Better known for its fondue, yodelling, chocolate, and cowbells, the country of Switzerland is rarely linked to comedy, in fact the concept of a Swiss comedian is a bit of an oxymoron… until now.

Enter left stage Michael Elsener, who has been dubbed the ‘Swiss John Oliver’; he’s a multi-talented fellow who rose to prominence as a political satirist/ comedian fronting a late-night TV show. He’s so popular back home that many politicians are now monitoring and responding to his opinions on anything and everything. Oh, and he’s even recorded a hit song about guacamole!

‘How to Live in Paradise’ initially appears to be a witty discussion of Swiss idiosyncrasies. It’s a country of uber-democracy holding multiple referenda every year and known worldwide for its neutrality. Yet there are paradoxes: women only got the vote in 1971 and until 1988 had to get permission from their husbands to work! It’s interesting stuff and a bit of a shame that he doesn’t spend more time on these revelations, but the examples serve to highlight some of the deeper themes developed throughout the show: those of exclusion, acceptance, and the search for universal happiness.

Elsener with his piercing blue eyes and blond curls, epitomises wholesomeness, a modern- age William Tell figure. However, as a gay man who grew up in a small, rural, conservative, Catholic village, Elsener’s childhood doesn’t appear to have been such a chocolate box bucolic idyll.  There is much discussion of how he came out to his parents, his search for the right path, and his own personal paradise. Light frivolity mixes with genuine soul-searching and the raising of fairly profound questions. He largely avoids extensive political discussion, but his antipathy to Alice Weidel, the Swiss residing German leader of the AfD, is clear.

Elsener gives a good performance on what is his Fringe debut night, with some local cultural references and plenty of audience banter and engagement. Aligned with the theme of politics and democracy there was also a constant polling of the audience. The set moved seamlessly through a broad array of topics from Swiss cow-milking times to bodily ablutions –  the laughter gentle but constant. The performance is all the more impressive given English is not Elsener’s native tongue and whilst he understandably lacked some of the speed of native comedians, this in no way detracted from everyone’s enjoyment.

With an already  flourishing domestic career, it’s admirable and commendable to see Elsener challenging himself in a different country and via another language. Packing out large venues at home, this Fringe run is a rare opportunity to meet one of Switzerland’s star comedians in a much more intimate setting.

‘How to Live in Paradise‘ is at Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower – Ruby until Thu 21 Aug 2025 at 20:20