All you need to know about the unmissable Marrakech du Rire festival

Written on : 15 April 2020
By : Emma Di Gesaro

In June 2020, the famous Marrakech Laughter Festival will be held, an event broadcasted on French television that will give you an evening full of laughter and will allow you to discover new artists and comedians. Villanovo takes you to the stage of French comedy for an evening where society and the small problems of everyday life are ridiculed so brilliantly.

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The history of an iconic festival

The first Marrakech of Laughter took place in 2011 in Marrakech. Created by the famous comedian, Franco-Moroccan Jamel Debbouze, it is broadcasted every year on channels M6, TV2M, M6, TV5 Monde, Canal+ International, Edan Tv and records huge audience ratings of around 2 and 3 million viewers every year. In order to offer a real show to the public, the festival invests nearly 3 million euros to produce this event, and this year will be the 10th edition. Known as the international comedy festival, the Marrakech of Laughter offers a 4-day programme in emblematic places in Marrakech such as the Palais El Badi, the French Institute and the Royal Theatre with shows in French and Arabic and a gala on the last day.

A powerhouse of new talent

The Marrakech comedy scene has been filled with some of the greatest names in French-speaking comedy, starting with Jamel Debbouze, the initiator of the festival and the Jamel Comedy Club, which unveils young talents in Paris. Men and women who made French audiences laugh, such as Florence Foresti, Gad Elmaleh, Ary Abittan, Booder, Jarry, Caroline Vigneaux, Camille Lellouche, but also artists from the world of music such as in 2019, Bigflo and Oli. Last year, many young artists saw their careers take off thanks to the festival, notably the 27-year-old Inès Reg, whose fame has risen thanks to the Marrakech of Laughter festivals. Today, the festival mixes humour with dance, music and other practices to offer a new show each year and reveal the talents of each artist performing on the MDR stage.

On the public side, the hall is filled with Marrakech residents or tourists who book their stay during this period to attend the mythical festival. In addition, VIP guests are present in the audience every year, such as actors Audrey Lamy, Elsa Zylberstein, Guillaume de Tonquédec, but also the French singer Black M and many others. Take your place for this festival of laughter and enjoy a Riad in Marrakech for a stay in Morocco!

The Marrakech of laughter in a few figures

The idea was born from Jamel Debbouze and his brother Karim in 2011.
The festival welcomes 250,000 spectators in the huge courtyard of the El Badi Palace.
600 technicians are essential for a smooth running of the festival.
In 2020, the festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary.
In 2019, the festival attracted 2.8 million viewers.