Arthur Umbgrove
About Arthur Umbgrove
Arthur Umbgrove (born April 26, 1964, in Vught, Netherlands) is a Dutch cabaret comedian, novelist, and a founding member of the Comedytrain collective. He studied Dutch language and literature, won the Groninger Student Cabaret Festival, and has been part of Amsterdam's stand-up scene since the founding of Comedytrain in 1990.
From 1990 to 1994 Umbgrove was a regular at Comedytrain, with a highlight being a tour through American comedy clubs alongside Raoul Heertje and Owen Schumacher. In September 1994 he premiered his first full-length cabaret program 'Een tekkel met de stok' (A Dachshund with the Stick) with pianist Alberto Klein Goldewijk, combining songs with stand-up. His 1998 debut album 'Twee straten verder' on Sony Music was nominated for an Edison Award and produced the Radio 3 FM hit single 'Contract.' He later moved into prose: he has published six novels and the pamphlet 'De Wederafbouw van de Satire.' From 2015 to 2022 he served as chairman of Comedytrain, the ensemble he co-founded. He is currently artistic director of De Speld Live.
Arthur Umbgrove still appears as a guest with Comedytrain at Toomler in Amsterdam and as artistic director of De Speld Live, the live touring arm of the Dutch satirical news platform De Speld. Most of his current public output is literary - new novels published through Em. Querido publisher - but live appearances continue alongside book promotion. His website arthurumbgrove.nl lists upcoming events.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Arthur Umbgrove?
Arthur Umbgrove (born 1964 in Vught) is a Dutch cabaret comedian, novelist, and a founding member of the Comedytrain collective. He served as chairman of Comedytrain from 2015 to 2022 and is currently artistic director of De Speld Live.
What is Arthur Umbgrove's most famous show?
His most famous cabaret program is 'Een tekkel met de stok' (1994), made with pianist Alberto Klein Goldewijk, which combined songs and stand-up. The 1998 album 'Twee straten verder' was Edison-nominated and produced the radio hit 'Contract.'
What style of comedy does Arthur Umbgrove do?
Umbgrove blends musical cabaret with stand-up comedy and literary, language-rich humor. His academic background in Dutch literature shapes wordplay-driven material, and he has long alternated between live performance and writing novels.
Where is Arthur Umbgrove from?
Arthur Umbgrove was born on April 26, 1964 in Vught, in the southern Dutch province of North Brabant. He studied in Groningen and has been associated with the Amsterdam comedy scene since 1990.
Where can I watch Arthur Umbgrove?
He performs occasionally with Comedytrain at Toomler in Amsterdam and as artistic director of De Speld Live. His website arthurumbgrove.nl lists current events.
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