Iceland’s biggest stand up comedian (and first-ever Netflix star) Ari Eldjárn is set to head out on his debut UK tour ‘Return of the Icelandic’ from 9th April to 28th April 2024, including a run at Komedia on 23rd of April
This will follow Ari’s European tour, which is set to visit cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm.
The grandson of his homeland’s former president, Ari is the beating heart and unofficial ambassador for a fascinatingly humorous frozen rock called Iceland. A family man with a unique perspective by being locally famous in his own country; having run-ins with Icelandic tabloids, navigating a new relationship and being a father, all the while travelling around the world performing comedy. Strap in for an unforgettable show from this former flight attendant, whose fast, charming comedy has earned him the title of Iceland’s biggest comedian.
Born and raised in Reykjavík, Ari has done numerous TV specials, toured extensively across Scandinavia, sold out the National Theatre for months on end, mixed comedy and classical music with the Icelandic National Symphony and performed with comedians such as Ari Shaffir, Bill Burr and Ed Byrne. Ari’s international career has seen him sell out entire runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, London Soho Theatre and Melbourne Comedy Festival.
His debut solo show in English, ‘Pardon my Icelandic’, explored subjects including fatherhood, working as a flight attendant and living in a country with a population the size of Coventry. Netflix is now streaming the show after being recorded live at the National Theatre of Iceland, making Ari the first Icelandic comedian to receive a Netflix Comedy Special.
Ari’s UK Radio and TV credits include Mock The Week (BBC Two), The Arts Hour on Tour (BBC World Service), Scotland Vs.The World (BBC Radio 4), The Today Programme (BBC Radio 4) and Welcome To Wherever You Are (BBC Radio 4).
Ari has also written on the popular Icelandic New Year sketch show Áramótaskaup, performed stand up on Icelandic chat show Hringekjan, filmed his own stand up special for RUV and written and starred in sketch show Drekasvæðið (RUV). He also performs with comedy group Mið-Ísland who have written and starred in their own sketch show for Stöð 2 (Channel 2) and sold over 65,000 tickets.
HAT THE PRESS HAS SAID ABOUT ARI:
“As straightforwardly enjoyable and undemanding an hour of stand-up as you’ll find at the Fringe” ★★★★ The Scotsman
‘Hot Stuff from Iceland’ ★★★★ The Scotsman
“Hilarious… This modest-seeming man has some impressive comic tricks up his sleeves” The Scotsman
“His jokes feel as fresh as mountain air… Eldjárn’s got a joke for every occasion. I can’t recommend this hugely enjoyable show highly enough.” ★★★★1/2 Herald Sun
“Ari Eldjárn is definitely a name to keep an eye on.” The List
“Eldjárn is funny, quick-witted, incredibly expressive … He is already a household name in Iceland, it won’t be long before he is one in the UK” EdFestMag
“Very talented comic. An Icelandic treat” Jim Gaffigan
