Schedule
The Power of Humour! Monday 21st June 10am (CET)
Have you ever thought about humour as a power, a superpower even? Perhaps it doesn’t posses that which is often portrayed in a Hollywood blockbuster but then again, the difference between the power of humour and that of a Superman or a Wonder Woman is that the latter is fake whilst the power of humour is real! Want to truly understand the value, relevance, importance and benefits of humour then come along to join Fergal as he endeavours to persuade you about The Power of Humour! Become your own Humour Super Hero!
​Crossing the Lines: There are no innocent Jokes! Monday 21st June 12pm (CET)
What is a joke? What is an innocent joke? Are there any innocent jokes? What is humour? What is having fun, or enjoying ourselves? What makes us laugh? Why doesn’teverybody laugh at ‘the joke?’ What makes it difficult for you to understand another person’s joke? What is a joke for some but not for others? What is the impact of humour on areas such as Racism, Xenophobia, Sexuality and Culture? These questions and more will be explored in this workshop. Why not join Ekaterini and find out if there really are any innocent jokes.
Humour through the Art of Storytelling Monday 21st June 2pm (CET)
According to Ruby, the art of storytelling is ‘what you choose to tell & how you tell it.’ Humour is what makes it pop and linger in the mind and heart. In this workshop participants will choose a story they all know, build it up, break it down, pair off to make it their own, and then come back together to share their special story. Join Ruby and discover how it pops and linger!
Bottom’s up! Comedy taking serious steps towards change Monday 21st June 4pm (CET)
Ridiculing the ranks, imagining the impossible, unifying the underdogs and a nonviolent weapon of the weak. Humour is of course famous for reflecting back upon society many of the issues, controversies and contradictions it faces, and has done so as far back as the ancient Greeks. But can it be a genuine process for change? Join Morgaine and find out how laughter breaks down social barriers, makes complex issues more manageable, allows us to play around with possibilities, and can activate social protest, social change and social justice from the bottom up. Boom!
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That’s Just Not Funny! Monday 21st June 7pm (CET)
How many times have you heard that? Well here’s your chance to prove everyone wrong…kind of! Part of the fun of exploring humour is learning about humour in other countries and cultures. What is funny in one country or culture might not be in the slightest bit funny in another. But that is exactly the point! And sometimes that’s what’s funny. Unfunny humour can be funny…or at least the reactions of others to it! Not everything has to be funny of course so as to learn about humour in another place. This session offers participants from various countries the opportunity to share a little bit about humour in their culture or country. Want to learn about what is funny, where and why, or perhaps why not, then make your way to ‘That’s Just Not Funny’ and see if you can prove us wrong!
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Timing is Everything: The RIGHT Joke in the WRONG Moment! Tuesday 22nd June 10am (CET)
Are jokes universally funny? Who decides what is, or is not funny? If you find a joke funny, can you assume others - especially with different cultural experiences upbringing - ought to find the joke funny too? If someone shares a joke you don't find funny, should you assume malintent? Can jokes help or hinder relationship building? This workshop will focus on a number of aspects to consider when and how to incorporate humour in your intercultural work. It will use a number of practical case studies to help attendees gain insight into the opportunities and pitfalls of humour in an intercultural setting. Do also bring your own experiences or queries/ scenarios!
A Very Novel Story: Tricks of the trade – Tom Sharpe Style! Tuesday 22nd June 12pm (CET)
Storytelling is for all! In fact, you don’t need to be “Messi of the words” to write a good tale and a good novel. In this workshop participants will find out more about characters, vocabulary, structure, conflicts and a surprise effect on the your story! Using Tom Sharpe’s novels as an example, participants will get in touch with much more! Rock music, films and great books can be the first step to build your ‘secret sauce.’Think outside the box with Gil and discover the magic ingredients that make up the secret sauce!
Comedy Theatre – Stand Up Comedy Tuesday 22nd June 2pm (CET)
Have you always wanted to explain a story, an experience, a moment in a humorous way, and you have never been able to do so? Do you want to use humour to get people's attention or to help your target group raise awareness about a specific topic? If you want to know how, come along and join Gemma as she takes you on a journey where you’ll pick up some tips on how to do so.
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Building Stories through Humour and Laughter Tuesday 22nd June 4pm (CET)
Stories are part of our everyday life and in this workshop, you will find out how you can change the way you view life and its many realities. Using humour, you’ll begin to dsicover tips to build your own stories or ‘that story’ with other people. You can develop alternative and empowering stories through humour by developing greater awareness, and new perspectives and competences. Want to find out how you can face difficult situations with a smile or use humour to change your reality or challenges you face in everyday life, then come along and join Ekaterini and she will demonstrate how. Building Stories through Humour and laughter is an experiential workshop using a number of Non-Formal Learning and Life Long Learning Methodologies, along with Solution Focused BRIEF & PROKOP Practice, Systemic Psychotherapy, Body Centred Psychotherapy and Coaching
RudeTube: Your Kind of Humour! Tuesday 22nd June 7pm (CET)
An exercise that is normally used in the ‘Humour is Serious Business’ Training Programme, participants are invited to introduce and share their favourite video clip (max 60 seconds) and explain why they find it funny. Designed to be fun and to have a laugh this session is also designed to educate and provide space for participants to better understand different types of humour ‘out there.’ So if you have a favourite clip that you think will raise a laugh then you’re invited! Come join us as we take a roller coaster ride through the humour jungle!
