Welcome to the ninth issue of Croats in London. CIL appears in the first week of every month.

This month: Interview with London stand-up comedian Paul Churcher and his performance in Zagreb, Croatian Opera Concert 29 May, New Book - Marco Polo’s Isle by Michael Donley.
Noticeboard: ‘Trapped’ photo-exhibition, Croatian Opera Concert

Interview with Paul Churcher, stand-up comedian

Paul, tell us about yourself (as a comedian) and your connection to Croatia.

My wife is Croatian and we’ve been married for 5 years. I host the Camberwell Comedy Club in
Camberwell although we’re currently on a break while the venue is being refitted. I am also at the
Clapham Comedy Club in Clapham every Thursday although depending on the night I might not
perform.

How did you end up performing in the ‘Tiger Lilly’ club in Croatia ?

We were in Zagreb for Easter and a friend told me there was a new comedy night every Thursday
night in the old town. Details are on their website at www.comedy-club.net My wife rang them to
book a table and asked who was appearing and we were informed they usually have an English
comedian but he had cancelled the day before so she said I would be willing to do about ten
minutes for them and I was booked.

What was it like, how were you received?

I re-wrote my material to include as many Croatian words I could think of. I started off speaking in Croatian but once my vocabulary dried up I spoke in English. The biggest laugh I got was when I said to a man in the audience wearing a business suit; “Ti si knjigovodja ne?” (“You’re an accountant no?”) which everyone thought was hilarious because after my basic attempts at a few words I managed to come out with the word for “accountant” which is quite a random word - one of my fellow students at the Croatian Language School happened to be

I understand that the audience knew about Peckham, where you live?

That was quite funny, I said I lived in “Peckham” and a whole table cheered. When I asked them
if they’d been there they said “Lovely Jubbly” and I realised that they knew Peckham from watching
“Only Fools and Horses”.

Is stand-up comedy a recent trend in Croatia?

Yes it’s a very new thing to Croatia. Big respect to Zoran who runs Tiger Lilly’s because I think it is
the first comedy club there has ever been in Croatia. People aren’t used to watching live comedy
as we are here. They prefer to tell each other jokes in the pub rather than get up on stage in front
of a bunch of strangers. Zoran also said it was very difficult for him to find Croatian comedians.
Most of the performers are actors who perform routines rather than stand-up comedians as we are
used to in the UK.

What are the differences between Croatian and British comedy?

British comedy is funny.

Will you be performing again in Croatia?

Hopefully I’ll get the chance every time I visit now because I really enjoyed it. It was a totally new experience for me trying to make people laugh in another language. Although if Eddie Izzard can perform in French then I can do it in Croatian. I’m going back to Croatia in July for a wedding so I’m planning to perform at Tiger Lilly’s on 7th July if anyone wants to ask me about my answer to the question above. Please support Zagreb’s best comedy club Tiger Lilly’s next time you visit. Details are on their website: www.comedy-club.net

Croatian Opera Concert

The Croatian Students and Young Professionals Network (CSYPN) have arranged a concert at the prestigious Wigmore Hall on Sunday 29 May. The charity Adopt a Mine, which works in Croatia, will be a beneficiary of the proceeds. This will be a major event in the Croatian social calendar. Performing will be The concert singers will be Jonathan Fa’afetai Lemalu (bass-baritone) and Sandra Martinovic (mezzo-soprano), with Hein Boterberg on piano. The works of many opera composers will be featured, including Croatians Jakov Gotovac and Ivana Lang.

Details can be found at www.csypn.org.uk or by calling Wigmore Hall on 020 7935 2141

New book:
Marco Polo’s Isle - Sketches from the Dalmatian Island of Korcula by Michael Donley.
Published by Spencer & Glynn ISBN 0954589406

From the publicity: “It is not just a once-off read but a beautifully written treasure trove of information
in which to dip again and again. Those who have not yet visited Korcula will be booking their passage
well before the last chapter.” Having read the book, CIL can only agree - it is full of insight about life on
Korcula and a must read for all those interested in Croatia and Dalmatia in particular.

We are delighted to say that Mr Donley has agreed to an interview with CIL about his important new
book. Watch out for it soon.

Noticeboard

Only events run by known and reputable bodies will be listed here.

5 May - ‘Trapped’ Photo exhibition at the Croatian Embassy by Jelena Blagovic, Frederic Huska and Erika Hayashi. 6.30 PM Please contact the embassy (details in useful information, below) for further information.

29 May - CSYPN Croatian Opera Concert at Wigmore Hall (details above) 7.00PM

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