Hans-Günter Butzko
HG. Butzko
About Hans-Günter Butzko
Hans-Günter Butzko, known on stage as HG. Butzko, is a German political kabarettist born in 1965 in Birkesdorf near Düren. He grew up in Gelsenkirchen in the heart of the Ruhrgebiet, the regional accent and working-class sensibility of which still shape his stage persona. After his Abitur and civilian service he worked from 1987 as an actor and director at municipal theatres in Wuppertal, Hof, Würzburg, Eisleben, Baden-Baden and Munich. In 1997 he launched his solo cabaret career and has since become one of the most respected political voices in German kabarett.
HG. Butzko has produced thirteen full-length solo programs since 1997, including Butzkolonne (1997), Spitzenreiter (2007), Menschliche Intelligenz (2016), echt jetzt (2018), aber witzig (2020), ach ja (2022) and his current evening Der will nicht nur spielen (since 2024), with the new program Das wolln wir doch mal sehn announced for 2026. He is a regular guest on the BR satire show schlachthof since 2013 (seven appearances through 2025) and appeared in ZDF Die Anstalt in 2018. The German Kleinkunst Prize jury described his work as investigative cabaret. He is the author of the books Geld oder Leben - Eine Reise durch den Wirtschaftswahnsinn (2011) and Verarschen kann ich mich alleine (2015), and writes regular columns for Kicker, taz and Cicero. Major awards include the German Cabaret Prize (1999), the German Kleinkunst Prize (2014) and the Bavarian Cabaret Prize (2016). He runs his website as a deliberate social-media-free zone, with no Twitter, Facebook or Instagram presence.
HG. Butzko is touring across Germany from November 2025 through September 2026 with his solo program Der will nicht nur spielen, with a new program Das wolln wir doch mal sehn launching in 2026. Confirmed venues include Stuttgart, Idstein, Lorsch, Wissen, Bad Hersfeld, Kempen, Erlangen, Lörrach, Limburg an der Lahn, Laupheim, Peine, Garching, Erkelenz and Hannover. Tickets start around 11.50 euros and full tour dates are listed on hgbutzko.de and through Reservix, Ticketmaster and ADticket. He continues to appear on the BR show schlachthof. Find upcoming shows and tickets for HG.
Videos (38)
Videos 25 to 38 of 38.
23:03Folge - Die Zeiten werden rauher
782 views
8:27AKW adé
703 views
19:38Folge - Eine kleine persönliche Zwischenbilanz
575 views
42:35Folge - Die wunderbare Welt der Veranstaltungsbranche
523 views
12:25Folge - Verzögert! Verschleppt! Verarscht!
354 views
32:16Folge - Mein kleiner persönlicher Jahresrückblick 2024
301 views
26:20Folge - Keine grauen Haare wachsen lassen
290 views
21:10Folge - Der leise Tod der deutschen Kulturlandschaft
288 views
0:38Butzko TV - der Wahnsinn der Woche
279 views
4:00Folge - Ein neuer Podcast stellt sich vor.
265 views
1:34Nicht verpassen! Mein neuer Kanal auf YouTube ! - Butzko-TV ( der Wahnsinn der Woche)
260 views
0:44Kommt auf meinen neuen Kanal Butzko-TV
142 views
25:41Folge - Die Krise ist mit voller Wucht eingeschlagen
131 views
0:39Kein Bock auf Spaltung der Gesellschaft
126 viewsFrequently asked questions
Who is HG. Butzko?
HG. Butzko, born Hans-Günter Butzko in 1965 in Birkesdorf near Düren, is a German political kabarettist who grew up in Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhrgebiet. He worked at municipal theatres from 1987 and began his solo cabaret career in 1997. Recipient of the German Cabaret Prize 1999, the German Kleinkunst Prize 2014 and the Bavarian Cabaret Prize 2016.
What is HG. Butzko's most famous program?
HG. Butzko's current solo program is Der will nicht nur spielen, touring Germany from 2024 through 2026, with a new program Das wolln wir doch mal sehn premiering in 2026. His earlier programs Menschliche Intelligenz (2016), echt jetzt (2018), aber witzig (2020) and ach ja (2022) all toured extensively across Germany. He has been a regular guest on BR schlachthof since 2013.
What style of comedy does HG. Butzko do?
HG. Butzko performs political kabarett with a clearly investigative approach, as the German Kleinkunst Prize jury put it. His shows blend deep research on economic, political and media topics with the casual delivery and humour of the Ruhrgebiet. He is a classic German two-hour solo political commentator rather than a club stand-up performer.
Where is HG. Butzko from?
HG. Butzko was born in 1965 in Birkesdorf near Düren and grew up in Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhrgebiet of North Rhine-Westphalia. His regional roots, including the working-class culture and language of the Ruhr area, are central to his stage identity. He has long-standing ties to Berlin's Mehringhof theatre.
Where can I watch HG. Butzko?
HG. Butzko is on tour across Germany through 2026 with Der will nicht nur spielen and from 2026 with Das wolln wir doch mal sehn. He appears regularly on BR schlachthof and previously on ZDF Die Anstalt. Stage clips are available on his official YouTube channel and via the BR Mediathek. He deliberately does not use Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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