In Germany he has long been an integral part of the local comedy scene and has won various awards, in his home country Switzerland Alain Frei however, little known. He has already staged four solo programs in Munich, now he is coming to the Circus Krone with his fifth. “All in” is the motto, and here, too, the Cologne-based and trained actor charmingly takes the audience on a journey through the absurdities of life.
Monday: Bavarian cuisine
The “Xaver’s” inn on Rumfordstraße offers typical Bavarian cuisine.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
Let’s go to Munich! I love saying those three words. As an artist and as a resident of Cologne, I associate a lot with this city. And whenever it takes me there for work, I try to be there for a few days and soak up as much of this beautiful piece of earth as possible. Today it’s finally time again. I sit down in the ICE and know at the latest shortly before Munich: It will be a special time. Because on Friday I can present my new comedy show “All in” in the prestigious Circus Krone. I am a bit excited. The thought of going out to eat with Munich friends as soon as you arrive is calming. I really like Bavarian cuisine, even if it sounds incredibly clichéd. Today we try the juicy roast pork at Xaver’s on Rumfordstraße in the Glockenbachviertel. Hello Munich! You can’t get any better.
Tuesday: Favorite cinema
Rich in tradition: The charming film art cinema “Studio Isabella” shows selected current films as well as works in their original language.
(Photo: Florian Peljak)
Today I’m visiting a good college friend in Ludwigsvorstadt. We went to drama school together in Hamburg, which, along with Munich and Cologne, is one of my favorite cities in Germany. We spent our twenties together in a funny little flat share. It was a great time. My former flatmate and all-rounder Basti Thumulka has now taken a completely different career path and, together with a friend, has taken over the very charming “AW Café” on the corner of Isabellastrasse and Georgenstrasse. They have the tastiest cappuccino in town. AW stands for the architect duo Sascha Arnold and Steffen Werner. Today’s café was originally the architect’s office’s coffee kitchen, which was also open to the public for two hours in the morning. You can see that in the store. In the meantime, however, you can get delicacies here all day long, such as my beloved Franzbrötchen. If I’m not really chatting away with Basti, I definitely want to go to my favorite Munich arthouse cinema “Studio im Isabella” in the evening, which is just around the corner.
Wednesday: Good prospects
At the Monopteros you have a great view over the English Garden and the towers of downtown Munich.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
In Cologne we have the inner green belt with the Aachener Weiher. It’s beautiful, but no comparison to the English Garden. Always a highlight for me when I’m here. I can float there for a whole day with no problem. He’s big enough. I start on Königstraße and first have breakfast at the Milchhäusl, another such a special, charming place. Then I stroll to Monopteros, I like the view from there over the green meadows and the Eisbach to the silhouette of the city. During a long walk under the old trees here, I can go through the program again in my mind. Do the punch lines, the processes, the dramaturgical arc fit? Even with the fifth program, it’s always exciting before the premiere of a new show. Past the Kleinhesseloher See – you Munich people have such picturesque places in the middle of the city – I walk in many twists and turns towards Hirschau, another delicious Bavarian restaurant. Thinking and walking make you hungry.
Thursday: Coffee above the roofs
One of the best addresses for a breakfast with a view: the Café Glockenspiel at the town hall.
(Photo: Stefanie Preuin)
I march off to Marienplatz in the morning and sit down in the Café Glockenspiel. I like the view of the town hall and perhaps the busiest square in this city. I can be wonderfully inspired by the passing tourists, business people and people from Munich who are shopping. The more hustle and bustle around me, the more relaxed I can indulge my thoughts and delve into my texts. precision work. After that I need to relax and stroll through the Viktualienmarkt, get a plate of potato soup from the soup kitchen, then sit around the corner in the coffee roastery to drink a cappuccino in this cozy spot in the middle of the market. They also have what is perhaps the tastiest Florentine in town.
Friday: A dream comes true
premiere day! When I think of who has already stood on stage under the round dome of the legendary Circus Krone, I feel pretty humbled that I can stand there today. For me a dream comes true and it is something very special. “I gfrei mi”, the Munich would say. I’m there in the early afternoon, site inspection, sound check, welcome the crew, discuss runs. Time flies by until it starts at 8 p.m.
Saturday: Cocktails in the creative district
The Transit Rooftop Bar in the Werksviertel invites you to slow down with chilled sounds and cool drinks.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
I sleep in and then have a leisurely breakfast. And with that Süddeutsche Zeitung, the thick weekend edition, which I sometimes get at the kiosk in Cologne. Tonight I want to let it rip a bit. I meet up with friends at the “Transit Rooftop Bar” in the Werksviertel. Every time I’m surprised how quickly this neighborhood changes, what a creative corner. Almost atypical for Munich, this colorful urbanity and the cool mix of industrial charm and nightlife. And I’m sure I’ll discover a new cocktail again. Gladly two. But I don’t want to crash. I have to get up early.
Sunday: Nice new goals
A romantic pearl in the city is Schloss Blutenburg in Pasing, which also has a lot of cultural programs to offer.
(Photo: Tom Soyer)
Now it’s time to say goodbye. Before I get on my early train to Cologne, I get myself a real Munich butter pretzel and a coffee. They still exist in the midst of this hustle and bustle of construction sites at the main station. I’m excited to see how this will all look when it’s finished. Even if that will take a while. As I slowly drive out of the city, I see the city pass me by and I can think of a few more places I want to see on my next visit. Blutenburg Palace in Pasing is one of them, and my Munich friends keep recommending it to me as one of the most romantic pearls in the city. The train would even stop here.
Alain Frei grew up in the Swiss canton of Solothurn. In 2004 he came to Germany. He completed his acting training in Hamburg, after which he discovered his penchant for comedy. In 2010 he gained his first experiences on stand-up stages before joining the comedy group “rebel comedyIn this multicultural troupe made up of different comedians of different nationalities, he is considered a “quota German”. In between, he appears again and again in television formats such as “NightWash”, “Quatsch Comedy Club” or “Nuhr im Erste”. He has been publishing since March 2020 every week the podcast “Vitamin X” with Marvin Endres and his colleague Salim Samatou.