Open since September 2024, the École supérieure des Arts du Rire (ESAR) received a visit from its artistic director Jeremy Ferrari.
Jérémy Ferrari, very present in the creation of the school then in the recruitment of the fifty students forming the first promotion of this very special school, then left on tour, but always had an eye on this school which he dream. This meeting in mid-December – before leaving with his accomplices Arnaud Tsamère and Baptiste Lecaplain for a new show – was therefore a privileged moment for him to take stock of the progress with the students and the teaching team.
They didn’t know it was impossible, so they did it
They ? The triumvirate Frédéric Biessy, general director of La Scala Paris and La Scala Provence, Jérémy Ferrari the artistic director, and Geneviève Meley Othoniel, the general director.
What ? Create a Higher School of Laughter Arts and assume this title which may seem pretentious, but it was necessary to establish this humorous genre as an Art of excellence in its own right.
Should we remember that with 30 hours of weekly lessons in the first year, masterclasses, six permanent teachers, numerous professional humor speakers, scholarships to allow the most disadvantaged to access education, everything has been thought up and created to bring this somewhat crazy project to fruition?
Jérémy Ferrari alone on stage at the time of a first assessment
He says it himself, he was the first skeptic. He sincerely thought that it was not possible for several reasons: a structure was needed, he had to accept losing money, he needed strength and significant involvement, he had to find qualified people allowing professionalization, obtain the approval to provide European credits (university EU), have recognition of a university diploma, find quality teachers who agree to come to Avignon once or twice a week and not to “hide”!
“I was not a real student in my school career but I created a real school of which I am proud”
Happy, proud, satisfied: these adjectives often come up in his mouth. “Very enthusiastic after meeting the students who told me what can still be improved in the operation. When it comes to improvements, students want more! I was not a real student in my school career, so I listen to what can be improved. »
If I had had this school I would have saved time, I might have been better faster!
Jeremy Ferrari
What is exceptional about this school?
Kindness, permanent dialogue between students and the teaching team, listening, incessant questioning. It is exceptional to offer more than 30 hours per week of lessons with quality people (other schools exist with only 3 to 9 hours of lessons per week). There is a small number of staff, a complete program, we really support the students, we do tailor-made work, on a case-by-case basis to find funding. The relationship with the teachers is fluid and respectful.
Artist, producer, broadcaster, publisher, soon to be director: “I can’t be alone with myself”
“For me, this school is the logical next step in my desire to pass on things, this profession is my passion. I can’t be alone with myself, I like working with others, being involved in all stages of a show. This is what makes me independent and for me a guarantee of serenity. Artist, producer, broadcaster, publisher, soon director, it allows me to be free, to give myself more weight to defend myself or other artists. I work with people I like, I have fun and I give it. It’s a big moment for me when I open a ticket office! »
Do not confuse criticism and censorship
“I am not one of those people who consider that we can no longer say anything. I say everything I want for 15 years of career. Recently on Canal Plus, I insulted half the world again without any problem! Censorship has always existed, even in the time of Coluche – he himself was censored on RMC – the song Hexagon by Renaud was banned from the radio. It wasn’t better before. People confuse censorship with criticism. Now we have given everyone the freedom to give their opinion on everything. The problem for me is the importance we give to those who are not happy. »
And self-censorship?
“Censorship can come from anyone, anywhere and anyone. The only thing a comedian can do about it is not give in. The real question to ask yourself is: am I going to make people laugh with this? Don’t accept being cut. If we accept once, it’s over. Because as we no longer try, we become afraid. Afterwards, we no longer dare to go there and we hate each other. »
Don’t give in
“Let’s take the example of the Bataclan (attack of November 13, 2015). I had the show ‘Sell 2 pieces in Beirut’ in preparation on terrorism which started three months later. I have to talk about the attack. How can we talk about this abominable fact? On stage, I do black humor, so I can’t treat it differently, it’s not possible. I decide to treat it in such an abominable way that it will seem absurd and that’s what will make people laugh.
For 25 minutes, I make fun of the victims and the way they died! It can’t be more abominable than that. If I had shown this text tomorrow, I would have been asked to give it up.
Now at the Trianon, in a room of more than 1000 people, people loved me for that. Some were able to mourn through laughter. Others hated me, but that’s their problem. We must therefore be vigilant throughout our lives to avoid self-censorship. At the beginning, you have nothing to lose, real courage comes later. »
“A society that is doing well is a society where artists are free. »
Jeremy Ferrari
Comedians are not people’s enemies, they are people’s friends
The Higher School of Laughter Arts – and this is its great particularity – is on the premises of La Scala Provence. During this meeting with their artistic director, the hall was teeming with 47 newly recruited students. I went to meet them excited at the idea of meeting the talents of tomorrow and comparing their feelings to those mentioned by Jérémy Ferrari.
What are your feelings after 3 months of operation?
The small group interviewed responded with one voice, without hesitation: “Very pleasantly surprised and happy with the investment of all the teachers. We feel accompanied, we are in a cocoon, there is real generosity, total benevolence. »
Competition or cooperation between you?
“We can’t talk about competition. Maybe in the 2nd and final year next year in Paris? We work with humor, there cannot be a war of egos, because we can all fail when we are exposed on stage. We are still in the learning phase. In addition, the different courses and teachers encourage us to work in groups for improvisations for example, but also in rewriting. There are very different styles emerging: stand-up, black humor, absurd, visual comedy, alone on stage. »
“We have very different profiles: some have already been on stage, others are more destined to be performers, other authors. »
ESAR students
Committed humor?
“We are taught to be rigorous, to understand where we can set the bar. For this, there are courses in rhetorical debate so as not to slander, knowing how to look for sources, and establishing concrete facts. We have fun, but nothing is free. Committed humor? The women in the class are perhaps more so, they have more things to denounce. »
Your life in Avignon
The word “cocoon” comes up often! The 47 students are between 19 and 40 years old and come from all over France. They discovered Avignon and appreciated “the small town which has all the makings of a big one, before being released next year to Paris. » They stay more easily among themselves, because they work a lot, the program is dense. Some try their hand at the stage in their personal time and perform in various places in Avignon such as La Souricière, La Cave des Pas Sage or the Théâtre de l’Observance (which accompanied a certain Jérémy Ferrari in its beginnings) .
Soon an open stage
The public will be officially invited to see them on April 24 on the stage of La Scala Provence during an open stage which will transform La Scala Provence into a giant Comedy club. ESAR students will use the four rooms of La Scala Provence and will mingle with established artists such as Jos Houben, Tania Dutel and Jeremy Nadeau.
La Scala Provence. 3 rue Pourquery de Boisserin. Avignon. 04 90 65 00 90.
