I was greeted at the airport by Igor and we drove across town in his friends Hummer. It was only a H3 but still a fitting introduction to Russia. We drove about an hour across St Petersburg to get to the venue and I realised how big this city is. You can fit 6 of Estonia into just this city. Then I realised how Estonian I am for comparing everything to the size of Estonia.

Igor informed me that tonight was a test night, they havn’t done shows at this restaurant before but they have guys who have come from all over the Soviet Union (I love it when they use that term) for their TV filming on Thursday and we can have a trial tonight. The other comics are cool but don’t speak much English. In fact no one speaks much English but its ok, everyone is warm and nice to me.

Igor and I start to talk about my jokes and it soon becomes apparent I will have to rework my stuff. He is laughing at a few of them but sometimes we need to change how I say the words. Igor is a switched on comedian and can come out with jokes fairly easily. Give him a topic and he has found an angle in it. We decide that I should be writing about Russia, my time here (even though it has been 3 hours at this point) and we find a way to refocus my estonian jokes to say “ah yes in Estonia we are very much like Russia” in an attempt to bond with the audience. I tell him about some of my experiences in Estonia and he tells me what Russian people might find funny. An example of two jokes

1) In Estonian pelmeeni (dumplings) are very common, I cook them all the time, so you can tell I dont have a wife

Schtick? Oh yes. A little sexist? sure. but it seemed funny at the table.

2) For the first year of living in Tallinn I lived in a Kruchovki apartment. The walls were so thin I became friends with my neighbors.. and my neighbors neighbours… and my neighbors neighbors neighbors…. I could also talk to the guy in the apartment above me…. he would just lean down through the hole in the floor.

They didn’t go for the first one but they did like the second one. The second one had more meat to it (no dumping pun intended here) and a small act out. This also correlates to what I saw of the Russian comedians, mostly big men being loud. Made me happy we have Keiu and Janika in Estonia. However gender roles seem different here. I am yet to find out how many female comedians they have.

OK but joke #2 had a second part, a joke Ive been doing for ages where I say “I think Kruschovki apartments should have been named after another Soviet leader… Gorbachev…because they both have dirt on the roof”. They didn’t get this AT ALL. Deathly silence. The original joke says “because they booth have a stain in the ceiling”, I was advised “stain” and “ceiling” were difficult words. Was it the change in wording? Or do history jokes just not work here?

Igor on stage

I also said “I know 4 words in Russian, Dah, Net, Specbia and Sooka (yes, no, thank you and bitch/whore). So the last word gets a cheap laugh. I then continued “I think I could live for a month in St Petersburg just knowing those words (I think the idea of that joke is solid but I didnt deliver it right)… OH and if I learn one more word “comrade” I could become president”.

That last tag was probably not funny and far too subtle for any audience or FSB member present to get.

I had a few chances to improv and they worked well. The crowd were nice and didn’t mind to yell things. My opening joke was about being told this (far out) suburb was the center of St Petersburg and a guy yells “this isnt the center” and then I went on at him for explaining the joke and it was fun, so they did understand me. Then I tell a joke about girls wanting a visa and a guy yelled “but russian women want to stay in Russia”, however he was middle aged, fat, balding and had a blonde drunk bimbo in a short pink dress sitting on his lap “sir, go back to putting your face in her breasts” got a good laugh from the crowd.

I would say the crowd liked easy jokes about Russia and dick jokes. My ended was all dick jokes and that got them back a bit. Also this crowd is very new to stand up, this isn’t their main venue and we are quite far from the center, so it maybe cant be my only barometer. Today I will go and experience St Petersburg and tonight write some new jokes about this town to perform tomorrow.

Igor and Anton are the stars of the show and they improv great. Ive watched a lot of comedy in other languages and you can learn so much even when you don’t understand the jokes. They do a double act and clearly have their shit down, Anton gets on the stage and talks and talks and Igor then drops in with a perfectly timed comment which kills the crowd. I really want to have these guys out to Tallinn and Riga. Ive decided I need to be a comedy promoter who does shows in 3 languages.

