Ralf Schmitz at Rockhal

Ralf Schmitz learned his speed in four years with a Bonn improvisation troupe, Die Springmaus, and German television made him a household name through improvised comedy. Quick exchanges with the audience are still the heart of his shows.

Ralf Schmitz brings Schmitzmän to the Rockhal Main Hall on Thursday 2 December 2027. Doors at 19:00, on stage at 20:00.

Schmitz is one of the most physical comedians working in Germany: he does not stand behind a microphone so much as cover the stage, and the improvised sections are the reason people come back. He is also a fixture of German television, which is where most of the room will know him from.

The show is in German. Seated, Main Hall, promoted by Popp Concerts.

Who is Ralf Schmitz?

Ralf Schmitz is a German comedian, actor and presenter, born in Leverkusen in 1974. He started in school theatre, trained in acting and classical dance, and spent four years with the Bonn improvisation troupe Die Springmaus. Speed, physical comedy and quick exchanges with the audience have been his trademarks ever since.

German television made him a household name through Die dreisten Drei, the improvised comedy Schillerstraße and Genial daneben. Cinema fans may remember him as the dwarf Sunny in Otto Waalkes’ 7 Zwerge films. He has also written books, among them the bestseller Schmitz’ Katze.

Stage and awards

• 2003: German Comedy Award for newcomer of the year, for Die dreisten Drei.
• 2005: German Comedy Award for best improvisation show, for Schillerstraße.
• 2005: first solo programme, Schmitz komm raus!, followed by shows such as Schmitzophren, Schmitzenklasse, Schmitzeljagd and Schmitzfindigkeiten.

The show: Schmitzmän

In Schmitzmän, his new programme, he becomes a superhero, “the last of his kind”, to take on a world of smart toasters, fitness trackers and people who are kinder to artificial intelligence than to their loved ones. He spoofs the clichés of superhero films, then brings every joke back to everyday life.

The heroes of the evening are in the seats: nurses, bus drivers, tired parents. Expect stand-up, improvisation and plenty of audience interaction, with the tagline “Superhelden kündigen nicht!”, superheroes don’t quit.