This time English is the invader, not the liberator

Zulu Comedy Festival – Various venues in Cph; starts Fri, ends Sep 9; www.comedyfestival.zulu.dk

The Zulu Comedy Festival is coming back to Copenhagen for ten days of comic relief from Friday. Last year’s festival offered a dramatic increase in English performances from the previous two years, and this year Zulu promises an even broader English-language ticket, as each day of the festival hosts two Anglo shows, featuring both Danish and international comedians. 

For English-speakers looking to get their dose of stand-up comedy while in Copenhagen, the Zulu Comedy Festival is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. For an easy-to-browse catalogue of the English-speaking events, log onto Facebook and search for ‘English speaking comedy in Copenhagen’. All of the events are easily found in – you guessed it – the ‘Events’ section.

 

TOP PICKS:

 

Kevin Hart – Kevin Hart, an American actor and comedian, brings his ‘Let Me Explain’ tour to Tivoli Gardens as the final act of the Zulu festival – a performance that will undoubtedly leave you doubled over in laughter. Hart’s latest tour has set box-office records, usurping previous marks set by all-time great Eddie Murphy. Half a million people can’t be wrong: Kevin Hart will make you laugh out loud.

Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; Sun (Sep 9) 21:00; Tickets 345-515kr; www.tivoli.dk

 

UK Breakdown: Four Comedians from the UK – The first night of the Zulu Comedy Festival’s English performances starts with a UK overload, as four British-based comedians hit the stage in sequence at the Bispebjerg Comedy Corner. Damian Clark, Nick Dixon, Bobby Mair and Nick Sun will accompany Danish MC Sofie Hagen on this highly affordable opening night.

 

Lygten station, Lygten, Cph NV; Fri 20:00; Tickets 60kr, www.billetlugen.dk; www.lygtenstation.com

 

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English Open Mic Marathon Explosion – For those seeking English-language comedy, this may be the best deal of the entire Zulu festival: 30 kroner to see 13 different comedians take the stage. Danes, Brits, Americans and Canadians will test their hand at the open-mic venue at Huset’s Café. Hosted by Wisecracker’s, Scandinavia’s first exclusively English comedy club, it promises to be a show you won’t want to have missed.

Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; Sun (Sep 9) 19:00; Tickets 30kr; www.huset-kbh.dk

 

Pandas vs Penguins: Stephen Carlin – With a thick Scottish accent, Stephen Carlin has been performing stand-up since 2002, including two shows he’s written for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Carlin comes to Denmark from the UK’s Leicester Comedy Festival, and will be joined on stage by Mikkel Rask, who will deliver some of his highly acclaimed stand-up in English.

Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; Mon 21:15; Tickets 50-80kr; www.huset-kbh.dk

 

English Export – Joe Bor – Award-winning and critically acclaimed British comedian Joe Bor, another comedian in Copenhagen from the UK’s Leicester Comedy Festival, takes the stage on Wednesday with his act that includes characters, drawings and other forms of visual comedy. If you’re looking for a more ‘alternative’ act, this may be the one for you.

Rådhusstræde 13, Cph K; Wed 21:15; Tickets 50-80kr; www.huset-kbh.dk

 

English Stage at The Dubliner – This line-up of international comedians performing at the Dubliner includes 2011’s Danish Newcomer of the Year, Daniel Lill, as well as several seasoned veterans from across the globe. In The Dubliner’s lively atmosphere, with beer flowing from wall to wall, it’s bound to be a raucous event. 

Amagertorv 5, Cph K; Thu (Sep 6) 19:30; Tickets 80-100kr; www.thedubliner.dk