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Humour as a Tool for Stress Management Wednesday 23rd June 10am (CET)
Have you ever had an issue in your life, one where you were unable to manage, you got stressed but humour helped you get over it? In stressful times, when we are sort of lost and unsure what to do, humour can be a significant tool at our disposal and can help lead you into a ‘stress-release’ stage. Humour helps you to get real and brings you closer to others. Let's find out how. During this workshop participants will bring their own life experiences of using humour as a stress management tool and analyse how they reached the stress release stage. Bring material from your life experience so as to maximise learning together and join Mara as she helps bring you to the stress-release stage!
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DiversiSMILES Wednesday 23rd June 12pm (CET)
Humour provides us with a large variety of cultural challenges. What humours us, causes us to smile and laugh, may create confusion and even pain in other places and contexts. The diversiSMILES game has been created to generate discussion and understanding about these delicate subjects as well as inform players of dimensions and practices of humour in a variety of different cultures including some do’s and taboos. You will be introduced to and play in small groups a game which provides a safe space to connect with each other and discuss the experiences, thoughts and feelings about what makes us smile, laugh, giggle, chuckle and hoot. Join George Simons, who will be supported by his beautiful assistant, Mr Stephan van de Ven, as they help bring smiles to your day!
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Comedy Theatre – Clowning Wednesday 23rd June 2pm (CET)
According to Gemma there’s a clown in all of us and she’s inviting you to know it and play with it! You are going to be curious and surprised by everything that is happening to you. Every opportunity will be a great chance to try new things, fail all the times possible, and try again. You clown!
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Clown Therapy Wednesday 23rd June 4pm (CET)
Clown therapy? How does it work? You don’t know? Want to find out? Marta will answer your ‘FAQs’ (Frequently Asked Questions) before taking you ‘behind the scenes.’ How is the training of a clown therapist? ‘Well, yes, it’s not “just to be funny”.’ But it is fun, she promises! Marta started her ‘life’ as a clown therapist in 2018 and currently she is writing her master’s thesis about clown therapy as a tool in business management. So, yes…there will be some theory in her ‘speech’ (yuck!), but very little, she also promises! There will also be an open space to share and meet new people, I’m looking forward to meet you!
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The ‘Holy Trinity’ – Alexa, Siri & Google Assistant: Artificial Humour in the modern era Wednesday 23rd June 7pm (CET)
Do you love me Siri? Do you want to be my friend Alexa? What can they do? What can’t they do? Can they substitute a human friend? Completely or only at some level? Can they be better than an assistant? We are going to talk and experiment with our phones, tablets and computers and see how far we can go with them.
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Humour and Laughter: Building on Resilience and ADD (Adversity Activated Development) during Grief, Trauma, and Illness Thursday 24th June 10am (CET)
How can we use humour to make an ill person feel better or to make a difficult time in their life easier, or more colourful? How can you get out of a deep black depression and see hope, both inside you and around you? Is it possible to develop alternative empowering stories to deal with Grief , Trauma or Illness? If you were ‘separated’ from your problem, what kind of story would you tell? In this workshop you will have the opportunity to explore themes such as ‘I am not my illness / I am not my trauma.’ You will have the opportunity to consider ways of opening your lenses on life and allow smiles and laughing in by reframing what is happening to you, through humour. Finding your inner strength and developing new possibilities in life through humour, you will consider what your body or life is telling you and explore how humour can help you heal. Join Ekaterini on a gentle and inspiring process of how humour can lift you out of the darker moments.
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Humour & Theatre of the Oppressed – Lightness in the dark moments Thursday 24th June 12pm (CET)
Can we use humour and theatre of the oppressed together? Are we able to combine these two disciplines of theatre? YES, is the answer. You are going to dive into a debate and discuss what is right or wrong, if there is right or wrong, and what should be permitted or not. Intrigued? Join Gemma as she explores how humour can respond to some of life’s darker moments.
Humour as Healing Thursday 24th June 2pm (CET)
This combination leads us straight (or zigzag!) into sacred clowning terrain. We all know that jokes & humor release tension thereby reducing pain. While this can be done alone or with friend(s), it’s so much more powerful within a community of witnesses. I will show you how to use various physical techniques to identify “shadow knowing” for powerful release and joy. All you have to do is trust yourself! I’m just a midwife to what your soul is already reaching for.
