Second Degree Festival

The “Second degré” Festival explores how humor can transform our perception of sustainability. Through writing workshops, stand-up comedy, and improv, it offers a playful approach to addressing environmental and social issues. The goal is to move beyond guilt-inducing approaches to foster open and engaging discussions. Humor becomes a powerful tool—for both the audience and the creators—by stimulating reflection and collective action.

Through writing workshops, stand-up comedy, and improv, the “Second Degré” festival offers a playful approach to addressing environmental and social issues, as well as the challenges of the ecological transition. The goal is to move beyond guilt-inducing approaches to foster open and engaging discussions. Humor becomes a powerful tool—for both the audience and the creators—by encouraging collective reflection and action. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES Collective Reflection: To assess whether and how humor influences the way we perceive sustainability issues. Artistic experimentation: Create a space where artists and the audience can explore together the ways in which humor can serve the environmental cause. Active Participation: Engage the audience in the creative process, whether through writing workshops or open mic nights, to foster genuine interaction between the stage and the audience.

The “Second degré” Festival explores how humor can transform our perception of sustainability. Through writing workshops, stand-up comedy, and improv, it offers a playful approach to addressing environmental and social issues, as well as the challenges of the ecological transition. The goal is to move away from guilt-inducing approaches to foster open and engaging discussions. Humor becomes a powerful tool—for both the audience and the performers—by encouraging collective reflection and action. During this festival, participants—whether beginners or experienced—will have the opportunity to take part in writing workshops and comedy, improv, and stand-up performances. The goal? To use humor to address the challenges of sustainability and the ecological transition from a new perspective, far removed from guilt-inducing and anxiety-provoking rhetoric. Here, humor becomes much more than entertainment: it is a tool for making an impact. Through laughter, we tackle serious topics—often fraught with guilt—and turn them into open, accessible, and enriching discussions. This festival aims to shift the conversation around sustainability in a fun way, while also sparking deep reflection. This project is inspired by a simple idea: just as shock or guilt may have spurred environmental awareness in the past, humor can act as a catalyst for social change. The creative process becomes a way to explore how comedy can transform our perception of sustainability, for both the writers and the audience. STAKEHOLDERS Residents of the City of Lausanne Residents of Lausanne are invited to actively participate in the various workshops, whether as audience members or contributors. This festival aims to be deeply rooted in the local community, giving residents the opportunity to discover and experiment with forms of humorous expression while exploring sustainability issues. Their voices, experiences, and perspectives will play a central role in the event’s dynamics. Comedians and Stand-Up Artists Established and emerging artists from the comedy scene will lead the writing workshops and perform during the shows. Their mission? To provide insights on how to use humor as a catalyst for social and environmental action, while ensuring moments of laughter and reflection. These comedians work at the intersection of comedy and social activism, proving that humor can raise awareness of environmental issues without resorting to moralizing. Improvisers Improvisation is a powerful tool for addressing complex topics in a spontaneous and participatory way. Improv troupes will guide participants through dynamic workshops, fostering creativity and the emergence of new ideas about sustainability. Through improv games and exercises, the audience will become familiar with real-life situations related to environmental challenges while exploring possible solutions. Science Communicators To anchor the festival on a solid foundation, science communicators will participate in discussions, providing factual insight into environmental issues. These specialists will help translate complex concepts of sustainability into accessible narratives that can be integrated into the comedic performances. Their role will be to strike a balance between the comedic aspect and the accuracy of the information conveyed, ensuring that the issues raised are treated seriously without losing the festival’s lighthearted tone. MAIN PROJECT PARTNERS Bossons-Plaines du Loup Neighborhood Center Center of Expertise in Sustainability (CCD) at the University of Lausanne FESTIVAL PROGRAM Regular Evening Events: - Reflection on the concepts of sustainability - Writing Workshop: Each participant will then have several weeks to write a passage on their own and, if they wish, present it at the closing night - Stand-up comedy and improvisational theater show - Discussion with the audience, moderated by the facilitator Held on multiple dates in various neighborhoods Closing Night - Roundtable discussion with the comedians and participants in the writing workshops - Show featuring on-stage performances by participants in the writing workshops, as well as other professional comedians and improvisers