It may surprise some to realize that for the past ten years, the beautiful city of Wrocław has been a meeting place for something most unlikely in the heart of Poland: English stand-up comedy. The fact is, that Wrocław has enjoyed a thriving stand-up scene for years; this is due to the cooperation between a few dedicated performers, open-minded bar and club owners, and of course the public.
Joking in English
Shows take place multiple times per month during the comedy “season” and are run by several different people and organizations. Each show includes discounted tickets to attract the student crowd, affordably priced tickets for everyone else, and many shows are free of charge. While the comedians themselves may all be joking in English, they represent a diverse background of races, cultures and nationalities. Where else in Wrocław can you tell the following set-up for a joke, and have it actually be true: “a Pole, a Colombian, an American, a Brit and a Ukrainian walk into a bar . . .”
Amusing city
So, what makes this city such a safe haven for all things funny? As a comedian, I have performed here for the last two years and while I’ve met many hilarious fellow comics and avid comedy fans along the way, I’ve yet to put my finger on the precise magic formula that explains the city’s attraction to stand-up. Perhaps it’s like dissecting a joke, where trying to figure it out only ruins it. Still, I decided to speak with some local participants to find out more about why this unlikely city has become such a frequent stop on the international comedy scene for industry fish both big and small.
“Bringing people together through laughter”
The Derrek Carriveau is not only a comedian with many years of experience all around Poland, but also a co-founder of World-Wide Comedy, an organization that produces many of the shows available in town. According to him, the group’s mission statement is “bringing people together through laughter”, and a look at the audience in any of their shows proves that they’re living up to it. People of all ages and cultures come together at his shows, and surprisingly enough, they tend to laugh at the same jokes. It proves that humor is truly universal, that people will laugh if something’s funny enough, and if the comedian in question has made it relatable.
Michał Płonka is a Polish comedian who is newer to the scene, but already a seasoned performer whose sharp interpretations of history and theology have amused many local audiences. He thinks that people here are drawn to stand-up shows simply because the “local comedy scene is composed of individuals . . . sitting . . . right at the junction of entertainment, culture, politics and current affairs. We are here to entertain and inform, and people of this great city love us for it.” It’s true that current events have a way of generating instant laughs, and most comedians love being topical whenever possible. One thing all the local performers have in common is a set of jokes about living in Wrocław, things happening in Wrocław, and the city’s unique quirks. (Especially the trams. It’s absolutely astounding to witness the depth and range and variety of jokes one can make about Wrocław’s trams.)
Comedians visiting from out of town tend to focus their jokes on the pronunciation of the name Wrocław itself. But the universal truths that we can all agree on (Polish ice cream is delicious, Polish is hard to speak and Germans are weird) bind us all together in ongoing fits of laughter.
Check out live stand-ups
You can check out live stand-up this fall and winter in places like Mleczarnia, Vertigo Jazz Club & Bar, Uff, Proza and many more. Local comedians primarily advertise their shows on Facebook, and updates can always be found on the Facebook group Wrocław Expats. And next time you see a Pole, a Colombian, an American, a Brit and a Ukrainian walk into a bar, pay attention. A seriously funny show is about to start.