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Humour as Resilience Thursday 24th June 3.30pm (CET)
This workshop will present sense of humour as it is represented in many theories and models of resilience. In general, sense of humour has been neglected in many studies, methods and interventions in psychology, but in resilience work it is part of the mandala and considered a very important element in personal, family and community resilience. This workshop will share some of these ideas and invite you to think about your own humour and resilience. Want to know more about how humour can be used to support resilience then this is the place for you.
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Who is afraid of humour? Thursday 24th June 7pm (CET)
‘The first day of June I wake up and I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. One nose. One mouth. Green eyes, two green eyes, to be precise. Two ears, too. That’s me! And in that moment, I’ve asked myself “why we need a humor festival”?’ ‘There are settings where the humor is not welcome. Again, there are settings where people fear humor.’ (Flush...) ‘Second thing I realize is that eating too much in the evening is not good for my brain.’ In this stand-up show Marta will try to tie up all her thoughts of that morning. And she needs your help! Can you help Marta? If so, bring a digestive biscuit, a cup of tea; it could be heavy as a Christmas lunch!
Let's see how funny YOU are: A Quick Introduction Friday 25th June 10am (CET)
Some people are just funny. They may have a natural sense of timing, exceptional insights, or simply come across as very, very likable. But as every performer knows very well, the main part of a professional comedian or humourist's work is trial and error, and hours and hours of practice. In our session, we will try a few exercises from stand-up and improv classes to boost our creativity, get self-doubt under control, and try our hand at being relaxed when speaking in public. In one word, we will try to get funnier. We can't guarantee success, but the first step is getting involved. Then everything can happen.
Funny Friday Check In! Friday 25th June 11am (CET)
Funny Friday Check-In! is a relaxed and informal gathering allowing participants the opportunity to grab a cuppa and ‘meet-up for a giggle, a smile or a hearty laugh and share lighter moments from their day, their last evening, their previous week or a life-changing moment. There is no agenda but the aim is just to chill, breathe, embrace and enjoy the moment and check in with others who seek the same solace for a short period, away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life or working week. Come join us and find your Funny Friday moment!
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Storytelling with Raquel! Friday 25th June 12pm (CET)
The importance of storytelling can never be underestimated. Who doesn’t love to hear a story, especially a funny one! In some ways we are all Story Tellers. In this workshop, you will benefit from a short intro on the subject, listen to a funny Portuguese traditional story and discuss with other participants what makes a funny story. Working in smaller groups, you will then have the opportunity to use a story and transform into a funny one and share it with other participants. Fancy finding out how to transform a regular story into a funny one? Then this is the place for you.
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LOL Laughter Session Friday 25th June 2pm (CET)
Laughter is a universal language. In this session participants will learn how to “use” this language. The methodology is based on laughter as an exercise, i.e., laughing without a specific reason. Crazy, right? Hahaha! Come to this workshop and explore with other participants laughter practice through movement and exercises. You’ll be introduced to breathing techniques, in order to re-learn how to laugh properly. By the end of the session, your body will benefit on a physical level, and you will be more willing to bring laughter in our everyday life! What do you need? Comfortable clothes, willingness to stretch your comfort zone, a space where you can laugh loudly. The session is also suitable also for people with reduced movement, feel free to mail in case of doubt. Skeptical??? Believe it or not, our brains respond in the same way to induced laughter as it does to spontaneous laughter. Don’t believe me? Only one way to find out! Come along and give LAUGHTER a try! Hehehehe!
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A Greek Tragedy: Humour Style Friday 25th June 4pm (CET)
In this session, Eleni will provide a description of ancient Greek theatre and how it is constructed. She will explain ancient Greek theatrical masks and in doing so look at playing with emotions. In addition, she will outline the Aristotle’s definition and characteristics of tragedy and comedy, i.e., why tragedy is the mirror image or negative of comedy along with the responsibility of the main hero. Eleni, will also introduce participant to Aristophanes – the most important dramatist of the Old Comedy and his works, and how these define the legacy of Old Comedy, with their pungent political satire and abundance of sexual and scatological innuendo - he lampooned the most important personalities and institutions of his day. Finally, and without a hint or irony, Eleni will demonstrate how critical thinking helps us look at how tragedy becomes comedy.
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Closing Ceremony: Let's Get Crazy: Friday 25th June 7pm (CET)
As you might expect with one of the main theories that underpins humour, i.e., Incongruity Theory, Let's Get Crazy isn't quite what you'd expect. It's more of a relaxed kind of crazy as Fergal opens the final session of the festival and invites you to join him to share some thoughts, observations, and commentary before the wonderful and beautiful fellow Custodian of Baldness, Carmine Rodi Falanga, takes centre stage.
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Stand Up with Carmine Friday 25th June 7.30pm (CET)
Carmine will help bring proceedings to a close with thirty minutes of stand up followed by an opportunity to put questions to him and find out secrets of stand up! Want to have fun, laugh but learn from someone who has worked on his craft down the years then come along and join us.