12 stand-up comedians

Bohdan Pysmenko

City – Kharkiv (Ukraine)

Language – Ukrainian

Genre – stand-up, improvisation

Creative path

Bohdan Pysmenko is an experienced Ukrainian comedian, a TikTok star who has been in the genre for over 8 years. Today, the artist gives solo concerts and has a considerable army of fans. At the beginning of his creative path, he understood an important point: to be a good comedian, you need to be able to reflect on the events happening around you. Otherwise, an attentive audience will feel the falsity and it will be more difficult to gather the audience next time. At the same time, according to Bohdan, you should always be critical of your performances. If you were lucky enough to make the audience laugh today, this does not give the comedian the title of god of comedy. But it becomes an impetus for development.

The artist describes his feeling as a realized comedian as follows: “my soul has calmed down a little.” At the same time, Bohdan believes that being funny is very important for success. The first six months of performances were exploratory for the stand-up comedian – he tried to find topics and develop his own style. He was filled with ideas for creativity from films, TV series, and musical works. During his formation in humor, Bohdan participated in various projects. Some of them still remain a stage for the comedian’s performances. The audience could see the stand-up comedian on the air of the following formats and groups:

• Kharkiv stand-up club Split Comedy;
• "Comedy Club";
• podcast "Sex and Contents";
• "Dispersals from the vagrant" and others.

Artist's style and development

Bohdan Pysmenko is called the new star of Ukrainian stand-up, and his unique and inimitable style is defined as “brazen intelligentsia”. Recognition and popularity, successful solo concerts and collaboration with other humor colleagues are modern realities for the master of comedy. Bohdan’s work appeals to stand-up fans thanks to simple and understandable topics. The comedian talks about:

• tattoos and inflation;
• love, relationships with women and intimate experiences;
• childhood and tasteless sauces;
• job search, various everyday situations, and more.

Social activity

Together with other representatives of Ukrainian humor, Bohdan Pysmenko takes an active part in charity performances, the funds from which are transferred to the needs of our military. It is also necessary to note the special, therapeutic effect of the humor of the talented author on Ukrainians. For many, meetings with the comedian are indispensable in replenishing morale and helping to recharge as much as possible in conditions of constant stress.

Kyrylo Zalata

City – Kyiv (Ukraine)

Language – Ukrainian

Genre – stand-up, improvisation

Creative path

Kyrylo Zalata is a Ukrainian stand-up comedian, founder and ex-resident of the Stand-up Club Kotryi club, producer of Stand-up Salon and ahah.comedy, organizer of such humor festivals as STANDUP FAMILY FEST and STANDUP BEACH. By profession, Kyrylo is a geologist, and in fact – a punk (at least that’s what the artist writes about himself). And the star of domestic stand-up is also the owner of the Rector’s Cup of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, a football fan and a bright representative of progressive independent stand-up comedy in the city of Kyiv. Over the years, he has gained fans in the genre and helped other talented comedians conquer the stage and make their stand-up debut.

Artist's style and development

The audience calls the comedian unpredictable and brilliant. Kirill has already performed a huge number of times on the stages of small and large cities. He has toured abroad as part of a comedy troupe. Zalata also has other talents: a poet and a musician. And jokes about this sometimes appear in the comedian's performances. Fans are captivated by the original presentation of the material, Kirill's bright charisma and the impressive density of humor. Among the topics on which the comedian jokes:

• personal observations and children's entertainment;
• political events and dog training on Zoom;
• tattoos and motivational books;
• financial literacy, the path to becoming a romantic, and much more.

Social activity

In addition to his work in the stand-up genre, Kyrylo Zalata is also involved in organizing events. In particular, in collaboration with Serhiy Afonsky, he launched the “Alarming Microphone” project in Kyiv. Events within the format are held in the popular “Basement of Culture” in the capital. Such meetings bring together dozens of fans of modern Ukrainian comedy and help to “untie” the audience emotionally. Therefore, Kyiv residents and guests of the capital are happy to come to stand-up evenings, relax, and also donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (because without this now - no way).

