“Funny Zurich” Brings French-Language Humor to Switzerland’s Largest City
An innovative initiative is bringing the joy of French-language comedy to Zurich, catering to the city’s thriving Francophone community.
zurich, the largest city in German-speaking Switzerland, is experiencing a new wave of laughter – delivered in French. ”Funny Zurich,” launched just months ago, is bringing french-speaking humorists to perform for the city’s 17,000 Francophones.
On June 25th, french comedian Jérémy Charbonnel captivated a sold-out crowd at Zurich’s Comedyhaus. Speaking wiht RTS backstage, he expressed his delight: I love the idea of going to cities where you aren’t necessarily expected. And the welcome from the Francophone community here is magnificent!
The driving force behind “Funny Zurich” is Marion Llamas, a 43-year-old French expatriate who has called Zurich home for the past eight years. A lifelong comedy enthusiast, Llamas created the initiative to address a cultural gap she observed within the community.
“I realized that the French-speaking community was establishing itself here long-term, and what many people were missing was access to culture in their native language.”
Llamas’s vision is to host a French-speaking comedian each month at venues across Zurich. She leverages social media, particularly Instagram, to attract talent.
Comedians are often pleasantly surprised by the invitation, but generally eager. They find the idea attractive, especially as Zurich is only a four-hour train ride from Paris,
Llamas explains.
Laughing in Their Mother Tongue
Audiences are traveling from neighboring cities like Winterthur,Basel,and Bern to attend the shows. Attendees emphasize the importance of experiencing comedy in their native language.
“Humor is something that resonates more deeply in your mother tongue – it’s just a little easier, a little more accessible,” one audience member shared.
Another added, “We live in a German-speaking city, but our German isn’t strong enough to fully appreciate a stand-up routine. It’s a real treat to see stand-up comedy performed in French. We were definitely missing this.”
“I think humor is both something extremely universal,although cultural. We always manage to find something that resonates with us, even in american or English humor.”
Llamas believes that humor transcends linguistic boundaries, acting as a universal language.
The success of “Funny Zurich” has garnered meaningful attention, even making the front page of the Zurich daily, Tages Anzeiger. Llamas now aims to establish Zurich as a key destination on the French-speaking comedy circuit.
The next comedian scheduled to perform with “Funny Zurich” is Nora Hamzawi, on September 9, 2025, at the Volkhaus.
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