The five best venues for stand-up shows in the capital
We’re seeing more and more of them. A wave of artists has been sweeping through the capital in recent years, performing solo in front of audiences. It’s a form of one-man show that’s very much in vogue: stand-up is a comedy show in which a comedian addresses the audience informally, without tricks, props or costumes, telling funny, often short stories inspired by everyday life. A way for the audience to identify with comic situations, and above all to unwind on weekday evenings or weekends. A large number of artists, both well-known and up-and-coming, play Parisian venues every evening. We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to five places where you can have fun.
1. The Comedy Club
In a way, it’s the pioneer of the « new » stand-up in France. A veritable breeding ground for artists spotted by the master of the house, Jamel Debbouze, the Comedy Club has been one of Paris’s new « must-see » stages since 2008. It would be difficult to list all the artists who have emerged from anonymity thanks to the Comedy Club, but make a point of stopping by on Saturdays or Sundays at 6:00 p.m. to see the new troupe perform, or on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. for the DebJam Comedy, when the Comedy Club spots and selects original talent likely to be picked up by Jamel.
Address: 42 boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 75010 Paris
2. The Republic
The Republic opened its doors last June, and was taken over by the Comte de Bouderbala and his producer. In the tradition of London’s legendary Comedy Store or New York’s Times Square Comedy Store, Le République is set to become the capital’s new stage of tomorrow. Here, you can see up-and-coming and well-known artists such as the Comte de Bouderbala and Nora Hamzawi, the columnist who perhaps best practices laughter through self-mockery. In fact, take a look at Nora Hamzawi’s website to find out more about her and her one-man show.
Address: 23 Place de la République, 75003 Paris
3. Paname Art Café
Another not-to-be-missed stand-up venue in Paris, Le Paname, a stone’s throw from République on the Canal St. Martin, is a bar-restaurant that hosts different shows every night of the week. Admission is free, with a compulsory minimum consumption of 5 euros.
Address: Le Paname, 14 rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011 Paris
4. Underground Comedy Club
Every Sunday evening, comedians appear before the crowd to present their talents for around ten minutes. It’s short, it’s funny, and it’s a great way to end the week with a smile.
Address: Les Cariatides, 3 Rue de Palestro, 75002 Paris
5. Le Trempoint
For over 30 years now, Point Virgule has been organizing open stages to showcase the talents of tomorrow. It’s one of the longest-running open stages in Paris. Every Sunday at 5.30pm, four artists take to the stage to introduce audiences to their world.
Address: Le Point Virgule, 7 rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 75004, Paris
Of course, there are plenty of other places to laugh in Paris, but this is a good list to get you started in this world of entertainment.
Main photo credit: Facebook – Comedy Club