“The mini Walt Disney I’ve always wanted to create is coming!” On the eve of opening its outdoor space to the public, Just for Laughs boss Patrick Rozon was very excited about the idea of unveiling the new features that the Quartier des spectacles will be embellished.
After difficult years caused by the pandemic, the organization of Just for Laughs put the focus on “the festival-goer’s experience”.
“We wondered what festival-goers wanted to do besides programming on the website,” says Patrick Rozon, Groupe Juste pour rire’s chief creative officer. We thought of places to eat and drink, places to sit in the shade and areas for families.
“When you go to Disney, you go from universe to universe,” he continues. I wanted to create something like that. You enter the family zone and then it’s just a matter of playing. It’s not just separated by tables and a tent. There’s really an atmosphere. Seriously, it’s like magic!”
Given the recession and the festival’s DNA, Just for Laughs also made a point of free entry this year.
“We thought about the fact that people can arrive at 5 p.m. and leave at 11 p.m. and there is always something to do,” says Patrick Rozon.
Sommeliers of Humor
To know what to see among the multitude of shows and activities, this year the festival is offering “Humor Sommeliers”. “It’s like flavor lozenges! laughs Patrick Rozon. The festival-goer tells the sommelier what kind of humor they like and whether they want to see free and/or paid shows. And the sommelier turns it into a course for the evening.”
On the main stage, Just for Laughs will notably present concept shows by Rachid Badouri, PA Méthot, Les Trois Accords and Rita Baga this year. “The power of humor is that you can put everything that’s fun into it,” says Patrick Rozon. It’s multi-artistic.”
“The People’s Crossroads” about the world of François Pérusse, a stage dedicated to stand-up and invisible theater and directed by 25 actors who will make around 150 sketches on the site, will also enrich the outdoor program .
►Just for Laughs takes place from July 20th to 29th. For more information: hahaha.com.