Igor and Anton doing their thing on stage

I had some warm reactions after the show, people coming up and thanking me using the few words of English they know, which is sweet. We drove back downtown to the apartment I’m staying in and we stopped at a supermarket to get some breakfast. I went and got some bread and cheese and noticed that all the packets were individually tagged so you cant walk out of the shop with them. For a 1 euro packet of cheese. Ok rough neighborhood. I got excited when I saw one of the packets though.

“Hey Igor, look they have Eesti Juust here!”

Igor gave me a confused look of “what the fuck are you talking about?” and I realized, of course he doesn’t understand it says “Estonian cheese” and Russia has no such language law that everything has to be in Russian too. I guess when your language is as big and dominant as Russian you can afford to have people confused about their diary products.

Fredrik Andersson (SWE)

If you like comedy that hits you off guard, then don’t drink anything while you sit through one of Fredrik Andersson’s shows, as you’re likely to give the person in front of you a quick shower, for Fredrik is a skilled joke-smith who constantly creates and crafts the best flow of fun from set ups to punches and promises to take you on a journey through the dark and twisted recesses of his mind with no guarantee that you’ll come out of it the same person.

Better known in his native Sweden for performing on hit shows such as ‘Balls of Steel’ Fredrik still is one of the hardest working Swedish touring comedians although keen to make it on the British circuit. Now living in the UK, and delivering comedy in a second language, his aim is to be a recognised headliner within the next few years, although in only a short space of time Fredrik has performed in practically every major UK venue and just like in Sweden he continually gets asked back.

So if you want your comedy sharp, slick and with a twist of innovation then come and see Fredrik Andersson

Tickets are available at Piletilevi!

Bob Maclaren won the New Zealand comedy award then set off to tour the planet endlessly. His sharp and origonal style has seen him play to packed houses in every cornern of the globe. He is an enchanting story teller with a captivating physical style. Hilarious and sometime surreal his stories ramble and stumble from flightless kiwis to stoned nazis and biblical revelations. Bobs unique style rewarded him his own comedy travel series on the discovery channel and two drama series on TV New Zealand .

Tickets are still available for Stand Up Comedy at Club Prive this Wednesday from Piletilevi, get them before they sell out!

You may recall last month Dylan Moran went to St Petersburg and became the first English speaking comedian to perform in Russia. The same promoters have invited Louis there and technically, he will be the second ever!

This means however Louis will be away for Stand Up Comedy at Club Prive this month however we have a fabulous stand-in host by the name of Nickolay Antonov who comes from, quite coincidently, Russia. This promises to be an extra special show, now we have EST vs USA vs RUS in one room! A comedy war which will be anything but cold!

Tickets are still onsale and if you get them before Thursday at Piletilevi they are only 10€!

Check out the video online here

“Why don’t Estonians use the trains very much? I guess they got a bad reputation in the 1940’s.”

Louis on sündinud ja üles kasvanud Austraalia rannikuäärses linnakeses ja tema lapsepõlv meenutab enim seriaali “Kodus ja Võõrsil” (v.a. kehvad näitlejad). Viimase keskkooli eksami sooritanud, pakkis ta asjad ning sama päeva õhtul lahkus ta maapealset paradiisi meenutavast kodukohast, teadmata, mis see endaga kaasa toob.

Esmapilgul meenutab Louis tüüpilist päikesepaistest küllastunud austraallast. Tema entusiastlik olek paneb arvama, et just hetk tagasi on oma kätega kinni püütud suur krokodill, mida lõbus mees kohe valgete hammaste välkudes suure isuga toorelt järama asub. Igasugune optimism aga haihtub hetkega, kui Louis satub kokku elu üle virisevate inimestega.

