The English Theatre of Hamburg

Über The English Theatre of Hamburg

The English Theatre of Hamburg e.V. is a private, professional theatre, subsidized in part by the Hamburg Ministry of Culture. It is a non-profit organization and a member of the Deutscher Bühnenverein.

History of the Theatre
The theatre was founded in 1976 by two Americans, Robert Rumpf and Clifford Dean, who trained and worked professionally in the United States before coming to Hamburg in the mid-1970s. They share the general management responsibilities, plan the artistic program and direct the productions of the theatre. The company presented plays in many different locations in Hamburg until 1979 when a temporary home was found in Hamburg-Altona. Since 1981 the theatre has occupied its present premises at Mundsburg in 22018 Hamburg.

Performances
The theatre performs from September through June, giving eight performances per week. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. every evening (except Sundays) and at 11:00 a.m. twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays).

Purpose
The theatre presents a variety of distinguished plays in the original English on a professional basis, hoping thereby to contribute to international communication through language and the art of the theatre.

Program
A season at The English Theatre usually includes an American or British drama from the classics and modern classics, a comedy and a thriller. Past plays have included the works of Shakespeare, G.B. Shaw, Eugene O\Neill, Harold Pinter, Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams, Alan Ayckbourn and Neil Simon.

Educational Service
In addition to performing plays in the original English, the theatre provides schools in Hamburg and the surrounding areas with teaching material for each play. Copies of the text of the play in English are also made available, and discussions are offered on request after performances with the director and actors. Students are admitted to all performances at greatly reduced prices.

Theatre Premises
The theatre\s box office is conveniently located on the ground floor of the building HAMMONIA BAD For patrons wishing to pick up tickets. The auditorium itself, on the first floor, has 160 seats. Access For handicapped visitors is provided (For further information please call: +49 (0)40 227 7089. Each row is elevated so that all spectators have an excellent view of the stage and there is lots of leg room. The foyer is equipped with bar and cloakroom facilities and there is ample parking space behind the building For theatre guests who come by car. The administrative offices, workshop, costume and prop rooms are located in the basement. The rehearsal room is in the annex at the back of the building.

Audience
Most of the theatre\s audience comes from Hamburg and the surrounding areas of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, including students of English (at all levels) and those who have mastered English as a second language, as well as native speakers.

Staff
The theatre has a staff of approximately 30 people employed on either full-time or part-time basis. This includes the directors of the theatre, the administrative and technical personnel, the stage management, as well as box office staff, bartenders and cloakroom attendants. Professional actors and set designers are hired in London for each production.