its plethora of club comedies… However, the wave has reached the “territories”.
From Bourges to Louviers, from Herbiers to Vierzon, from Orleans to Chambourcy… We can no longer count the scenes where aspiring comedians test their valves in the interstices of their schedule as a teacher, salesman, truck driver or factory worker.
How can we explain the explosion of these new café theaters in towns and villages? Why so many people? How can we read our need to laugh, we spectators?
Who are these comedians the heirs of? Should we see pirates who are “hacking” a live performance ecosystem that is still too sclerotic?
Humor. By everyone. With everyone. Everywhere. What if that was democratic laughter? An accessible, inclusive form, which gives visibility to those who have too often been relegated? What if this was popular art?
To go further:
The references of the Stand-Up show created by Mohamed El Khatibon tour throughout France.
Stand-Up! Minority humor in the media in Francearticle by Nelly Quemener published in the journal Terrain.
Comedy shows, a dynamic but fragile sectorarticle from France Info Culture with AFP.
The Berry Comedy Club, the new stand-up troupe from Bourgesarticle from Berry Républicain.
In Vendée, the Carton Comedy Club is transformed for its returnarticle from Ouest France.
