Victor Patrascan, stand up comedy in broken English at Teatro Ghione, November 18, 2026

Victor Patrascan, a Romanian stand up comedian who performs in English, brings his show Stand up comedy in broken English to Teatro Ghione in Rome on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, with two shows, at 19:00 and 21:00. The theater is at Via delle Fornaci 37, a short walk from St. Peter's Square: the nearest train station is Roma San Pietro, served by the FL3 and FL5 regional trains, and buses stop at the station and at Largo di Porta Cavalleggeri. Tickets are sold on the official Teatro Ghione website, where prices are published. The theater specifies that the evening isn't valid for season cards and subscriptions. For information, the Ghione answers at 06 6372294 and at info@teatroghione.it. The show is entirely in English.

Language: performed in English.

Patrascan presents himself as the nomad of European comedy: he trained in London's clubs, where he lived until 2020, and since then he has taken his self-produced shows around the continent, often to cities where no comedian had ever performed in English. His audience is foreign residents, expats, immigrants and locals who understand English and want to laugh at the absurdities of modern life. Below you'll find the show, the comedian's biography, the theater and everything you need to plan the evening.

Victor Patrascan at Teatro Ghione at a glance

Victor Patrascan performs at Teatro Ghione, Via delle Fornaci 37, on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 19:00 and 21:00, with a stand up show in English that isn't valid for cards and subscriptions.

Two shows

The theater has scheduled two shows on the same evening: the first at 19:00, the second at 21:00. It's the typical format of touring stand up comedy, which doubles the audience without changing cities. The 19:00 show leaves dinner free. The 21:00 one pairs with dinner before the show.

The language

The theater states it unambiguously: the show is in English. The title, Stand up comedy in broken English, plays on the comedian's accent and his imperfect English, which is part of the character. Intermediate English is enough to follow it. If you struggle to understand it, you risk missing the fastest jokes.

Tickets and cards

Tickets are sold online on the Teatro Ghione website, through the purchase link on the show page, or by contacting the theater. The Ghione warns that the event isn't valid for season cards and subscriptions: you need a single ticket.

Contacts

The theater answers by phone at 06 6372294 and at info@teatroghione.it. The website also lists messaging channels for quick requests.

Stand up comedy in broken English: the show

Stand up comedy in broken English is Victor Patrascan's show in English: jokes about race and religion, gender and politics, and the stereotypes of European countries, presented by the theater as ironic, direct and politically incorrect.

The themes

The official presentation describes an evening of jokes accompanied by questions on the most controversial topics of the day: race, religion, gender, politics. The show is openly meant for people who don't get offended easily, and Patrascan's comedy doesn't seek everyone's approval.

The audience

The theater describes it as an ideal show for Romans, expats and immigrants: comedy that invites everyone to laugh at the absurdities of modern life. In Rome, among international students, foreign workers and English-speaking Romans, the evening has a natural audience.

The accent

The presentation stresses an unmistakable and hilarious accent and plenty of self-irony. Patrascan's imperfect English isn't a limit: it's the point of view of someone who looks at Europe from outside and tells it in the language everyone shares, without fully owning it.

European stereotypes

Patrascan jokes about the stereotypes and clichés of every country, but according to his biography he does it to show how silly our supposed differences are and to affirm how similar we are. It's comedy that travels: every city adds material, and Rome will be no exception.

Who is Victor Patrascan, the nomadic comedian

Victor Pătrașcan is a Romanian stand up comedian and social commentator, trained on the London comedy circuit, where he lived until 2020, and since then on permanent tour in Europe with self-produced shows.

London

The biography published by Teatro Ghione says Patrascan honed his joke writing on the London comedy circuit, one of the most competitive in the world for stand up. In 2020 he left what he calls the bubble of British politics and chose to live on the road.

A continental tour

Since then he has taken his shows to Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Turkey, Sweden, France, Serbia, Switzerland, Finland, Belgium, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Gibraltar, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, Croatia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine and even Denmark, as his presentation ironically points out.

The 2023 numbers

In 2023 alone, according to his biography, Patrascan performed in front of more than 20,000 people in 70 cities, 32 countries and 2 continents. On that basis he claims to have the longest and most extensive self-produced comedy show in Europe.

