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In his new program, the Zurich native shows that comedy can also contain serious topics.
Embedding the suicide of a loved one in a comedy program isn’t exactly common. But that’s exactly what comedian Frank Richter does. In his new program “Bla Bla Land” he treats his father’s suicide. He took his own life as a judge was six years old. The fact that he is now talking about it on stage should not be therapy in front of an audience. Nevertheless, it helped him to process this drastic childhood experience, says the 38-year-old.
I haven’t touched on the subject for a long time. Talking about it on stage opened up old wounds.
Suicide is still a taboo subject in society, says the comedian. It is something that concerns so many people personally. “In Switzerland, around 135,000 people have to deal with a suicide in their immediate vicinity every year,” says Richter. Breaking the taboo and raising awareness about the subject are goals he is pursuing with his program.
With his comedy show, the Zurich native would like to to point out that even tragic moments in life with a time difference and a changed perspective can appear quite funny.
Linguistic talent inherited from his father
The reactions from the audience show that he managed to deal with the sensitive topic of suicide in a humorous way. “Frank showed his attitude and conveyed an important message,” says actress Regula Esposito. She thinks that’s why such topics can also be dealt with within a comedy program.
Frank inherited his great talent for writing from his father.
Frank Richter’s mother Gabriele Richter is also in the premiere audience. She says that her son inherited his father’s talent for writing. It is a pity that he is no longer allowed to experience the special talent of his son. Nevertheless, she is very proud that her son can now live out his father’s talent on stage.