How Russian comedians find the humor in exile
This week’s show spotlights the experiences of two comedians, “Dan the Stranger” (Denis Chuzhoi) and Sasha Dolgopolov, who emigrated last year after their opposition to the invasion of Ukraine made it unsafe to continue their careers in Russia. Despite the challenges of creating and performing comedy in a foreign language, they continue to ply their craft in Europe.
Dan and Sasha told Meduza about the incidents and brushes with the police that drove them to leave their homeland, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The conversation touches on the adjustments needed to perform in English, the similarities of the comedy scene in Europe and the United States, and their commitment to expressing their individual experiences even when playing with Western stereotypes about Russians.
Resources to follow these two performers:
Dan the Stranger: website / upcoming shows in Munchen, Stuttgart, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisboa, Brussels, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, and Berlin
Sasha Dolgopolov: website / upcoming show in Riga, Latvia, on November 24, 2023
Timestamps for this episode:
- 02:46 The Decision to Leave Russia
- 03:46 Controversy Surrounding Religious Jokes
- 06:54 The Impact of the War on Comedians' Freedom of Expression
- 07:19 The Journey to Berlin and the Start of a New Life
- 11:42 Challenges Performing Comedy in a Foreign Language
- 20:02 The Process of Building a Comedy Routine in English
- 33:26 The Influence of Russian Stereotypes on Comedy
New episodes of The Naked Pravda are released at the end of every week. Catch each show by subscribing through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or one of these other platforms. If you have a question or comment about the podcast, please write to Kevin Rothrock at [email protected] with the subject line: “The Naked Pravda.”
Sound editing by Kevin Rothrock.
Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!
Let’s stick together for 2025.
The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. The real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.