The first in English

The biography also says that in some of the cities he visited Patrascan was the first comedian to perform in English. It's a detail that explains the character: a pioneer of stand up in a lingua franca, in places where the genre didn't yet have an audience.

The style

His style, according to the same biography, is shaped by life as a vagabond: Patrascan describes himself as a sponge that absorbs the subtleties of European culture and politics and gives them back on stage. The comedian's official website, victorpatrascan.com, lists the dates of the current tour.

Stand up in English in Rome

Stand up comedy in English is a growing scene in Rome, fed by international students, foreign workers and bilingual Romans, and Teatro Ghione hosts it in its events program.

A theater for comedy

The Ghione alternates drama, concerts and comedy. This autumn it has hosted, among others, Giovanni Cacioppo with Compilashown and I Fantastici: Patrascan's stand up in English fits into a program aimed at different audiences.

A show for people who live in Rome

If you live in Rome as a foreigner, the show is a chance to laugh at your own struggles to adapt, from the accent to the bureaucracy, together with people who share the same experience. For English-speaking Romans it's a way to see their own city through the eyes of someone arriving from outside.

An informal evening

Stand up is a direct genre: a microphone, a comedian, the audience. You don't need any preparation, just know the language and accept that the comedian may target anyone, even people sitting in the front row.

Teatro Ghione, an actress's theater a short walk from St. Peter's

Teatro Ghione is a hall with about 500 seats at Via delle Fornaci 37, between the Vatican and the slopes of the Janiculum, founded and run for 25 years by the actress Ileana Ghione.

For decades the program alternated classic drama, with Wilde, Pirandello, Shakespeare and Goldoni, with concerts and dance and comedy shows. The hall is generously sized for a Roman theater but remains intimate, and for stand up the closeness between stage and audience is essential: the comedian has to see the audience's faces. The full profile of the hall is on the Teatro Ghione page.

Its birth in 1980

On December 9, 1980, Ileana Ghione bought and refitted the old theater on Via delle Fornaci, which has carried her name ever since. For an actress it was a rare choice: becoming her own producer and building a repertoire in an area with no theater tradition.

Ileana Ghione

Born in Cortemilia, in Piedmont, on January 15, 1931, Ileana Ghione trained in the 1950s at the Accademia d'arte drammatica in Rome, with Sergio Tofano among her teachers. In the 1960s she was one of the most popular faces of television dramas, from Jane Eyre to I Buddenbrook, and she performed Come le foglie by Giacosa alongside Tino Carraro. In 2001 President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi named her Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Services

The tourism portal of Roma Capitale lists the Ghione as accessible to people with disabilities and also mentions a dog sitting service. The theater's website has a section on accessibility and a page on parking in the area.

How to get to Teatro Ghione for Victor Patrascan

The most convenient way to reach Teatro Ghione is the regional train to Roma San Pietro station, served by lines FL3 and FL5, a few minutes' walk from Via delle Fornaci.

By train

Roma San Pietro station opened in 1894 with the line to Viterbo. Today it's served by the FL3 and FL5 regional trains and has a bus stop and a taxi stand. From the station you walk up Via delle Fornaci to the theater.

By bus

The buses serving the area stop at San Pietro station and at Largo di Porta Cavalleggeri, at the start of Via delle Fornaci. For the trip back after the 21:00 show, check the runs on the ATAC website before leaving home.

By metro

The metro doesn't pass near the Ghione. The closest line A stops are in the Prati area, and from there it takes about 20 minutes on foot through Borgo and St. Peter's Square.

By car

The theater's website lists parking options nearby: a free open-air lot, the San Pietro parking garage and a garage in the area. The streets closest to the basilica are subject to traffic restrictions. A taxi is still the simplest choice, especially for the second show.

A curious fact about Victor Patrascan, stand up comedy in broken English at Teatro Ghione, November 18, 2026

The curious fact is in the list of countries. Patrascan's biography lists more than 30 countries where he has told jokes, and closes with a jab: "and even Denmark". It's a joke inside the biography, and it says a lot about the way he works: even the official presentation is written like a stand up bit.

