BERLIN EXHIBITION

The Quatsch Comedy Club, Germany's first stand-up comedy club, presents five different comedians each evening. These perform in sets of 10 to 20 minutes, armed with microphone and punchlines, to compete directly for the audience's laughs - in the style of their Anglo-American role models. This club offers the classic international comedy training that many of the most famous comedians have used to practise and train for years.

Artists such as Woody Allen, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Joan Rivers, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld or Roseanne Arnold all have their roots in the world of comedy clubs, often located in the basement, where they practise until film or television finally takes notice of them.

The advantages of the stand-up club are manifold: well-known comedians can try out new, unsure material without the pressure of a full-length programme. At the same time, newcomers have the opportunity to test themselves and their material on stage. The audience also benefits, as they can experience a wide range of different comedians and humour styles in one evening without having to rely on the quality of a single artist.