Paco Erhard

Erhard is best known for his first solo show, 5-Step Guide to Being German, which premiered in 2011 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[2] He has also performed a variation of the original called 5-Step Guide to Being German 2.0. Both shows have received critical acclaim,[4][5][6] sold out at comedy festivals around the world,[4][5][7][8] and have been named one of the top shows in several festivals.[3][4][9][5] 5-Step Guide to Being German was nominated for a Perth Fringe World Best Comedy Award in 2013.[10] 5-Step Guide to Being German 2.0 won the Pick of the Fringe award in the 2018 Vancouver Fringe Festival.[11] Both versions of the show are still touring.[12][13]

Erhard has appeared as a cultural commentator on BBC One,[14] SBS,[15] and ABC.[16] He has written about Germany and Europe for the Irish Times.[17] He has worked with cultural organisations such as the Goethe-Institut and the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad.[4]

Erhard's more recent comedy is driven by social commentary on international current affairs. He draws on his experiences as a world traveler. His shows Paco Erhard: Djerman Unchained (2013), Paco Erhard: Worst. German. Ever. (2014), and A (very brief) History of German Humour (2016) are "irreverent, provocative social satire"[18] on topics such as nationalism, racism, homophobia, religion, and terrorism.[19][20][21]

After being seen by German comedian and TV host Ingolf Lück at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2012,[22] Erhard started performing in German in addition to English. He has two German-language shows: Paco Erhard: Hard an der Grenze[23][24][25] and Paco Erhard: Hallodri für Europa.[26][27] Erhard has appeared on German television shows StandUpMigranten,[28][29] NDR Comedy Contest,[30][31] and Vereinsheim Schwabing.[32] In January 2015, he won the Stuttgart Comedy Clash.[33]

Erhard uses stories from his experiences as a world traveler to promote international understanding and communication across cultures.[34][19] His stand-up routines reference time spent living in America, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the UK, as well as shorter adventures around the world.[3][35]

Erhard uses recurring themes of German identity and the psychological differences between Germans and other citizens.[3][17] His comedy traces the historical development of these differences, making light of historical figures such as Tacitus, Frederick the Great, and 19th century German nationalists.[17]

Erhard is well-traveled and has lived internationally for many years.[2] Inspired by the writings of Jack Kerouac, he hitchhiked out of Germany in 2000, traveling the world and living in Italy, Spain, and the UK.[33][1] While in Spain, he acquired the nickname "Paco" from a neighbor, which inspired his stage name. Inspired by his work as a comedy MC for British tourists in Tenerife, Erhard moved to London in 2009 to pursue stand-up comedy full-time.[36][37]

Erhard studied literature and philosophy in university.[38] His thesis paper on postcolonial literature was awarded the University of Hagen's Award of Excellence in 2009.[39]