WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY PLAYERS
You found the right place to watch, produce or perform (but always enjoy) English-language theater in Hamburg. Find out all there is to know about our various activities, when they are happening, and how to join them!
Current Production:
SHAKESPEARIMENT: AS YOU LIKE IT
The one-show-one-rehearsal Shakespeare
Directed by Brian Bell
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Show starts at 7.30 p.m.
Audimax, Von-Melle-Park 4, 20146 Hamburg
Tickets online only. No box office! Open pricing system: Join us if you like, support us if you can.
Step into the world of Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT, where banishment becomes adventure and love blossoms in disguise. Identities unravel, conflicts fade, and joy triumphs as the story leads to a celebration of love, harmony, and new beginnings in one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies.
The Shakespeariment is a bold theatrical experiment in which the ensemble meets for one single rehearsal before performing live in front of an audience. The thrill of the evening emerges from risk, immediacy, and the electric exchange between performers and spectators. Minimal props but maximum presence, courage, and connection. Raw, direct, and gloriously unpredictable.
Ensemble | Ahmed Omar, Amir Eid, Arne Wittgen, Bahaa Takieddine, Helen Khorrami, Johannes Timm, Kaitlin McLachlan, Kris Chekelova, Margaret Metzler, Martina Plieger, Max Kilgus, Merlin Gebhard, Mickael Melo, Nick Plummer, Simon Deggim, Steven Montero.
Director & Moderator | Brian Bell is an acclaimed director and writer whose work spans the United States, Germany, and Switzerland. Originally from Texas, Brian has built a vibrant freelance career, directing productions in Weimar, Meiningen, Chemnitz, Heilbronn, Baden-Baden, and Ingolstadt. He has led the innovative Shakespeariment series in Berlin and London. This production is the first realization of the Shakespeariment in Hamburg.
Production Management | Charlie Bierend, Michel Büch
Supported by the Deutsche Shakespeare Gesellschaft.
Current Production:
SHAKESPEARIMENT: AS YOU LIKE IT
The one-show-one-rehearsal Shakespeare
Directed by Brian Bell
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Shows starts at 7.30 p.m.
Audimax, Von-Melle-Park 4, 20146 Hamburg
Tickets online only. No box office! Open pricing system: Join us if you like, support us if you can.
Step into the world of Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT, where banishment becomes adventure and love blossoms in disguise. Identities unravel, conflicts fade, and joy triumphs as the story leads to a celebration of love, harmony, and new beginnings in one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies.
The Shakespeariment is a bold theatrical experiment in which the ensemble meets for one single rehearsal before performing live in front of an audience. The thrill of the evening emerges from risk, immediacy, and the electric exchange between performers and spectators. Minimal props but maximum presence, courage, and connection. Raw, direct, and gloriously unpredictable.
Ensemble | Ahmed Omar, Amir Eid, Arne Wittgen, Bahaa Takieddine, Helen Khorrami, Johannes Timm, Kaitlin McLachlan, Kris Chekelova, Margaret Metzler, Martina Plieger, Max Kilgus, Merlin Gebhard, Mickael Melo, Nick Plummer, Simon Deggim, Steven Montero.
Director & Moderator | Brian Bell is an acclaimed director and writer whose work spans the United States, Germany, and Switzerland. Originally from Texas, Brian has built a vibrant freelance career, directing productions in Weimar, Meiningen, Chemnitz, Heilbronn, Baden-Baden, and Ingolstadt. He has led the innovative Shakespeariment series in Berlin and London. This production is the first realization of the Shakespeariment in Hamburg.
Production Management | Charlie Bierend, Michel Büch
Supported by the Deutsche Shakespeare Gesellschaft.
How to join
There are so many exciting ways to get involved with the University Players! While we primarily reach out to active students at the University of Hamburg, everyone is welcome — all departments and activities are open to people from all backgrounds and walks of life. No matter your experience or where you’re coming from, there’s a place for you here.
