© Manuel Harlan

Theater & Stage Arts

Fantastic productions and theatrical art in Hamburg

Whether spoken, musical or dance theatre - the "boards that mean the world" have a long tradition in Hamburg. To this day, Hamburg's theatre scene is one of the most renowned and diverse. Curtain up for world-class superlatives!

 

© Oliver Fantitsch

Colorful stage life Drama & Theater

Hamburg's theatre scene is characterised by its diversity. In the numerous small theatres, the audience is often very close to the stage.

Drama & Theater
© Thomas Huang

Hamburg's funniest places Cabaret & Comedy

Hamburgers don't go to the basement to laugh - they go to the theater, to a stand-up show, to a cabaret and and...

Cabaret & Comedy

From Strauss to Verdi Ballet & Opera

If you like, Hamburg offers many facets of musical stage entertainment: the more than 300-year-old State Opera, the Ballet, the Chamber Opera in Altona or the Opera Loft in the HafenCity.

Ballet & Opera
© Kristijan Balun

Clear the stage for the poets Poetry Slam in Hamburg

Hamburg is quite famous for poetry slams - or in German: Wettstreit der Dichter. The participants recite self-written texts and the audience decides on the winner afterwards.

Poetry Slam in Hamburg
© TM & © HPTP. HP™ WB.

Play HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Extraordinary play in Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt. Experience the magic of HARRY POTTER up close.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

DISCOVER NOW Current performances

© The Hamburg Players/Herwig Lührs

"A Christmas Carol" by Patrick Barlow
  • Theatre

  • 13.11.2024
  • 19:30
  • Theater an der Marschnerstrasse
© Allerhand Theater

Allerhand Theater | Eddie büxt aus
  • Theatre

  • 17.11.2024
  • 14:00
  • KulturA - Kulturzentrum Neuallermöhe
© Dora Heldt / VB Rissen

BI HITT IS DAT TOMINST NICH KOOLT
  • Theatre

  • 16.11.2024
  • 19:00
  • Schule Iserbarg (Aula)
© Kellertheater

Der Vorname - Kellertheater
  • Theatre

  • 15.11.2024
  • 20:00
  • Kellertheater
© Matthew Murphy

Harry Potter und das verwunschene Kind
  • Theatre

  • 15.11.2024
  • 19:00
  • Theater am Großmarkt
© Gemeinfrei Pixabay

König Storch - Kellertheater
  • Theatre

  • 16.11.2024
  • 15:00
  • Kellertheater
© Hoftheater Ottensen

Weihnachtsmärchen-Hans im Glück
  • Theatre

  • 15.11.2024
  • 16:00
  • Hoftheater Ottensen

Hamburgs Performing Arts

Famous: from then to now

1678 is an important year in the history of Hamburg's theatre scene. It was the year in which an opera house was founded on the Gänsemarkt, the first in Germany to be financed by the citizens. Telemann, Handel, Puccini, Tchaikovsky and Mahler are just some of the names associated with the theatre. Today it is still world famous - as the Hamburg State Opera. It is also home to the Hamburg Ballet, made world famous by John Neumeier. Hamburg's two other state theatres are no less impressive: The Deutsches SchauSpielHaus Hamburg, founded in 1900 on private initiative in St. Georg, is Hamburg's largest theatre and one of the most important in the German-speaking world. The Thalia Theatre bears the name of the Greek muse of comedy, because in its early days in the 1840s it was not allowed to perform serious plays. Since 1912, it has had its main theatre in the old town, where its repertoire includes classics and contemporary works. Contemporary performing arts with music, theatre, dance and performances can be found at Kampnagel, a multifunctional stage complex in Winterhude and Germany's largest independent performance and production venue.

Established: even beyond Hamburg's borders

Hamburg is home to Germany's largest private theatre: the Ernst Deutsch Theatre, which sees itself as a forum for social debate and promotes young talent. Icons have appeared on its stage and it is Germany's most popular Low German folk theatre: the Ohnsorg Theatre! Founded in 1841, the St. Pauli Theatre is the oldest private theatre in Hamburg, located next to the Davidwache, and presents renowned artists with intelligent entertainment. Strange, beautiful, shrill: that's Schmidt's Tivoli on Spielbudenplatz in St. Pauli. Its repertoire includes "Die Heiße Ecke", a musical with cult status.

The Reeperbahn is also home to the Imperial Theatre, Hamburg's only crime theatre. The Altona Theatre brings literature to the stage, including classics, bestsellers and young works. The Hamburger Kammerspiele, not far from the Outer Alster, is one of the city's top private theatres. Hamburg's oldest vaudeville theatre is located on Steindamm in St. Georg: the Hansa Theatre stands for first-class acrobatics and the finest entertainment. The Winterhuder Fährhaus Comedy Theatre stages upmarket boulevard plays with a celebrity cast. And the Theatre at the Grossmarkt, in Hamburg's listed Grossmarkthallen, is showing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to great acclaim. The English Theatre of Hamburg, Germany's oldest English-language theatre, offers a cultural experience in the original English.