The second curious fact concerns the place. The Ghione is a few minutes from St. Peter's Square, right by the border of Vatican City. For a comedian who makes European geography, borders and national identities the material of his shows, performing a short walk from a state frontier in the middle of Rome offers ready-made material. And if you joke about religion and politics, you'll hardly find a more telling address.

The third curious fact is in the format. The biography claims the longest and most extensive self-produced comedy show in Europe: Patrascan organizes his tours on his own, with no big agencies behind him. The Rome stop at the Ghione, with two shows on the same evening, proves the model works even in a city where stand up in English doesn't have a long tradition.

Something nobody tells you about Victor Patrascan, stand up comedy in broken English at Teatro Ghione, November 18, 2026

What nobody tells you is that in stand up the front rows are a choice of side. The comedian talks with the audience, asks questions, asks where people are from: in a show about European stereotypes, if you sit up front and have a recognizable accent, you easily become part of the act. If you like the game, sit close. If you'd rather laugh without being called out, choose the middle rows or the balcony.

The second thing concerns the language. A show in English with a strong accent is easier to follow than you'd think, because comedians who perform in a language that isn't their mother tongue generally speak more clearly than native speakers. But fast jokes and wordplay require attention: if your English is from school, enjoy the evening without expecting to catch everything.

The third concerns the themes. The theater warns that the show isn't for people who get offended easily and that it touches on race, religion, gender and politics. It's not an evening for every taste, nor for a young audience: better to know that before buying tickets for a group of friends with different sensibilities.

My advice for attending Victor Patrascan, stand up comedy in broken English at Teatro Ghione, November 18, 2026

My advice is to choose the show based on the evening you want to have. The 19:00 show is perfect if you're coming from work, want to laugh for a good hour and then have a relaxed dinner in Borgo or Prati. The 21:00 one pairs with an aperitivo or a light dinner in the area, and leaves the after-show for talking over the best jokes.

The second piece of advice concerns company. Stand up in English is an ideal evening if you have foreign friends in Rome, international colleagues or visiting guests: it's one of the few live shows in the city that don't require understanding Italian. If you've just moved to Rome, it's also a way to meet other people in the same situation.

The third concerns arriving. The Ghione is near St. Peter's, and the area empties out early in the evening. Arrive by train at San Pietro or by taxi, a few minutes early to pick up your ticket and choose your seat.

In our opinion, if you understand English and aren't afraid of politically incorrect comedy, it's one of the most original evenings of November in Rome: a comedian who has toured a continent and looks at Europe with the eyes of someone who doesn't have just one home.

Another well-known fact, yet rarely mentioned

It's well known that stand up comedy was born in the English-speaking world. It's mentioned less that today, in Europe, a growing share of stand up is done in English even in countries where it isn't the mother tongue, for an international audience living in the capitals. Patrascan is one of the leading figures of this phenomenon: a Romanian comedian, trained in London, who performs in English in front of audiences in 30 different countries.

A second fact, about the theater: Ileana Ghione had been a student of Sergio Tofano, the creator of Signor Bonaventura, at the Accademia d'arte drammatica. Signor Bonaventura belongs to an Italian comic tradition very far from stand up, but joined to it by the same principle: precise comic timing.

A third fact, about San Pietro station, which serves the theater: with its look of a provincial station it was long a film set, and Totò, Alberto Sordi and Virna Lisi shot scenes there. Two of the greatest Italian comedians of the 20th century passed through here before Patrascan. The very short spur of the Vatican railway also starts from the station.

The right photo to take at Victor Patrascan, stand up comedy in broken English at Teatro Ghione, November 18, 2026

The right photo is taken before the show, from Largo di Porta Cavalleggeri, with the dome of St. Peter's rising above the Leonine Walls. It's one of the most beautiful and least photographed views of the dome: from the side, with the walls in the foreground and without the crowds of the square. In mid-November, before the 19:00 show, it's already dark and the dome is lit.

The second photo is in front of the Ghione's facade, with the theater's name and the show poster: the souvenir photo of the evening, to take calmly before going in, while the sidewalk is still quiet.

No photos or videos during the show. Stand up lives on new material, and comedians don't like seeing their jokes circulate online before the tour is over. At the end, during the bows, a shot of the comedian on stage is the photo to take, without flash.

