Annabelle “Bee” Baumann on Bee vs The Village – A Black Comic in Germany
After the success of our 2025 Camden Fringe Interviews, we thought it only right to attempt a repeat for 2026. So throughout July we’ll be publishing new interviews each day to give a taste of what to expect from London’s best fringe theatre festival. The festival starts Monday 3 August this year, so we may give ourselves a couple of days off inbetween the end of the interviews and the first shows… then again, we might not.
You can find out more about Camden Fringe, along with details of every show playing this August here. You can also find all of this year’s interviews as they are published here.
In 2005, Indianapolis native Annabelle “Bee” Baumann moved to rural Germany with a simple, quiet goal: to disappear into the countryside and live a peaceful life. There was just one glaring issue; as a Black woman in a tiny traditional village, she was entirely impossible to miss. The harder she tried to blend into the background, the more visible she became.
Turning this ridiculous, exhausting paradox into a brilliant piece of stand-up art, Bee vs The Village – A Black Comic in Germany heads to the iconic comedy venue The Bill Murray this August for Camden Fringe 2026. Produced by BEECOMMUNICATION, the show cuts through today’s highly polarized cultural debates using sharp wit, disarming empathy, and an unapologetic wash of pink. We sat down with Bee to discuss hiding in plain sight, writing a love letter to quiet Baby Boomers, and getting roasted by her former high school teacher.
If you had to describe the vibe of your show in just one sentence, what would it be and how does it manifest on stage?
Bee vs. the Village is a funny, heartfelt culture-clash stand-up comedy show about what happens when a Black woman from Indianapolis becomes the main character in a tiny German village that never asked for one.
Why is 2026 the perfect time for this show to be seen?
In 2026, conversations about identity, community, belonging, and cultural difference are everywhere, yet many of them have become polarized and exhausting. Bee vs. the Village approaches these topics through humor rather than division. It reminds audiences that behind every debate about culture, migration, race, or integration are ordinary people simply trying to find their place in the world.
At a time when many people feel disconnected from one another, the show offers a funny and deeply human perspective on what it means to be an outsider, build bridges across differences, and discover that belonging is often found in the most unexpected places. Audiences leave laughing, but they also leave with a greater sense of empathy, curiosity, and connection.
What was the ‘eureka moment’ that made you realise this story had to be told?
I came to Germany in 2005 hoping to disappear into a quiet life. The problem was that as a Black woman in a tiny German village, I was impossible to miss. I discovered that I could only hide in plain sight. The harder I tried to blend in, the more visible I became. It was such a ridiculous, frustrating paradox that eventually I had to laugh about it. And once I started laughing, I started talking. That’s where the show began.
How important is the live room’s energy to your performance style?
Audience interaction is minimal, but audience energy is essential. I enjoy responding to the room and allowing the audience’s laughter, reactions, and shared recognition to influence the rhythm of the performance.
What does “success” look like for you this August, beyond just selling out the run?
As an African American woman who has spent more than twenty years navigating life in Germany, I hope audiences leave feeling more connected to one another and more curious about experiences outside their own.
Who would play you in the Hollywood adaptation of your future autobiography?
The comedian Leslie Jones! And the film would most definitely be called The Life & Times of a Delusional Drag Queen!
If you had to describe your show as a colour, what would it be?
It can only be pink. I lean heavily into pink; from baby pink to hot pink. It’s a full vibe of innocence mixed with absolute outrageousness.
If your show was a love letter to a specific person, place, or era, who or what would it be?
It’s a love letter to Baby Boomers who came of age during times of tremendous social and cultural change, yet were often taught to stay quiet and follow the rules. It celebrates those who are only now discovering the power of their own voice and embracing the possibilities that still lie ahead.
Can you share a “fake” review of the show from your past?
“I spent four years trying to train her not to run her mouth. This show is proof I failed.” — Former High School Teacher 👩🏫❌
Our thanks to Bee for giving up her time to chat with us. Bee vs the Village plays at The Bill Murray on Sunday 9 August for one performance only (4pm).