Peale oma auto, peab Louis edasiviivaks jõuks naisi ja inimlikku lähedust. Ta peab lugu tunnetest – nii headest, kui halbadest. Oluline on tunda ja Eestis tunnebki ta, et on elus. Talle läheb väga korda eestlaste oskus nautida hetke ja väärtustada oma kultuuri. Tegeledes stand-up’iga, nii ise laval olles, kui üritusi organiseerides, saabki Louis talle nii armsaks saanud riigile midagi omalt poolt vastu anda.

“I’m afraid of heights. That’s why I have none”

Janika on kasvanud Sindis, kus tema lapsepõlv möödus suuresti kodus haige olemise tähe all. See tõi endaga kaasa, vinge ema ja muheda kasuisa kõrvale, lapsehoida tädi Viive ja tema taksikoer Toni. Janika arvabki, et rohkem, kui kool ja sõbrad, mõjutas teda kodu ning sealsed väärtushinnangud. Nii eelistab noor naine tänase päevani seltskonnale pigem üksi olemist ja mõtisklemist.

Mõnda aega teatriteadust õppinud ja näitekirjanikuna käe valgeks saanud Janika, kavatseb teha kannapöörde ning asuda lähitulevikus õppima midagi konkreetset. Näiteks kasvõi majandust. Nimelt, tunneb ta, et kui ta tegeleb järjest liiga palju loominguga, siis loogiliselt kalkuleeriv mina tema sees muutub närviliseks.

Samuti teeb Janika ärevaks inimeste võlts kaastunne. Ta ei mõista, miks inimesed nii kergekäeliselt pilluvad repliiki: “Ma kujutan ette, kuidas sa end hetkel tunned.” Ta ei usu selliste inimeste siirusesse, kes meedias kommentaariumites tunnevad kaasa näiteks avariis hukkunute lähedastele. Selline silmakirjalikkus ei lohuta kedagi, vaid hoopis ärritab, kui võõra inimese murekoormast üritatakse osa endale saada.

Üldiselt on Janika aga rahulik ja pigem uimane. Nii uimane, et tema aegluubis liikumine võib lausa vihale ajada. Ennast kohati kaootilisena tundev Janika armastabki sel puhul minna mõnda kohvikusse, tellida klaas punast veini, tükk shokolaadi ja hea raamatu seltsis aeg maha võtta. Kui sellest aga ei piisa, siis on ta sunnitud kõik oma hirmud alla suruma ja ennast ikka ja jälle proovile panema stand-up koomikuna. Laval saab ta jagada publikule oma mõtteid elust – mõtteid, mis ilmselt muidu kohutava tagasihoidlikkuse tõttu jääkski jagamata.

Our two great International guests this month are

Bob Maclaren (NZ)

Bob Maclaren won the New Zealand comedy award then set off to tour the planet endlessly . His sharp and origonal style has seen him play to packed houses in every cornern of the globe .He is an enchanting story teller with a captivating physical style.Hilarious and sometime surreal his stories ramble and stumble from flightless kiwis to stoned nazis and biblical revelations .Bobs unique style rewarded him his own comedy travel series on the discovery channel and two drama series on TV New Zealand .

Fredrik Andersson (SWE)

If you like comedy that hits you off guard, then don’t drink anything while you sit through one of Fredrik Andersson’s shows, as you’re likely to give the person in front of you a quick shower, for Fredrik is a skilled joke-smith who constantly creates and crafts the best flow of fun from set ups to punches and promises to take you on a journey through the dark and twisted recesses of his mind with no guarantee that you’ll come out of it the same person.

Better known in his native Sweden for performing on hit shows such as ‘Balls of Steel’ Fredrik still is one of the hardest working Swedish touring comedians although keen to make it on the British circuit. Now living in the UK, and delivering comedy in a second language, his aim is to be a recognised headliner within the next few years, although in only a short space of time Fredrik has performed in practically every major UK venue and just like in Sweden he continually gets asked back.

So if you want your comedy sharp, slick and with a twist of innovation then come and see Fredrik Andersson

Tickets onsale now at Piletilevi! Get them before the 10th and they are only 10€!

