Uncle Zhenya
Real name – Yevgeny Geraskin
City – Kyiv (Ukraine)
Language – Ukrainian
Activity – stand-up comedian
Creative path
Uncle Zhenya is a Ukrainian stand-up artist, a resident of the “Underground Stand-up”, the oldest stand-up comedian in Kyiv. Before coming to humor, Yevgeny Geraskin wanted to become a writer. The owner of bright talent and boundless charisma even spent some time in a writers’ club. However, he did not burn out with literary creativity.
He came to the humor industry after watching a New Year’s stand-up. As the comedian himself recalls, it was 2014. Yevgeny then became very ill and instead of celebrating, he watched TV in a separate room. The man liked the concert he saw so much that he decided to take up stand-up himself. The years of hosting the Open Microphone, where new names of Ukrainian humor were discovered every week, also influenced the formation of the artist's style.
In addition to stand-up, Uncle Zhenya at various times was engaged in:
- construction;
- copywriting;
- leather belt making.
Evgeny also has experience working as a producer and even admits the possibility of returning to this activity and running a stand-up school.
Artist's style
Uncle Zhenya's life is in itself material for stand-up: funny, paradoxical, sometimes absurd. But off stage, Yevgeny is completely different - serious, reserved. The performer of bright jokes himself says that he is usually not in the happiest mood, which is why humor has become a kind of window into the world for him.
Uncle Zhenya's stand-up is not just funny stories. It is an attempt to comprehend reality, to voice his own thoughts about the world around him, about society, about everyday life. Through irony and satire, the author says serious things, forcing the audience not just to laugh, but to think. And even if fans sometimes disagree with the comedian, the main thing is that they hear. Because for the artist, jokes are not only popularity and recognition, but also a way to enter into an honest conversation with reality.
Social activity
Uncle Zhenya has been helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion: he volunteers, holds charity live broadcasts. In cooperation with other comedians of "Underground", he participates in streams designed to raise funds for the needs of Ukrainian defenders.