Hans Teeuwen: Smooth And Painful

Absurdist Dutch comedian Hans Teeuwen returns to London with his show Smooth and Painful for four nights only at the Soho Theatre. A leading component of the Dutch cabaretier tradition, which blends music, poetry and storytelling with routine stand-up, Teeuwen is a fierce defender of free speech and has been likened to Bill Hicks and Andy Kaufman. Watching the tall, rangy Dutchman is an experience that lingers and baffles: you laugh, but often without knowing why, as Teeuwen reels off ridiculous stories and observations, with an occasional tinker on the piano, a bellowing nervous laugh or a crazy dance. "Teeuwen is among the funniest performers I have seen, and his sado-Dadaist cabaret is a masterclass in laughter, dislocated from sense, context or anything resembling a punchline," says The Guardian. He could be a Chris Morris character (the two share a remarkable resemblance) if it wasn't for Teeuwen's lack of political satire - and, with no disrespect to Morris, this is no bad thing. Mindfully absurd gags uttered in his previous UK tour included: "I had sex with a water buffalo a few weeks ago. Never again. What put me off most was the feeling of indifference I felt coming from the animal." Oh, and he has a routine with a Mars Bar-eating rapist hand puppet called Ronnie. Curious? Then book while you can.