PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
It was a visibly proud Patrick Rozon who welcomed us, late Thursday afternoon, in front of the big Beneva stage. The weather was fine and the Place des Festivals was already coming to life.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
It was the launch day for the outdoor programming of this 41e edition of the Just for Laughs festival, and Patrick Rozon wanted to talk about what’s new. In short, ideas that he and his team have developed to reinvent the outdoor offer of the festival, which runs until July 29.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Last year, “first real edition” of the Just for Laughs festival since the start of the pandemic, Patrick Rozon was arrested by visitors, who told him that they had been there for half an hour and that they had the impression of having toured the site. “I said to myself: this is not normal, summarizes Patrick Rozon. How can we get people to stay from 5pm to 11pm? »
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
This is the goal: to offer a varied, visible and constant offer so that visitors always find something to do. Like a comedy club, the Loto-Québec stage, in front of Place des Arts, sees up to 25 artists parade each evening.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
“It’s five artists per show, up to five shows per evening, summarizes Patrick Rozon. On the big stage, unless it’s one of the five big stars in Quebec, it works average. But here it’s perfect. The Beneva stage obviously continues to receive big hits.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The Just for Laughs team also gave downtown a makeover for the great comedy festival. Thanks to a federal budget envelope, colored structures (hot air balloon, alien, “escape” button, etc.) were suspended from the poles.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
“We used street furniture to create a scenographic element,” explains Lyne Thériault, executive producer. The elements will also be used at the Toronto and Vancouver festivals.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The family zone has also been enhanced. Last year, agrees Patrick Rozon, it was rather “small”. This year, there is street entertainment, a climbing wall, trampolines, an escape game and crafts.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Also in the family area, a small stage where you can see, every evening at 6:15 p.m., a show from the “pushchair humor” series, intended for adults who have children and who have to leave early. “Everything is free”, specifies Patrick Rozon. Visitors can then branch off to a board game area.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
Another essential novelty, the People’s Crossroads pays tribute to the world of François Pérusse. Snack-bar Chez Raymond to eat, Ski-doo to take pictures, karaoke to sing…
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
On the way from The Pressa man spat Sitting on my tractor at the microphone. “He fakes, but François Pérusse too, so it’s beautiful! laughed Patrick Rozon. Also on the program, a 23-minute show, three times a night.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The Just for Laughs festival is also, traditionally, street art. This year, the offer is increased tenfold. Eleven theater groups put on shows in the middle of the crowd, while 25 disguised actors (three times more than last year) perform invisible theater performances.