Just for Laughs International Comedy Week: this month’s cure for the common frown

One laugh a day keeps the expat blues away

Been having a case of the frowns lately? Then the festival Juste Pour Rire (Just for Laughs) in Brussels this April 28 to May 7 may be just what the doctor ordered.

Originating from Montreal, Juste Pour Rire is a world-renowned comedy festival 30 years in the running and touring cities like Chicago, Sydney and Paris. The Brussels edition is now in its fourth year, and to celebrate, a special International Comedy Week of English-speaking comedians is to be added to the already hilarious programme.

The International Comedy Programme has put together by Kings of Comedy and English Comedy Brussels, two organisations that take the task of bringing humour to English-speaking expats actually pretty seriously. “With the large number of expats living in Brussels, including English-speaking comedy seemed normal,” explains Xavier Rossey from English Comedy Brussels.

The main stage

“Plus, the prestige of the festival allowed us to get a lot of very talented comedians in the same week, which would be impossible otherwise,” Rossey is referring to the festival’s headliners Al Lubel (USA) and Pete Johansson (CAN). Lubel, a comedic veteran, has toured with big names like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Hick and performed on the David Letterman show five times. Pete Johansson meanwhile has toured with Reginald D Hunter. “Having these two guys on the same night (May 2 at Espace Lumen) is really awesome. Andy Valvur (USA) will be there as well for a few minutes, in addition to his extended set on April 30,” says Rossey.

English comedy all-stars: specialised in expat affairs

Other English comedy all-stars will participate in festival to ensure week-long laughs, including Nigel Williams (UK), David Hayden (IRE) and Yianni Agisilaou (AUS). There will also be performances by non-English natives, which Rossey assures is worth the ticket: “As you know, many expats in Brussels use English as a second language. So when artists perform exclusively with ‘English’ material – English politics, accents, etc – expat audiences often don’t grasp the jokes. This is why this festival mixes nationalities, because expats relate more to comedians who are also ‘expats’ in a way.”

Try the weeklong comedy detox

Most of the comedic performances cost €15 and will take place at the Kings of Comedy Club. As for the highly anticipated closing evening on Friday May 2 , a ticket to sell all performances will cost €25 and will be held at Espace Lumen (near Place Flagey). Looking for a real laughter detox? Then consider indulging yourself in a week of comedic therapy by buying an Unlimited Pass for €55.

http://www.justepourrirebrussels.com

WIN TICKETS!
The Bulletin has tickets to give away to every night of International Comedy Week. To win a pair, send an email to webmaster@thebulletin.be with “international comedy week” in the subject line by noon on 25 April. Let us know your name and which evening (or evenings) you’d like to attend (28, 29, 30 April or 2 May). Winners will be notified the same day