“Have you seen the new leader of North Korea? Kim Jong Un? He is a big guy and looks like he has never missed a meal. Now we know why the North Korean people are starving.”

Andy sündis Manhattanil, kasvas Jaapanis ja seda kõike koos kahe eestlasest vanemaga. Nagu mees ise ütleb, et ole paremat retsepti koomiku valmistamiseks, kui oli tema kodune keskkond. Väikese poisina oli ta sunnitud ennast väljendama nii inglise, jaapani kui eesti keeles.

Nii ei olegi mees kunagi peljanud sukelduda üha uutesse, võõrastesse kultuuriruumidesse. Hetkel Saksamaale maandunud Andy on juba osaliselt omandanud seni nii võõra saksaslikku punktuaalsuse. Uskuge – see on tema jaoks saavutus. Ta on enda üle enam kui uhke igal harval korral, kui ta suudab kokkulepitud kohta kohale ilmuda ja seda lausa õigeks ajaks.

Andy usub headusesse, sest ta on kohanud inimlikku lahkust ja piiritut suuremeelsust ka kohtades, kus seda kõige vähem loota võib. Ka väiksemad asjad ei jäta teda ükskõikseks – üksik maal, juhuslik foto või just kuuldud laul ja juba ongi Andy vaimustuses.

Ignorantsus ja kitsarinnalisus on Andy jaoks võõrad. Mees ei suuda mõista inimeste suutmatust iseenda üle pisut naerda. Võitluses paindumatuse ja elu liiga tõsiselt võtmise vastu on Andy valinud kaks relva – magistrikraadi rahvusvahelistes suhetes ja stand-up’i. Pole siis midagi imestada, et nii Andy enda, kui tema lemmiknaljad teistel koomikutelt, on tihti poliitilise alatooniga.

“I once dated a girl with a lazy eye. I broke up with her, because she was seeing someone else.”

Stewart, kes sündis ja kasvas Ameerikas, tegi varajases lapsepõlve elu oluliseima avastuse – kõige parem viis probleemidel nurki maha lihvida, on läbi naeru. Täpselt nii kaua kui ta mäletab ennast, on ta ka olnud veendumusel, et just sedasi saab ta enda ümber inimestele kasulik olla. Neid isegi aidata.

Kooliaastad ühendriikides olid Stewarti jaoks äärmiselt segadustekitavad ja absoluutselt mitterahuldavad. Ilmselt see on põhjus, miks Stewart on isa suure algustähega. Kaks väikest tüdrukut ja eestlasest abikaasa ei tohiks nuriseda – mees teab, mis mees teeb!

Stewart on väga konkreetne ja see tõttu ei suudagi ta kuidagi harjuda pinnapealsete inimestega. Ta on mees, kes eeldab kaaslastelt võimet näha teiste inimeste sisse. Samuti ei mõista ta kuidas saab võtta vastu otsuseid ilma pikemalt nende üle mõtlemata – rassism, homofoobia jne.

Nii kogunebki päeva jooksul posu pisiasju, mis sunnib muidu toimetajana töötava Stewarti mikrofoni haarama. Vajalik on teada, et kui Stewart millegi või kellegi üle nalja teeb, siis on see pigem komplimendina mõeldud, mitte solvamiseks. Tema ülikriitiliste sõnamängude ja vaimukuste taga on tegelikult sõbralik hüüe: “Hei, vennad ja õed, ma olen siin ja ma usaldan teid piisavalt, et teile mõned oma viimased avastused usaldada!”

“Hiljuti anti välja Maarjamaa riste ning ühe saajate seast oli Bush. Väidetavalt selle eest, et ta on ainus USA president, kes on Eestit külastanud. Auhindu on välja antud ka vähema eest. Näiteks, Obama sai Nobeli rahupreemia lihtsalt selle eest, ta polnud Bush.”

