Stand-up comedy in Ukraine: curiosities, censorship and scandals

In Ukraine, stand-up comedy is actively gaining momentum, but few people know that its roots go back more than 10 years. During the full-scale war with Russia, stand-up became an important part of cultural life, helping to release emotions and feelings.

Curiosities during performances

Stand-up clubs of Ukraine, such as "Underground stand-up", become a place for unexpected situations. Club member Artur Petrov talks about the difficulties of working with the audience at corporate events when the audience is not listening. Comedians sometimes leave the stage without finishing their performance.

"The concert is about to start, and here comes a girl with a company. One comedian has already performed, and the host starts talking to her. She doesn't close her mouth, and the guy says: 'Marina, you're always a bitch, we're always kicked out, '" he recalls Petrov.

Censorship during the war

Artur Petrov notes that there is no generally established censorship of jokes in Ukraine. However, every comedian needs to understand what limitations exist in expressions given the context. Not only the content of the joke is important, but also the place and time of its performance.

"Our psyche protects itself from painful topics through jokes. But the context is important - where and when you joke, " says Petrov.

Funny comedians

Among Ukrainian comedians there are those who crossed the line of decency. Andrii Shchegel, a member of the Srakadupa podcast, fled from Ukraine to Turkey by deception and said that Ukrainian defenders themselves choose to die in war. Oleksandr Sas, exartist of the "Mamahohotala" studio, got into a sexist scandal by insulting military women.

"There is an opinion that you can joke about all topics, but the context is always important. Some comedians think: 'I was joking, it's just a joke, ' but it doesn't work like that, " Petrov emphasizes.

Stand-up comedy in Ukraine continues to develop, but it is important that comedians treat their material responsibly in order to avoid scandals and conflicts.

Editor: Emiliia Morozova