Some important events that happened here in history

The area around Teatro Ghione has an ancient history. The Leonine Walls ran here, built by Pope Leo IV in the 9th century to protect St. Peter's Basilica. Porta Cavalleggeri, one of the openings in the circuit, was restored under Alexander VI Borgia around 1500, and the Borgia coats of arms are still visible on the arch.

On April 30, 1849, the first attack of the French troops against the Roman Republic was fought at Porta Cavalleggeri. Among the defenders was a young actor destined for an extraordinary career, Tommaso Salvini. That day the French were driven back.

In 1894 San Pietro station opened, on the line to Viterbo. On December 9, 1980, Ileana Ghione bought the old theater on Via delle Fornaci and reopened it under her name. On November 25, 1986, Candida by George Bernard Shaw was staged there, directed by Silverio Blasi. On December 3, 2005, Ghione herself, while performing Euripides' Hecuba on her own stage, was taken ill and died a few hours later. Her lying in state was held in the theater. On November 18, 2026, the same stage hosts stand up in English by a Romanian comedian arriving from a European tour.

Who has passed through Victor Patrascan, stand up comedy in broken English at Teatro Ghione, November 18, 2026

The name that dominates the history of this theater is Ileana Ghione: a student of Sergio Tofano, a face of 1960s television dramas, Tino Carraro's stage partner in Come le foglie, founder and director of the hall for 25 years, Grand Officer of the Republic. Her stage has seen the classics of the repertoire, from Shaw directed by Silverio Blasi to the Greek tragedies.

Popes and soldiers have passed through the surrounding neighborhood: the Borgias, who restored Porta Cavalleggeri and left their coats of arms there, and the defenders of the Roman Republic of 1849, among them Tommaso Salvini, who in the 19th century would become one of the most celebrated interpreters of Othello. At San Pietro station Totò, Alberto Sordi and Virna Lisi acted in front of the camera.

This autumn the Ghione has welcomed the comedian Giovanni Cacioppo, the flamenco show FlaMENcos and I Fantastici. On November 18, 2026, it's Victor Patrascan's turn, with a show that has already reached 30 countries and two continents.

How to prepare for an evening of stand up in English with Victor Patrascan

An evening of stand up in English like Victor Patrascan's at the Ghione doesn't require any special preparation, but a few tips help you enjoy it more.

Train your ear

If you haven't listened to spoken English in a while, in the days before you can watch some stand up clips online, including Patrascan's own, through the channels listed on his official website. Getting your ear used to the rhythm of live comedy, made of pauses and changes of tone, makes it easier to follow the jokes in the hall.

Leave your touchiness at home

The theater's presentation is clear: the show touches on the most controversial topics and spares no one. Stand up works if the audience accepts the deal: the comedian says things that off stage would sound unacceptable, and the laugh comes precisely from that gap. If this kind of comedy makes you uncomfortable, you'd do better to choose another show.

Answer, if asked

The comedian may address the audience with questions about where you're from, your job, life in Rome. Answering briefly and without trying to steal the scene is the unwritten rule: the best joke, usually, is his.

Your phone

Keeping your phone in your pocket isn't just a matter of manners: in stand up the concentration of the room is part of the show, and a lit screen distracts the comedian and the people sitting nearby.

How to plan the Victor Patrascan evening

For Victor Patrascan's show at Teatro Ghione, plan the evening around the show you choose: 19:00 if you want to eat afterward, 21:00 if you'd rather eat before.

The 19:00 show

Leave work, take the train or a taxi to San Pietro, see the show, then have dinner in Borgo or Prati. It's the most convenient format on weekdays, and it leaves the option of getting home early.

The 21:00 show

An aperitivo or a light dinner in the streets around Via Gregorio VII, then the show. For the trip back, plan on a taxi or check the last public transportation runs.

The length

The length of the show isn't published. With two shows two hours apart, the first necessarily ends before the second begins.

What to see around Teatro Ghione

Teatro Ghione is between St. Peter's, Borgo and the Janiculum: if you arrive early, you have many options for a walk.

St. Peter's Square and Basilica

St. Peter's Square is a few minutes' walk away, and in the evening the lit colonnade is one of the most beautiful sights in Rome. St. Peter's Basilica has daytime visiting hours: to go inside, plan it for the afternoon.

