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The comedy festival is diverse, colorful and, exceptionally, leaves the stage entirely to the women. For four days, 15 Swiss artists make the audience laugh at Millers in Zurich.
Four days of shows with a selection of the smartest and most entertaining stage women in Switzerland. That’s what the comedy program “Female Trouble”, which premiered last Thursday, promises. The first evening was moderated by stage poet, author and cabaret artist Patti Basler. She is partly responsible for the existence of this festival: According to Patti Basler, one evening is simply not enough to bring together the best female comedians in Switzerland.
The comedy world – a man’s world
The festival can be understood as an answer to reality, because even in the comedy world male dominance still prevails. Lisa Christ, «the young star in cabaret heaven» says: «We live in a world made by men for men. It’s called patriarchy.” The stage women would try their best to achieve equality. At the moment, this still entails additional work. “Hopefully not at some point,” says the satirist.
The comedians of the evening have the answers to the question why men also dominate in the comedy world. For the 47-year-old comedian, Tamara Cantieni, one thing is clear: “Men are a bit louder. Men are sometimes just more relaxed, the ‘fake it, till you make it’ philosophy sometimes works.”
Society is much more used to being a fan of men, we’ve been practicing that for 2000 years now.
Standup comedian Jane Mumford, 34, believes men are used to being allowed to take up space. That is historical. Society is also used to being a fan of men. It’s been like this since Jesus. After more than 2000 years, it is now time to rethink.
time for changes
The artists know what needs to be changed. It starts with simply booking more women, says Fabienne Hardorn. “We don’t let ourselves be slowed down because other women don’t do it that way. That’s extremely important and I think now is the right time for it,” says Corinne Sutter, who opens the show with her speed painting.
This festival is just the right example of that. And even if only women are on stage for once, all genders are of course welcome in the audience.