Operettenhaus

The Operettenhaus is a theatre in Hamburg-Mitte that stages musicals. It opened in 1986 with the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. Stage Entertainment now owns and runs the building. The city of Hamburg sold the theatre to Stage Entertainment in 2011. Before that, Stage Entertainment had gradually taken over the lease. The theatre has been a fixture on Hamburg’s cultural map for decades. The house is best known for large-scale musical productions. Cats launched its reputation in the 1980s. Since then it has hosted other major shows. Stage Entertainment’s takeover in 2001 and 2011 secured its future. The building itself is a working theatre, not a museum or gallery. Its focus is on live performance every season. Inside, the auditorium seats hundreds of spectators. The stage is equipped for elaborate sets and lighting. The foyer often displays posters and programmes. Outside, the building sits among other theatres and offices. Its plain façade gives little hint of the colourful shows within.