© Veerle de Goederen
The workshops in question were organised only for bachelor’s students, while the master’s students were busy attending their study day at the university. All these workshops were in Dutch, except for the Comedy Club’s. Emma, a native English speaker, feels that this might be the reason why not many people showed up to her workshop.
Sarah Haimes and Panos Efstathiou, both members of the club, explain that many people also shy away from comedy because making people laugh can be an incredibly demanding task. ‘People expect comedy to be instantly funny, which is not the case’, explains Emma.
Lack of options
Being an international student herself several years ago, Emma felt that most entertainment in Wageningen was meant for Dutch speakers. This lack of options and her passion for making people laugh inspired her to start a comedy club. ‘We work with content that is relatable for people from different backgrounds. Family dynamics and food, for instance’, she says.
The club has an eclectic mix of Dutch and international students and often does shows that are very reasonably priced. The team at the club believes that improvisational comedy helps improve public speaking and improvisational skills. They hope to welcome new members so the club can continue spreading cheer and joy in Wageningen.