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Infrequent Bulletin – January 2024

Dear Friends of German Humour,

I hope you’ve had a good start to 2024.

Just days after sending out the previous Infrequent Monthly Bulletin in which I painted a bleak picture of Germany’s rail infrastructure there’s been another reminder that the Fatherland’s glory years have come to an end.

In December, Germany’s constitutional court ordered a partial repeat of the 2021 general election in several districts of Berlin. This follows an election day beset by problems, such as shortages of ballot papers in some polling stations and others where the cast ballots never got counted. And then it took another two-and-a-bit years to get the court judgement. Dear oh dear.

When people ask what I miss about Germany my standard answer used to be: the concept of apprenticeships and proportional representation.

Ironically, now, at the very time PR is winning a bit of traction in Britain, I’m starting to think Germany itself should maybe admit defeat and introduce the far easier to administer first-past-the-post system.

Much easier because it doesn’t matter who anyone votes for in any of the 90% of constituencies that are safe seats. And in the handful of marginal constituencies there’s no need to count up overly diligently either. Vague approximations will do. Basically, whoever walks in with the biggest stash of polling cards wins the seat.

God knows why it still takes 10 hours to declare. Are the civil servants who oversee the count on double bubble!? The noble exception used to be Sunderland South where the winner traditionally got announced when the polling stations were still open. And we all know how this ended: in 2010 the constituency got abolished, for being run too efficiently and making the other constituencies look bad.

Speaking of Sunderland, let me use this opportunity to reassure all who got in touch and wondered about a lack of performances oop North, in Scotland and in Wales. The reason I don’t gig much north of Watford Gap in the early preview days of the tour is simple: I am too eager to please.

There’s no point travelling up to Thurso with a ropey show. This means by the time I eventually do leave the South Coast Acid Wehn will be slick as anything.

Plenty more tour dates will be added and, rest assured, in Autumn 2024 and for all of 2025 and the early part of 2026 I’ll be spending loads of time in my favourite haunt: the M6 Toll service station. The Eton College of the British road catering network. I shall be listening to Richard Clayderman tickling the ivories in the foyer while rubbing shoulders with our betters. Can’t wait!

Have a great 2024

Henning

PS: There’s currently another six-day train strike in Germany. Not that it matters much as, watching the news, it appears tractors have become the most popular mode of transport back home.

Please find below the list of upcoming gigs. As I say, more are being added all the time.


March 2024

1st - Alfriston - Memorial Hall - SOLD OUT
2nd - Alfriston - Memorial Hall - SOLD OUT
3rd - Lewes - Con Club - SOLD OUT
9th - Peacehaven - Meridian Centre - SOLD OUT
10th - Newhaven - Hillcrest Centre - SOLD OUT
14th - Lewes - Con Club - SOLD OUT
15th - Alfriston - Memorial Hall - SOLD OUT
17th - Leicester - The Big Difference - SOLD OUT
18th - Leicester - The Big Difference - SOLD OUT
19th - Leicester - The Big Difference - SOLD OUT

April 2024

2nd - Faversham - The Alex - SOLD OUT
3rd - Faversham - The Alex - SOLD OUT
5th - Maidenhead - Norden Farm - SOLD OUT
6th - Luton - The Hat Factory - SOLD OUT
13th - Andover - The Lights - SOLD OUT
14th - Andover - The Lights - SOLD OUT
17th - Bath - Green Park Brasserie - SOLD OUT
18th - Bath - Green Park Brasserie - SOLD OUT
19th - Slough - The Curve - SOLD OUT
25th - Cholsey nr Wallingford - Cholsey Great Hall - SOLD OUT
26th - Cholsey nr Wallingford - Cholsey Great Hall - SOLD OUT
27th - Cholsey nr Wallingford - Cholsey Great Hall - SOLD OUT

May 2024

12th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
13th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
14th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
15th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
16th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
17th - Brighton - The Walrus - SOLD OUT
20th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
21st - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
22nd - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
23rd - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS
24th - Brighton - The Walrus - TICKETS

July 2024

19th - London - Betsey Trotwood - TICKETS

September 2024

28th - Winchester - Theatre Royal - SOLD OUT
29th - Epsom - Playhouse - TICKETS

October 2024

3rd - Southport - Southport Comedy Festival - TICKETS
4th - Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre - TICKETS
8th - Wavendon - The Stables - TICKETS
9th - Wavendon - The Stables - TICKETS
10th - Wavendon - The Stables - TICKETS
17th - Exeter - Corn Exchange - TICKETS
18th - Exeter - Corn Exchange - TICKETS
19th - Torquay - Babbacombe Theatre - TICKETS
24th - Bridport - Electric Palace - TICKETS
25th - Bridport - Electric Palace - TICKETS

November 2024

10th - Norwich - Playhouse - SOLD OUT
11th - Norwich - Playhouse - SOLD OUT
12th - Norwich - Playhouse - SOLD OUT
14th - London - Leicester Square Theatre - TICKETS
15th - London - Leicester Square Theatre - TICKETS
16th - London - Leicester Square Theatre - TICKETS
28th - London - Leicester Square Theatre - TICKETS
29th - London - Leicester Square Theatre - TICKETS
30th - London - Leicester Square Theatre - TICKETS

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