Nikita Mekhanikov

City – Kharkiv (Ukraine)

Language – Ukrainian

Genre – stand-up, improvisation

Creative path

Mykyta Mekhanikov is a Ukrainian stand-up comedian, blogger, and resident of the comedy project “Plus-Minus Stand-Up.” Mykyta created and runs his own YouTube channel. There, the artist posts his performances at concerts with Ukrainian stand-up stars, as well as other original works that captivate comedy fans and win new fans. Mykyta also runs a comedy blog, where he shares interesting information and his own knowledge with the audience.

Mykyta Mekhanikov made his debut in the humor industry on the Kharkiv stage. When announcing the comedian's concerts, the organizers called the artist a favorite performer of Kharkiv residents. After all, his humor has a positive effect on the emotional health of fans and, in terms of its therapeutic properties, can be equated to the most effective antidepressants. Sometimes they even joke about Mykyta's creative style, saying that we still need to look for a person who would not laugh at the author's jokes. And, probably, it will be simply impossible to find such a listener.

Artist's style and development

Over 5 years of work in the comedy genre and blogging, Nikita has become a thought leader and role model for many fans. The comedian records humorous videos in which he reveals social issues and various interesting moments from his own experience and the lives of friends and acquaintances. Among the topics with which Mekhanikov enters the Internet space and takes to the stage during comedy live shows:

• the most common stereotypes;
• characteristics of one's own character;
• learning from others' mistakes;
• using Tinder;
• dating and relationships with a girl;
• obscene language and much more.

The audience is captivated by Mykyta's reels, which are called brilliant. And his subtle, everyday and very funny humor leaves no one indifferent. So there are still many tours, solo concerts and new bright projects ahead, with which the comedian will receive even wider recognition and popularity.

Mykyta Skreminsky

Language – Ukrainian

Genre – stand-up, improvisation

Creative path

Mykyta Skreminsky is a Ukrainian stand-up comedian and screenwriter. Mykyta has not been in stand-up for a long time, but he is confident on stage and charges the audience 100 percent. Energetic and talented, relaxed and frank, the owner of simply incredible charisma, the comedian is steadily expanding his army of fans, including both young and middle-aged people. In April 2023, Mykyta created his YouTube channel, where he publishes videos of his own stand-up concerts and other interesting comedy material. The future star of the humor industry unloads his author's content in batches at solo performances and comedy evenings organized by popular clubs:

• "Stand Up Wanderer" ("12 Stand Up Comedians", "The Funny Seven");
• Ukrainian Stand-Up Agency;
• "Comedy Gallery" and others.

Artist's style and development

In Nikita's performances, what captivates us most is his simplicity and sincerity. The comedian doesn't need to invent anything, because he talks about himself, about his own everyday life and interesting life situations. Exaggerations happen, the comedian admits. However, you definitely won't hear lies at his performances! Nikita's fans are happy to rush to his stand-ups to enjoy jokes on a wide variety of topics. Among them:

• getting to know the hostel and cheap pies;
• emotional experiences and loneliness;
• a believing grandmother and a blab-babbler;
• the difference between the American and Ukrainian understanding of poverty and much more.

At solo concerts or during performances in collaboration with other comedians, Mykyta Skreminsky invariably remains himself and charges his fans with positivity, telling about the most interesting observations and significant events in his life - personal and national. So, during the presentation of the program "TRAGICOMEDIA" the comedian gave the audience a whole hour of cool jokes and friendly communication. Everyone who came got pure pleasure from meeting the artist. And with each new appearance on stage, Mykyta demonstrates development in the genre and creative growth.

Social activity

Like many other representatives of humor, music, and culture in Ukraine, Mykyta Skreminsky, together with his stand-up colleagues, is accumulating maximum efforts to help our Armed Forces. Comedians hold charity auctions, announce important collections on social media pages. The proceeds go to repair cars, antennas for drones, and other things needed on the front. Thus, Mykyta not only charges the audience with positivity, so necessary in our troubled times, but also directs his talent in a useful direction.

