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Hans Teeuwen

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Hans Teeuwen
Hans Teeuwen during the Borat-premiere in Amsterdam.
BornMarch 3, 1967
Budel, Netherlands
Mediumstand-up comedy, radio, film
NationalityDutch
Genresabsurd comedy, shock-comedy

Hans Eduard Marie Teeuwen (born March 3 1967 in Budel, The Netherlands) is a Dutch comedian, actor and an occasional singer and director. His work can be described as absurdist, apolitical and confrontational.

Dutch career

Theater

In The Netherlands, Teeuwen became famous in 1991 when he won an award at the prestigious Dutch cabaret festival Cameretten for his show "Heist", together with Roland Smeenk. Just before the ending of the try-outs of this show, Smeenk died because of a car accident in 1992. Teeuwen decided to go solo as a 'cabaretier'. (Dutch cabaret is a sort of stand-up comedy lasting for an hour or two, which has a storyline of some sorts and often contains a few songs). He did five shows, Hard en Zielig (1994-1995), Met een Breierdeck (1995-1997), Trui (1999-2000), Dat dan weer wel (2001) and finally Industry of Love (2003-2004). Other comedy projects he has worked on are Poelmo, slaaf van het Zuiden, a series of shorter comedy shows with his friends and colleagues Pieter Bouwman and Gummbah. Pieter Bouwman and Hans Teeuwen also worked together on a radio comedy show that was mainly improvised, called Mannen van de Radio.

TV & Film

Apart from a few comic parts with popular Dutch absurdistic comedy group Jiskefet, he acted in the 1999 film Jezus is een Palestijn (Jesus is a Palestinian). Together with Theodor Holman he co-created the idea for the film Interview, directed by Theo van Gogh in 2003 (and remade in 2007 in the USA by Steve Buscemi). He wrote and directed the film Masterclass in 2005, Teeuwen's directing debut.

Singing career

In 2006 and 2007 Teeuwen performed as a crooner in an Amsterdam nightclub, ultimately resulting in a DVD titled "Hans Teeuwen Zingt" (Literal English: "Hans Teeuwen Sings"), on which he sings songs by artists such as Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, together with Teeuwen's band. In 2008, Teeuwen performed on the North Sea Jazz Festival.

International career

In 2004 Teeuwen announced he would no longer perform, which (incidentally) coincided with the death of director and close friend Theo van Gogh in 2004. In 2007 he decided to try a new challenge: performing in English. He did a successful 20 minute show on the Fringe festival in Edinburgh, which stimulated him to do a longer show. In 2008 he performed at the Soho Theatre in London to favorable reviews.[1][2] However, when performing at the Latitude Festival later that year, he was booed off stage.

Political stance

Although his work is typically devoid of politics, in real life Teeuwen has repeatedly and openly acted as a fervent supporter of free speech, especially after the murder of his friend Theo van Gogh. His eulogy for Theo van Gogh and his speech at the revealing of the statue for Theo were shining (and cynical) example of his views. A video clip of Teeuwen eloquently advocating freedom of speech while being interviewed by three female Muslim TV presenters has been chosen as 'Dutch TV moment of 2007'[3].

References

  1. ^ The comic who won’t mind his language by Dominic Maxwell, Times Online, January 14 2008]
  2. ^ Comedy king in exile by Stephen Robb, BBC News, 18 January 2008
  3. ^ http://www.tvmomentvanhetjaar.nl/fragment.php?fragmentid=41 TV Moment van het Jaar, Hans Teeuwen bij Bimbo's & Boerka's.


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