Borgo and Castel Sant'Angelo

Between St. Peter's and the Tiber lies the Borgo district, with its streets running parallel to Via della Conciliazione, all the way to Castel Sant'Angelo.

The Janiculum

Behind the theater rises the Janiculum, with its terrace over the city. In the evening, before the 21:00 show, the view of Rome's lights is the best way to start the night.

Where to eat before or after the show

Around Teatro Ghione the choice is typical of the Vatican area: lots of restaurants for tourists near the square, more authentic places on the residential streets.

Before the show

On the streets between Via delle Fornaci, Via Gregorio VII and the slopes of the Janiculum you'll find pizzerias, trattorias and bars frequented mostly by people who live in the neighborhood. For an aperitivo before the 21:00 show, they're the best choice.

After the show

To eat after the 19:00 show, head to Borgo, where some trattorias stay open late, to Prati, toward Via Cola di Rienzo, or to Trastevere. On a Wednesday evening booking is easier than on the weekend.

Accessibility and practical information

Teatro Ghione is listed as accessible to people with disabilities by the tourism portal of Roma Capitale, and the theater's website has a section on accessibility.

Visitors with disabilities

If you use a wheelchair or need assistance, it's useful to call the theater before the evening, at 06 6372294, to find out how access to the hall is arranged.

Young people

The show deals with adult themes with openly politically incorrect comedy: it's not suitable for children. For older teens studying English it can be a fun exercise, but parents should weigh the content.

With your dog

The official tourism portal lists a dog sitting service for the Ghione: if you're coming with your dog, ask the theater how it works before buying.

November in Rome

In mid-November Roman evenings are cool and often damp. A light jacket and a folding umbrella are enough for the walk from St. Peter's to the theater.

Frequently asked questions about Victor Patrascan at Teatro Ghione

When does Victor Patrascan perform in Rome?

Victor Patrascan performs at Teatro Ghione in Rome on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, with two shows: at 19:00 and 21:00. The show is called Stand up comedy in broken English and it's an evening of stand up comedy entirely in English.

Is Victor Patrascan's show in Italian?

No, Victor Patrascan's show at Teatro Ghione is entirely in English, as the theater states. The title plays on the comedian's accent and his imperfect English. To follow the jokes you need at least intermediate English.

Where can you buy tickets for Victor Patrascan at the Ghione?

Tickets for Victor Patrascan at Teatro Ghione are sold on the theater's official website, where prices are published, or by contacting the Ghione at 06 6372294. The theater specifies that the event isn't valid for season cards and subscriptions.

Who is Victor Patrascan?

Victor Patrascan is a Romanian stand up comedian who trained on the London comedy circuit, where he lived until 2020. Since then he has been touring Europe with self-produced shows: in 2023 alone he performed in 70 cities in 32 countries in front of more than 20,000 people.

Is Patrascan's show suitable for everyone?

Victor Patrascan's show is presented as ironic, direct and politically incorrect, with jokes about race, religion, gender and politics. The theater warns that it's not suitable for people who get offended easily, and the content is meant for an adult audience.

Where is Teatro Ghione?

Teatro Ghione is at Via delle Fornaci 37, in Rome, a short walk from St. Peter's Square. The nearest station is Roma San Pietro, served by the FL3 and FL5 regional trains. Buses stop at the station and at Largo di Porta Cavalleggeri.

Which show should you choose, 19:00 or 21:00?

For Victor Patrascan at Teatro Ghione, the 19:00 show suits people who want to have dinner after the show, the 21:00 one those who prefer an aperitivo or dinner beforehand. The show is the same. The choice depends on how you plan the evening and the trip home.

Final advice on Victor Patrascan at Teatro Ghione

The final advice is to go with the right people: friends who understand English, love unfiltered comedy and don't get offended if the comedian targets their country. Victor Patrascan brings to the Ghione the fruit of years of touring all over Europe, with a point of view no Italian comedian can have: that of someone who has made travel his home. In our opinion the 19:00 show, followed by dinner in Borgo, is the best format for a Wednesday evening out of the ordinary, a short walk from St. Peter's.

Article written by the editorial team of Tour Leader Pro, contact them for Private/Corporate/V.I.P. Tours and Experiences.

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