Nostradamus

Recorded at the Leicester Comedy Festival preview show, January 2009

More Hans Teeuwen videos

Hans Teeuwen is one of the most successful comics in the Netherlands, coming to prominence as part of a double-act cabaret show called Heist in 1991. However, his performing partner Roland Smeenk died in a road accident the following year.

After a break to grieve for his friend, Teeuwen starred in his first Dutch TV series, Hard en Zielig in 1994. This was followed by four other shows: Met een Breierdeck, Trui, Dat dan weer wel and Industry of Love

He decided not to perform stand-up in his native country following the murder of his friend, controversial film-maker Theo Van Gogh, in 2003.Teeuwen devised Van Gogh’s 2003 film Interview, which was remade in 2007 by Steve Buscemi with Sienna Miller.

At Van Gough's funeral, Teeuwen sang a provocative song about religion, arguing that freedom of speech is a much more important principle than causing religious offence. The stance won him the 2008 Chortle Award for artistic integrity.

Hans Teeuwen at the 2009 Brighton Comedy Festival
Live Review
Brighton Dome

When Hans Teeuwen played the Greenwich Comedy Festival last month, he was drowned out by a chorus of boos from the half of the audience who clearly didn't know how to take him.

It's no surprise that the strange Dutchman is not for everyone, as he steadfastly refuses to play by the accepted rules of comedy. But in tearing up the conventions he has produced an act that is not only wonderfully, surprising unique – but also often hilariously silly. With the Brighton Comedy Festival crowd who had come specifically to see him, his absurd, twisted clowning went down a deserved storm.

As a performer, he throws everything into the mix. One minute he writhes around the floor, striking awkwardly contorted poses, as he tells us of the exploits of Dr Hemmington; the next he’s belting out a deliciously crude song with the passion and pace of a piano maestro, bashing so furiously at the keys it’s a surprise it comes out tuneful. Even his hand puppetry is infused with pathos and personality… and that’s without the advantage of any actual puppets, just his bare hands.

All these talents are put to hugely effective use to manipulate the audience, then mess with their expectations. Rare is the comic who uses set pieces, but can still leaves observers entirely unsure what’s going to happen next, but there’s a real frisson of unpredictability throughout his hour-long set.

Neither does the spritely Teeuwen rely on irresistibly maniacal performance alone. His writing flits between the sharp surrealism of his invented fairytales to the bite of evangelical atheism, childishly mocking belief and teasing the arbitrary tensions between faiths. If he did believe in God, he’d have made a great preacher – so it’s to comedy’s gain that he’s such a heathen.

Sometimes he willfully tests the audience’s patience with shaggy dog stories that are designed to annoy as much as amuse, but they make sense in the context of his perpetual mischief-making. He’s not as self-indulgent as he’s previously been in the department, though, and the yarns often build to extravagantly immoral ends – such as the unforgettably disturbing conversation with his mother.

Teeuwen’s in a world – and a class – of his own. Bloody weird but bloody funny, his affected madness is a distinctive delight.

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Loved his recent show in Greenwich. Genius! Especially his take on religion, and fascinating to see the crowd's reaction, summed up nicely by him declaring a verse of his 'I like your c***' song to be just for the the religious people in the audience. The tension was poignant.

jack, September 2009

What a load of rubbish. He claims to be controversial and he certainly is, but funny he is not.I went to see a comedy show and ended up joining in the "off" chants halfway through his act and then walking out along with many others.

Steven edwards, September 2009

As a Dutch person, I admire Hans Teeuwen and hope that he gets the chance to show more of himself to the British audience. What I noticed is that he grew tremendously during his six full length shows and that slowly but steadily he became the most successful comedian that the Netherlands has ever known. His Dutch shows are characterized by great story telling (with a love story between a fox and a scarecrow as a highlight), amazing piano skills, sublime mimics and the ability to alternate between frustrating and admiring an audience. During his Dutch shows he developed this ability to a point in which he can get away with everything and anything he does is funny. I can imagine that this is kind of strange approach to comedy and that people need to get acquainted with it, but I’ll guarantee you that if Hans Teeuwen gets the chance to develop himself, the reviewer might want to alter his opinion.

Petr Vincken, May 2009

So, so, so, so brilliant! Original, clever, off the wall and able to make intelligent and edgy comments. He subverted ideas, performed amazingly: I saw his show last night and want to see it again already. I have seen shitloads of comedy but was blown away!

jules meyers, March 2009

I too am disapointed at his Latitude reception, I thought that festival was for twee mild mannered Guardian reading families? I saw his Edinburgh show in August and it was by far the best thing I saw at the Fringe. He's an incredible talent, as surreal and engaging as Harry Hill and as thought provoking and intelligent as Stewart Lee. An exceptional entertainer, his routine about meeting God was one of the best pieces of comedy I've ever seen.

Jack Gardner, October 2008

The best stand up comedian I have ever seen. I saw him at Latitude Festival and was disgusted by the majority of the audience who booed him off stage. Especially after they had all laughed through Stewart Lee's dull, contrived delivery and self-indulgent performance. It's disappointing the majority would rather safe humour.

Katie, September 2008

Probably one of the worst comics I have ever seen. I barely laughed once at any joke, not that there were many jokes, and the incredibly polite crowd at the Latitude festival were so unimpressed that they booed him off the stage. He even managed to frustrate people by drawing out his leaving in the same style as his nonsensical stories, turning almost the whole crowd against him.

Will, August 2008

One of the best comics I have ever seen live. He has the amazing gift of being able to make random shit extremely engaging and hilarious. Especially good at drawing out tension in a joke, and pushing the boundaries of taste. Highly recommended.

Evan, February 2008

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