German folk song

From Dave's One Night Stand 2011

More Henning Wehn videos

A London-based German comedian, Wehn has been performing as the self-styled 'German Comedy Ambassador' since 2003, playing on the English stereotype of Germans as humourless Nazis, obsessed with efficiency.

He was a regular on the Channel 4 show FAQ U in 2005, as well as Radio 5 Live sporting panel show Fighting Talk.

He regularly appears with fellow German performer Otto Kuhnle, and their show 1000 Years Of German Humour was nominated for the Barry Award at the 2009 Melbourne Comedy Festival.

CV

Henning Wehn: No Surrender
Live Review

Henning Wehn is not a happy German. He’s complaining that he’s had to throw away all the efficiently-functioning jokes from his acclaimed 2010 show and start from scratch, just because a new hour is the annual turnover the consumerist comedy world demands of him.

In fact, he does quite a lot of complaining about the comedy industry, including how big-name acts can get away with less dedication to new material, how the Free Fringe is full of shit, how whinging comedians shouldn’t be surprised when they lose money at this festival, how he struggled playing at he Melbourne Comedy Festival, and how he has nothing but contempt for some of the audiences the Highlight and Jongleurs clubs attract…

And it all rather begs the question: ‘Who gives a scheiße?’ Hardcore comedy geeks will have heard all these grievances before, and to everyone else it runs a high risk of being parochial and self-indulgent.

It’s contributes to the feeling that Wehn doesn’t quite have enough material to go around this year, as he tries to expand away from quite such a dependence on the old stereotypes about the war, German humourlessness and industrial efficiency – even though these continue to provide some of his most pointed, and most hilarious, lines, especially now the Fatherland has had to bail out Greece.

Items about the difference between Australian and British swimming pools, about a German beer festival in Aberdeen and have their funny moments, but seem over-stretched. Although, conversely, the idea that as an expat he feels more patriotic about Germany than ever before is rather under-explored.

The man’s still funny, there are some great lines here, and we’ll probably never tire of him attempting such British phrases as ‘a right old ding-dong’ or ‘isn’t it, Governor’ in his Teutonic brogue. But this is one German who needs to be a bit more industrious – and I’m sure he’ll appreciate a lazy Brit telling him that.

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Absolutely unfunny.

Dan Essex, April 2012

That the new show 'No Surrender' in Edinburgh 2011 was all new material. Personally I liked the old material, but of course there's only so much material in national stereotypes if the matter is to to be relentlessly light. He could probably do more visually as well as verbally.

Stephen Cowley, August 2011

Saw his 2011 Edinburgh show last night - It was an absolute stormer of an hour. The best I have seen of him - his stagecraft, energy levels and control were just fantastic. He has come a seriously long way

Andy Barr, August 2011

Saw him in Cornwall as support for Stewart Lee & don't know how I stayed in my seat without running for the exit and screaming. Lazy, cheap jokes about how idle the Spanish are as a race and comparing our reaction to Madeline McCann's disappearance to the stabbing of a nine-year old working class boy. whole act seems to have tipped from the sly comments on racial stereotyping I saw two years ago to some kind of vile populist rant delivered in clipped unemotional tones. He can do so much better than this & enraged parts of the packed audience who started shouting at him

Bill, February 2010

Like a David Lynch film, one emerges from watching Henning in a state of complete bewilderment. He looks like a dehorned Satyr from Pan's Labyrinth who has swallowed a German accented speak and spell machine, spouting stuff akin to "You know when you go to a supermarket and you see a girl you like, Boy, you like that girl!" and that would be a joke. Shite.

Mandy Allan, January 2010

Saw him in Wrexham supporting Stewart Lee - This fella is so subtle, it is brilliant. Wouldn't recommend him to anyone who doesn't know what subtle means- and who can't handle a jokes involving the holocaust and the Hitler youth!

F0ul, November 2009

Saw him for the first time in ages recently. His simply a delight, with a lovely collection of treasurable jokes.

Paul Sinha, September 2008

It was great to see Henning at Jongleurs Bow on Friday. He was absolutely hilarious, a very intelligent comedian who cleverly dissected his own jokes, and was able to laugh at himself. He plays an excellent character and has thought about every detail, even down to his clothes and choice of stopwatch! For those who thought he was 'racist' - in the words of Henning Wehn "who doesn't have a sense of humour now?" - A very funny and unique act. We will definitely see him again.

Kate Buyukhiz, May 2008

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