The Theatre Ship Hamburg

There are many theatres in Germany. However, only one is seaworthy: the Hamburg theatre ship. At a maximum distance of seven metres from the stage, you can experience the musical and cabaret programme particularly intensively - right on the water. For example, a comedy crash course for Hamburg fans: "Becoming a Hamburger in 90 minutes". What is told there? Even if you're from Hamburg, it's best to see for yourself.

You go on board in the centre of the city on Nikolaifleet, between the Speicherstadt, Hafen-City and Elbphilharmonie. The first premiere was back in 1975, at the same location. The ship has been in use as a stage ever since. The history of the old freighter itself is even longer and quite eventful: it was built in 1912 as a ship with sails and christened the "Seagull", later it was motorised. During the Second World War, the ship sank in Hamburg harbour, but the owner at the time had it salvaged and repaired - and sent it back out on the world's oceans.

Many nautical miles and conversions later, the ship became too small for freight and uneconomical for shipping.The metamorphosis into a theatre ship followed in 1974 at the small Garbers family shipyard in Rothenburgsort, and it has been managed by the Schlesselmann family since 2000. In 2007, they brought actor, author and director Michael Frowin on board as artistic director; together they led the theatre ship on the road to success.Frowin has been managing the theatre together with Heiko Schlesselmann since 2022.

Despite changes of ownership and occupation, one thing has always remained the same: The theatre ship is seaworthy and can set sail at any time. Sometimes it goes on tour - to guest performances in Kiel, Helgoland or other harbours around Hamburg.

Address: Nikolaifleet, Holzbrücke 2, 20459 Hamburg

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