Top satirist Mikhail Zhvanetsky heads to the UK

A West End theatre is to host a night of stand-up – in Russian.

Mikhail Zhvanetsky, one of the country's  most famous living satirists, will visit Shaftesbury Theatre on Sunday May 8.

The show will be a mix of greatest hits material – which promoters say have formed the basis of many Russian proverbs and sayings – as well as new topical jokes.
 
Hailing from Odessea, the Black Sea port known as 'the crucible of Russian-Jewish humour', Zhvanetsky  started his career writing satirical monologues performed by comic actor, Arkady Raikin, who died in 1987.

 In recent years, Zhvanetsky, now 81, has fronted the monthly TV series Duty Man Of The Country on national channel, Russia 1 while continuing  to perform across Russia and beyond. He has also published several books. 

He also founded the Moscow Theatre of Miniatures and has been awarded the honorary titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist of the Russian Federation. He has also decorated with Russian Order of Merit for the Fatherland, fourth class.

It is not the first time the capital has hosted a gig in Russian: Last year, Alexandr Pushnoy, Anton Borisov and Igor Meerson performed stand-up in their native tongue in the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room.

An last month, we reported how Abi Roberts was to become the British comedian to perform in Russia - in Russian.

Published: 5 Feb 2016