Ohnsorg-Theater

The Ohnsorg-Theater stands in Hamburg-Mitte, a stage dedicated to plays in Low German. Founded in 1902 by Richard Ohnsorg, it began as the Dramatische Gesellschaft Hamburg. For decades it performed in cramped spaces until moving to the Kleine Lustspielhaus in 1936. After the war it became the Richard Ohnsorg-Theater in 1946. In 2011 it relocated to a new playhouse in the listed Bieberhaus near Deutsches Schauspielhaus and Hamburg Hauptbahnhof. The theatre plays up to six productions each season, all in Platt except for rare television broadcasts. These broadcasts by NDR and ARD made stars like Heidi Kabel widely known. The plays range from comedies set among Northern German farmers and fishermen to serious literature and musicals. International works such as Stephen King’s Misery and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream appear in Low German adaptations. Heidi Kabel starred for over forty years until 1997. Visitors find a modern playhouse inside the historic Bieberhaus. A square outside bears Heidi Kabel’s name, and a monument stands by the entrance. Inside, productions unfold in repertory style with frequent changes. The repertoire includes both traditional Platt plays and translated classics. The theatre remains a lively centre for Low German culture in the heart of Hamburg.