The English Theatre of Hamburg

The English Theatre of Hamburg stands in the Mundsburg quarter of Hamburg-Nord. It occupies a former public baths building on Lerchenfeld that has been protected since 1971. The company was founded in 1976 by two American actors who had worked in the United States before moving to Germany. Artistic Director Paul Glaser joined in 2017 and has since adapted and directed plays by British and American writers. Recent productions include stage versions of Great Expectations and The Hound of the Baskervilles. The theatre has invited guest directors to broaden its artistic programme. The theatre’s stage is staffed entirely by professional actors trained in London. The founders and Glaser share management duties and plan each season together. Glaser’s adaptation of Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride won the 2023 Theaterpreis Hamburg – Rolf Mares. His original song for Great Expectations, Far and Away, was written for that production. Guest directors have also contributed recent productions to the repertoire. The building’s former medicinal baths now form the auditorium and foyers. Visitors enter through the former entrance of the Hammonia Bad. Inside, the auditorium seats the audience close to the stage for an intimate experience. The foyers display posters of past productions and photographs of the company. Performances are held in English, offering a regular programme of drama and comedy. The theatre’s location in Mundsburg is convenient for visitors arriving by public transport. The building itself, with its preserved Art Deco details, adds to the evening’s atmosphere.