Keiu on sündinud ja kasvanud Tallinna lähiümbruses. Seega on ta alati justkui millegi suure lähedad, aga ikkagi piisavalt kaugel, et jääda outsider’iks. Nii suudabki ta übritsevat sahkerdamise, manipuleerimise ja teiste ära kasutamise peale mitte vihastada. Ta tunneb pahatahtlikele inimestele pigem kaasa ning proovib neid veidraid nähtusi enda ja teiste jaoks stand-upi abil lahti mõtestada.

Keiut hoiavad elus lood. Kallite inimeste lood ja võõraste inimeste lood. Lood asjadest, lood filmidest, raamatutest, unenägudest, väljamõeldistest – need kõnetavad ning puudutavad teda. Oma lugusid laval teistele jutustades tunnebki ta iga esinemise järel, et jälle on maailm natuke parem, kui see oli enne.

Õnnestunud naljaks peab Keiu sellist, mis tekitab publikus kerget ebamugavust ja küsimust “kuhu ta sellega nüüd välja jõuab?”. See pole lihtne samastumise naer, vaid midagi palju rohkemat – ootamatu pingelanguse naer. Kuigi korralik naerupahvakas publikust võib olla juba piisav põhjus lavale astumiseks, loodab Keiu oma esinemistel inimesi pigem mõtlema, kui lihtsalt naerma ärgitada.

@stewarteestis Twitter

Stand-up-komöödia on Eestis uudne kunstivorm, kus esinejad astuvad ükshaaval lavale ning räägivad nalju ja lugusid. See on võimalus veeta lõbus õhtu koos sõprade või kallimaga etendusel, mille õhkkond on vabam kui teatrietendusel.

Etendus on eesti keeles, aga õhtu juht Louis räägib inglise keeles.

Etendusel astuvad üles:

Janika Maidle: Janika on noor Pärnu näitekirjanik. Tema värskeimat näidendit „Üle piiri“ etendati äsja suurte kiiduavalduste saatel Endla teatri laval.

Keiu Kriit: Keiu on esimene naine, kes Eestis stand-up-komöödias kätt proovis, ning et see liiga lihtne poleks, tegi ta seda inglise keeles. Temast kirjutati 2011. aasta oktoobris ajakirjas Anne ja Stiil, tal tasub silma peal hoida.

Sander Õigus: Noor koomik Tartust, kes keerab oma tabava huumorimeelega naljadele peale vinge ja veenva vindi.

Piletid

No shows booked at the moment.

Tickets are only 10€ if you get them before April 12th at Piletilevi

Magnus Betnér (SWE)

Often compared to ‘Lenny Bruce & Bill Hicks’, Betnér is already a legend in his native Sweden and stands alone as a unique and incomparable Protagonist. Here is a comedian unafraid to deliver his views and opinions with razor sharp precision leaving no stone unturned. This is a dark hard hitting comedy maestro daring to go where other comedians fear to tread, delivering you truth, honesty but most of all accuracy on the most current and controversial of topics.

Betnér is the biggest name in Sweden, awarded the accolade of best comedian twice, in 2005 and more recently in 2010. So far he has produced 5 DVDs, hosts his own radio show and stared in one of Sweden’s most successful stand up shows entitled “In your face” where he’d openly perform to audiences that disliked him.

ALSO APPEARING

Ben Kersley (UK)

Ben Kersley, writer, comedian and bon vivant grew up in Birmingham, England, studied Drama at Bristol and struggled as an actor/comedian in London for many years. The highlight of his career in London was playing the part of The Honey Monster in commercials for Sugar Puffs (as well as playing a couple of other characters for The Jim Henson Company).

He has been doing comedy for a number of years including a short lived BBC Radio 4 series called ’2000 years of Radio’ and touring comedy with shows such as ‘A Stroke Of Midnight’ and ‘Dickie Banana’ – The story of a mass murdering Music Hall entertainer who maims and entertains his way to stardom. He has fallen over professionally as a window cleaner in the children’s show BRUM.

In 2006, Ben moved to Linköping in Sweden, where he began performing stand up in both English and Swedish. Since then, he has started a comedy club, brought over big names from the UK and toured with his own one man show.