Satirical reading “I can’t laugh about that!” on May 16th
Hans-Joachim Heist will be performing his biting poems and satirical stories at the sports and cultural hall in Pfungstadt on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Under the title "I Can't Laugh About That!", Heist presents texts from life – pointed, ironic, and with a sharp eye for the absurdities of everyday life. The program ranges from Kurt Tucholsky's "The Art of Traveling" to the legendary "complaint letters" of his fictional character Gernot Hassknecht. The focus is on typical everyday annoyances and the excesses of a very particular brand of German humor.
Known from the heute show
As a regular member of the Heute Show ensemble, Heist has achieved cult status in the role of the choleric news commentator Gernot Hassknecht. In addition to numerous television appearances, he has received prestigious awards such as the German Television Award, the German Comedy Award, the Bambi, and the Golden Camera.
Heist can also be seen regularly on stage – as he is now doing in Pfungstadt. In an interview with the Frankensteiner Rundschau, Hans Joachim Heist expresses his excitement about this performance:
Mr. Heist, you are back in Pfungstadt after a long time with one of your stage programs.
Hans-Joachim Heist: That's correct, and there's a special reason for that. "I can't laugh about that" is the second program to have its official German premiere in Pfungstadt.
Why in Pfungstadt and not in Berlin or Hamburg?
Hans-Joachim Heist: Because Pfungstadt has been my home for about 40 years, it's a home game, so to speak.
You are currently also performing as "Datterich" on the stage of the Darmstadt State Theatre. What significance does dialect theatre hold for you?
Hans-Joachim Heist: Dialect is the mother tongue, pure homeland. I am a strong advocate of the mother tongue, also on stage, because I think it should be cherished and passed on to the younger generation.
You also tour nationwide with your "Heinz Erhardt" stage program; will you be performing in this area again sometime?
Hans-Joachim Heist: Yes, on May 23rd at the halbNeun Theater in Darmstadt.
Now, let's talk about your role as Gernot Hassknecht on the ZDF heute show. Your character has become a true cult figure on German television. Will we hear anything about Gernot Hassknecht in your new program?
Hans-Joachim Heist: Absolutely! Hassknecht's hobby is writing letters of complaint, and I have some of these letters of complaint in my program.
You have won several awards for your role as Hassknecht in the heute show.
Hans-Joachim Heist: I've been a permanent member of the "heute show" ensemble since 2009, and quite a few awards have accumulated. For example: the Grimme Prize, the German Comedy Prize, the German Television Prize, the Golden Camera, the Bambi, and many more.
What can the audience expect this evening?
Hans-Joachim Heist: I can promise you it will be an entertaining evening where the audience will definitely laugh!
Event details
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Location: Pfungstadt Sports and Culture Hall, Ringstraße 51
Start: 8 p.m.
Doors open: 7 p.m.
Tickets are online .
(RED/PM)
