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.}