Yevhen Leshchenko

City – Kharkiv (Ukraine)

Language – Ukrainian

Genre – stand-up, improvisation

Creative path

Yevgeny Leshchenko is a Ukrainian stand-up comedian, founder of the Comedy Club and Split Comedy Kharkiv, a resident of the Wandering Stand-up club. He felt the desire to work and develop in humor back in his school years. When the guy was asked what he wanted to become, the answer was: “A clown!” After entering university, the young man began to play in the KVN. However, he did not see any prospects in this: he wanted something else. Yevgeny began to watch translated classics of the humorous genre - videos of performances by American humor stars, comedians Eddie Murphy and George Carlin. It was then that he firmly decided to become a stand-up comedian.

Leshchenko's debut on stage in front of a live audience took place in 2017. The aspiring artist took part in "Open Microphone". It was scary, Yevhen lacked confidence. He created jokes for the performance literally in one day. However, the comedian's bright charisma worked, and the comedian gained invaluable experience. At that time, Yevhen worked as a bartender. Constant communication with people was liberating and gave him the understanding that future activities should be related to public activity. Over time, Yevhen's patience broke through. He quit and opened Split Comedy with other colleagues.

Artist's style and development

In a short time, Yevgeny became a real stand-up star and won wide popularity and recognition among fans of the comedy genre. Although at first, after moving to Kyiv, he did not dare to go on stage for a long time and simply watched the performances of other comedians. Gradually, offers to participate in concerts of the Kyiv "Underground Stand-Up", "Free Stand-Up" in Chernivtsi appear. The talented stand-up artist develops cooperation with other representatives of the humor industry and simultaneously gives solo concerts. The artist has visited many major cities of Ukraine, where he now has devoted fans of his work. A large tour with a solo program took place in 2021.

The audience of the comedian's fans is constantly expanding, attracting more and more Ukrainians of all ages to the ranks of connoisseurs of the author's humor. The audience is captivated by the subtle humor and emotional presentation of the material. Yevhen calls himself a "product of stand-up comedy" - a person who tries to be in stand-up in all its manifestations (working on stage and off it). The comedian entered the genre gradually. He started by getting acquainted with the Kharkiv hangout. And at first, the team did not perceive Yevhen very kindly. But the artist understood that stand-up is something he would prefer to do with full dedication. Therefore, he continued to actively develop in the genre. Among the topics that Yevhen Leshchenko jokes about:

• everyday life and everyday situations;
• relationships between women and men;
• personal adventures;
• the absurdity of the world around us and much more.

In general, the author is sure: there are no forbidden topics. There are unfunny jokes. The main thing is not to cross the boundaries of a person's personal space, then there will be no conflicts with oneself and with the audience. Yevhen also notes the great prospects of Ukrainian stand-up as such. In the early 2010s, the situation was quite uncertain, comedians were testing the audience, many were eliminated. The main center and platform for performances was YouTube. And this limited the opportunities for popularizing artists. However, today both the audience and the comedians themselves are more open to each other. Completely different humor comes in. This is how a kind of connection occurs: the audience chooses "their" among the comedians and carefully follows their activity on the network, comes to live concerts.

Social activity

Yevhen Leshchenko is one of those who at one time switched to Ukrainian and by his example pushed many others to do so. A native of Kharkiv, Yevhen recently moved to Kyiv, where he continued to work in his chosen field. During the full-scale invasion, comedians, like Ukrainian opinion leaders, are making every effort to strengthen our army. As part of their concerts, they hold charity auctions and collections for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Yevhen Leshchenko and other colleagues in the workshop do not allow Ukrainians to forget about the realities and call on them to actively donate and make any possible contribution to the Victory. At the same time, humor also plays an important role: it adds strength and replenishes the reserves of positivity, supporting every Ukrainian in a difficult time for everyone.