Deutsches Schauspielhaus

The Deutsches Schauspielhaus stands in Hamburg’s St Georg quarter, a theatre built between 1899 and 1900 to designs by the Austrian firm Fellner & Helmer. It opened in 1901 and was co-founded by the actress Franziska Ellmenreich. A major renovation took place in 2013 and 2014. The building is part of the city’s theatrical heritage and remains a working playhouse today. Its location places it close to Hamburg’s central station and lively streets. The theatre is worth the journey for the unusual productions it has staged. In May 2010 it presented The Infernal Comedy – Confessions of a Serial Killer, written by John Malkovich and directed by Michael Sturminger. Malkovich himself took the lead role in this operatic treatment of the Austrian killer Jack Unterweger. The production drew international attention and showed the house’s readiness to mount ambitious new work. Inside, visitors find a traditional auditorium arranged in stalls and circles. The stage is large enough for operatic sets and complex lighting rigs. Outside, St Georg’s cafés and shops provide a lively setting. The theatre’s façade remains a landmark in the quarter.