in kyiv, comedians continue to perform in basements

You really have to know that the theater is located here: the entrance is on a parking lot, in a small courtyard of a building in kyiv, Ukraine. No registration. “It is so the Russians don’t find us!”explains Anton, who arrives on an electric scooter.

Rising star of the comedy scene in kyiv, you have to go down ten steps, underground, to see him take the microphone. Not easy, however, to be a Ukrainian humorist, at the moment, while the Russian offensive knows no truce.

Today I had to write new jokes for my stand-up, so for that I had to forget a bit about what is happening in Mariupol. And suddenly I felt guilty!

Anton, Ukrainian comedian

at franceinfo

“However, I also realize that, for people, our comedy shows are like psychotherapyhe adds. And cheaper, too!” This evening again, the room is full, with about thirty chairs occupied. Slava and his girlfriend have always loved stand-up, but this is the first time they’ve come back since the war. “News from the front really saps morale! So coming here helps ease the situation a bitsays Slava. We came to relax, actually.”

At the height of the bombardments in March, residents of kyiv often took refuge in this basement, which has since become a theater again. But war is never far away. “We heard the knock, on another district of kyiv”, says Dima, a humorist colleague of Anton. Only a few weeks ago, a bombardment came to surprise Dima on stage. “The show was coming to an end. The advantage is that we were already safe here!”adds Dima.

Humor, as a means of overcoming fear. For Antonio, “It’s even a weapon against Russia!” : “Putin wanted us to be terrified, but if instead we laugh in his face, well, it’s won! It’s him who is demoralized”, he laughs. And like many others here, the 28-year-old comedian is currently donating part of the income from his shows to the Ukrainian army.