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.

He was also nominated for best music and variety act at the 2010 Chortle awards.

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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I have seen Hans Teeuwen twice and both times my face and sides ached with laughter. Probably the best hour of anything I have seen in my life. He's a genius.

Michael, February 2012

Have just seen his live in London DVD and for me he has raised the comedy bar considerably, this is so much more than comedy. There is a new god.

aj, October 2011

Simply awful. I've attended two shows at which he's been booed offstage. Avoid at all cost.

Alex, April 2011

Absolutely dreadful. Definitely a case of the emporer's Definitely a case of the Emperor’s new clothes. Saw it after reading rave reviews (like many posted here) And frankly this show is dreadful. Bottom line it’s just not funny. I’ve been watching live comedy for 20 years and this is just really very poor. I’m incredulous that people here say it’s good. Frankly – it’s really not. It’s all been done before, better, funnier.

brin, August 2010

Saw Hans at the Edinburgh Festival. There aren't enough superlatives to describe this guy. Makes our homegrown talent look as overhyped and uninspiring as our national football team. Hans Teeuwen is total comedy.

Ed O\'Meara, August 2010

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

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