Free, experimental and special

It is the city's largest and best-known off-stage venue: Hamburg's Sprechwerk presents drama, dance theatre, children's theatre, performance, cabaret and improvisation. The LICHTHOF theatre in Bahrenfeld is a venue for independent performing arts. Hamburg's oldest off-stage theatre is the monsun.theatre, which focuses on contemporary drama. The Klabauter Theater, near the Berliner Tor, shows integrative theatre. The Harburg Theatre, whose history is closely linked to Altona, is firmly anchored in Hamburg's cultural landscape. In the east of the city, Das kleine Hoftheater offers high-quality entertainment theatre. Theatre at eye level can be found at Das Zimmer, the theatre in a former shop, the smallest private theatre in Hamburg with 40 seats. The Opernloft in the old ferry terminal in Altona offers special access to operas - here each opera lasts a maximum of 90 minutes - and the Hamburg Kammeroper (Allee-Theater), which stages the works in specially produced German versions. And what could be more fitting for the port city of Hamburg than a theatre on a ship? From its picturesque berth on the Nikolaifleet, the theatre ship claims to be Europe's only seaworthy stage.

Theatre for babies, children, teenagers and families

There is a huge range of educational theatre in Hamburg. In addition to the extra offerings of established theatres such as the Hamburg State Opera's jung, the Junge SchauSpielHaus, Thalia jung&mehr or musical adventures at Kampnagel such as the Klangfest by Kinder Kinder e.V., the Hanseatic city has a lot to offer for young theatre fans. Germany's first private children's theatre is the Theater für Kinder (Allee-Theater), which has been offering first-class theatre entertainment for the little ones since 1968. Children's theatre for all generations is on the repertoire of the FUNDUS THEATER | Forschungstheater in Hamm. Anchored in the middle of the city on the Isebek Canal is the HoheLuftschiff of the Theater Zeppelin ensemble, Hamburg's floating children's theatre. Haus Flachsland in Barmbek is home to Hamburg's only puppet theatre, the Hamburger Puppentheater.

OUR RECOMMENDATION Theaters & Stages in Hamburg

© Allee Theater

Allee Theatre – Hamburger Kammeroper

The Allee Theater is the only private chamber opera in Europe and is dedicated primarily to music theater of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Allee Theatre – Hamburger Kammeroper

Allee Theater – Hamburger Kammeroper

Max-Brauer-Allee 76
22765 Hamburg

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© Alma Hoppes Lustspielhaus

Alma Hoppes Lustspielhaus

Funny, political satire and big names from Germany’s cabaret scene perform daily in Alma Hoppe’s Lustspielhaus.

Alma Hoppes Lustspielhaus

Alma Hoppes Lustspielhaus

Ludolfstraße 53
20249 Hamburg

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© 2018 ThisIsJulia Photography

Altona Theatre

Performances on this stage are based on novels; in this manner, they become much easier to understand. Many unique performances are presented here. This house is known for its literary models and historical material. After an eventful history and several moves, it is at home today in the centre of Altona.

Altona Theatre

Altonaer Theater

Museumstraße 17
22765 Hamburg

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© ThisIsJulia Photography

Deutsches Schauspielhaus

Enjoy culture in a classical atmosphere - at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus the old masters are breathed back into life in new productions.

Deutsches Schauspielhaus

Deutsches Schauspielhaus

Kirchenallee 39
20099 Hamburg

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© ThisIsJulia Photography

Ernst Deutsch Theater

The Ernst Deutsch Theater is Germany's largest private spoken theatre and regularly presents plays in the field of tension between tradition and topicality.

Ernst Deutsch Theater

Ernst Deutsch Theater

Friedrich-Schütter-Platz 1
22087 Hamburg

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© ThisIsJulia Photography

Hamburger Kammerspiele

The Hamburger Kammerspiele is one of Hamburg's most famous theatres and offers its visitors high-quality theatre performances almost every day.

Hamburger Kammerspiele

Hamburger Kammerspiele

Hartungstraße 9-11
20146 Hamburg

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DISCOVER NOW Culture & Music in Hamburg

© Stefan Malzkorn

Great freedom for music Concerts & Live Music

From classical music to electro festivals, from music history to a thriving live music scene and vibrant nightlife… Hamburg’s got it all!

Concerts & Live Music
© Mediaserver Hamburg / Jung von Matt

Hamburg's landmark on the Waterfront Elbphilharmonie

In building the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg certainly put itself on the map! Our concert hall, with its impressive glass wave architecture and interior furnishings, is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Elbphilharmonie
© Hamburger Kunsthalle / Foto: Kay Riechers

Artistic highlights Art & Exhibitions

A visit to one of Hamburg’s museums involves rare old pieces on display in our magnificent buildings, but you’ll also find a number of smaller, owner-operated galleries, as well as contemporary art, pop up installations, street art and collections aimed specifically at the littlest visitors.

Art & Exhibitions

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