Can comedy help people learn about serious civic issues? Our audience surveys say yes.
Can comedy help people learn about serious civic issues? Our audience surveys say yes.
Danger Boat co-founder Brandon Boat shares survey results from our live shows to explain how comedy can open doors to new perspectives.
For years, The Theater of Public Policy asked a slightly strange question: What if a serious civic conversation and an improv comedy show had a baby, and that baby cared deeply about zoning, taxes, public health, and democracy?
Between 2016 and 2019, we collected 422 audience surveys across 29 shows at the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. We wanted to know if our “chocolate-covered broccoli” approach of mixing hard policy with unscripted humor actually worked.
The results were definitive: audiences had a positive experience, they learned something new, and they valued both aspects of the show (the expert interview and the improvised comedy).
What is The Theater of Public Policy?
The Theater of Public Policy is Danger Boat Productions' flagship show format. Each performance begins with a live interview with a guest expert about a particular issue or idea. A team of improvisers listens carefully, then takes the stage to bring that conversation to life through unscripted comedy scenes.
After the first round of improv, the guest returns to the stage for audience questions. Then the improvisers come back for one final round of scenes inspired by the Q&A. The whole experience fits into 90 minutes.
About the Survey Data
These survey results come from seasons of The Theater of Public Policy that were supported by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The dataset represents 422 responses from shows at Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis.
Some shows during that time collected zero surveys and were not included in the final analysis.
“Legislators should be encouraged — required — to attend these.”
What We Learned
Across 422 audience surveys from our Bryant Lake Bowl shows, 99.3% of respondents rated the experience a 4 or 5, and 85.7% gave it a perfect 5.
That matters because these weren’t lightweight topics. Audiences came to shows about housing, immigration, policing, taxes, environmental policy, diplomacy, end-of-life planning, labor, education, and local government — and still left saying they had a great time.
The data also shows that comedy did not dilute the educational value of the evening. It helped deliver it. Nearly 96% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they learned something new about the topic.
A common myth is that comedy takes away from the message. Our data proves the opposite: comedy is a suprisingly successful educational tool.
The Interview and the Improv Both Matter
The survey data also showed that audiences valued both halves of the format.
97.7% of respondents said they enjoyed the interview, and 93.1% said they enjoyed the improv.
The show does not work because comedy is added on top of a serious conversation like frosting on a white paper. It works because the interview and the improv support each other.
The expert conversation gives the show substance, credibility, and insight. The improv helps people process the ideas, see them from new angles, and remember them.
“Great job mixing comedy with real issues.”
A Format That Works for Serious Topics
Some of the highest learning scores came from shows about gentrification, policing, taxes, marijuana policy, and the state auditor’s office — topics that do not usually scream “great night out.” And yet, audiences consistently reported that they learned something new and enjoyed the experience.
Across these shows, we hosted a Lt. Governor, mayors, diplomats, and research professors. To all Chiefs of Staff out there, this proves that our brand is “safe” and professional enough for high-profile leaders. We draw out their insights, while also making them seem fun. (Read: Please let your VIP’s come to our show!).
Audience Reach
Survey responses came from 93 different ZIP codes. Most were concentrated in Minneapolis and St. Paul, which makes sense for a regular show at Bryant Lake Bowl. But responses also show that the format drew people from across the metro area and beyond.
We were initially shocked the first time we saw a ZIP code from beyond Minnesota, but it turned out to happen far more frequently than we expected. Across four years of shows, we attracted audiences from Iowa, Washington, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Connecticut. One couple even told us they planned their honeymoon around coming to see a show.
That suggests something important for civic events: people will show up for serious topics when the experience feels welcoming, lively, and worth their time.
Conclusion
If your organization needs to help people engage with a complex topic (at a conference, public event, staff gathering, or community conversation) the lesson from this data is clear: people are more willing to learn when the experience is exciting, human, and memorable.
That is where Danger Boat comes in.
We make serious ideas easier to understand, easier to talk about, and a lot more fun to sit through.
