Şenay Duzcu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Şenay Duzcu
Born
Turkey
NationalityTurkish, German
OccupationStand-up comedian

Şenay Duzcu is a Turkish-German stand-up comedian. She is often referred to as "Germany's first female German-Turkish stand-up comedian".

Comedian career[edit]

Duzcu admits that she was restricted as a child by her parents,[1] and at school, she was very reserved and never wanted to attract attention because that was expected from a Turkish girl. During a job as a tour leader at an art exhibition, she discovered her talent for inspiring ordinary people while telling stories and anecdotes.[2][3] She initially planned to become an actress. However, her father did not allow it. She pursued a career as a full-time stand-up comedian,[2] after she reached the final in the comedy category in the talent show "Star-Search" in 2003. Television appearances in "Night Wash", "Ladies Night", "Comedy Tower" and "Nuhr im Ersten" followed.[3] She is often referred to as "Germany's first female German-Turkish stand-up comedian".[1][2][3][4] Beside holding on-stage comedy shows in theaters at various cities,[5][6][7][8][9][10] she also appears on many radio and television programs.[2]

Duzcu talks about German/Turkish cultural differences with heart-warming humor.[2][4] She explains the relations of first-generation Turks with Germans in a humorous way, using examples from her parents.[5] She adds that Turkish humor thrives more on imitating people, on slapstick and physicality, while German humor uses more word play.[2] She tries to mirror both cultures through her comedy. She also believes that seminars are not useful for the integration of immigrants, and empathy is more important.[1][3] She says "I am not a diplomat or a politician. But if the work I do provides this additionally, that's a good thing."[4] Wearing a red free-hanging short skirt,[4] she starts her show on stage introducing herself as being from Turkey, from the fourth-largest city, Duisburg.[1] She says that "the Turk in me is always late for work, but on the other hand, the German in me always finishes on time!"[4]

Personal life[edit]

Born in Turkey, Şenay Duzcu was brought to Duisburg, Germany at three years of age by her immigrant parents.[2][4] She grew up in Düsseldorf.[2] Diagnosed with dyslexia,[10] reading and spelling weaknesses, she was sent to a low-level Hauptschule for secondary education.[4] After finishing high school at 19, she received a scholarship for intellectually gifted students during her study of architecture in Dortmund,[3][10] and earned a diploma.[2][4][11] She later started graphic design studies. She lived for a while in Essen.[1][2][4] She emphasizes that London, where she worked as an au pair, as well as Berkeley, California and Ankara, Turkey,[10] where she stayed for a semester during her university education, influenced her.[4][11] Currently, she resides in Nippes, Cologne.[3]

Awards[edit]

In 2007, Duzcu received the "Deutsch-Türkischer Freundschaftspreis" ("German-Turkish Friendship Prize").[1][2][11][10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Klatt, Christine. ""It can't be so serious" – a chat with Senay Duzcu". Renk Magazin. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ""Die Leute im Pott haben immer richtig Bock zu lachen"" (in German). Ruhr Gesicter. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Schöneck, Bernd (7 October 2023). ""Integration fällt leichter, wenn man gemeinsam lacht"". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Almanya'da bir Türk kadın komedyen". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 4 August 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Sancak, Hülya (2 June 2017). "Şenay Duzcu, 'O Zaman Burada Kalıyorum' dedi". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Senay Duzcu "Drama Türkin"" (in German). Bocholt. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Senay Duzcu Ich bleib dann mal hier" (in German). Werkhaus Krefeld. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Stand-up-Comedy mit Senay Duzcu". Wochenspiegel (in German). 3 November 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  9. ^ Jäger, Markus (2 September 2023). "Senay Duzcu sorgt für Lacher im Flörsheimer Keller". Main-Spitze (in German). Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e ""Drama Türkin" Senay Duzcu nimmt in der Rohrmeisterei Kulturunterschiede aufs Korn". Ruhr Nachrichten (in German). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Senay Duzcu" (in German). Mein Schiff. Retrieved 19 December 2023.

External links[edit]