Be in a play
If you want to join our cast, you’re very welcome to attend our open auditions, which take place at the beginning of every semester. But there’s much more to a production than what happens on stage — and we’re always looking for passionate people to join our backstage departments! Whether you’re interested in stage and props, costume and makeup, production or directing assistance, photo and video, lighting and sound, PR and social media, or even poster design and program layout — there’s a place for you. Depending on the production, we may also be looking for people with experience in music, choreography, dance, visual design, and more.
Write
UP News is a comprehensive program magazine that accompanies every production. The magazine illuminates and expands the production from aesthetic, historical and artistic perspectives. This gives you the opportunity to gain essayistic and editorial experience and to launch a veritable publication. We welcome creative, analytic, essaystic and review writing – and other genres that you might bring to the table. Check it out on up-news.de.
Improvise
After the huge success of our winter production AS YOU WANT IT – THE IMPROVISED MOVIE NIGHT, which has now found a regular home at DIE MOTTE in Hamburg-Ottensen, we’ve launched a biweekly improv workshop that’s fully self-organized and self-taught. The group is a vibrant mix of active students, university staff, and people from outside the university. We meet every first and third Tuesday of the month, from 7 to 9 PM, and new faces are always welcome! If you’re interested in joining or just want to come by and see what it’s all about, drop us an email at: improv [at] universityplayers [dot] de.
Special Announcements
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SHAKESPEARIMENT: AS YOU LIKE IT
The one-rehearsal-one-show ShakespeareWith Brian Bell Step into the world of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, where banishment becomes adventure…
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WS: INSAKA MOVES
Workshop with Mbene Mwambene (CH) Insaka Moves unfolds as a communal, story-driven, and varied performance practice involving acting, movement,…
Get in touch
Contact us
You want to join a department? You have questions regarding shows, auditions or anything else? As we are usually off buying props or rehearsing in stage, our office is usually not occupied – therefore the best way to reach us is online. Just sent us an e-mail (up [at] uni-hamburg [dot] de) or use the contact form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
Newsletter
Never miss a premiere or an opportunity to join! Sign up and we will let you know about all show openings and auditions! Since we know newsletters can be annoying at times, we’re sending out mailings only about four times a year with essential information. Once you entered your email address here, please do not forget to confirm the subscription by clicking on the link you’ll receive via email.
Follow us on Insta
To keep things sleek and simple on the website, we’re not embedding our Insta feed here — but if you’re on the app, you can find us at @universityplayershh. There you’ll get all the latest updates on auditions, competitions, free tickets, and more. Plus: loads of behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks, and other fun stuff from the University Players universe. Instagram is currently our main social media channel, so make sure to follow us and stay in the loop!
Get in touch
Contact us
You want to join a department? You have questions regarding shows, auditions or anything else? As we are usually off buying props or rehearsing in stage, our office is usually not occupied – therefore the best way to reach us is online. Just sent us an e-mail (up [at] uni-hamburg [dot] de) or use the contact form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
Newsletter
Never miss a premiere or an opportunity to join! Sign up and we will let you know about all show openings and auditions! Since we know newsletters can be annoying at times, we’re sending out mailings only about four times a year with essential information. Once you entered your email address here, please do not forget to confirm the subscription by clicking on the link you’ll receive via email.
Follow us on Insta
To keep things sleek and simple on the website, we’re not embedding our Insta feed here — but if you’re on the app, you can find us at @universityplayershh. There you’ll get all the latest updates on auditions, competitions, free tickets, and more. Plus: loads of behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks, and other fun stuff from the University Players universe. Instagram is currently our main social media channel, so make sure to follow us and stay in the loop!
Our beloved venue: The Audimax!
Our home is the Audimax – Hamburg University’s largest lecture hall. In its basement we not only have our backstage area but also our costume collection and workshop and storage spaces. So unless you’re coming to watch additional projects „on the side,“ you will get to experience our shows here:
Audimax
Universität Hamburg
Von-Melle-Park 4
20146 Hamburg
Supporters and Friends
Heartfelt Thanks
While many contribute in different ways, some individuals and institutions deserve special mention for their continuous support in our daily work or for recurring collaboration on our productions.
- Abaton Kino
- Savoy Filmtheater
- Hörsaalbuchung Universität Hamburg
- Serviceteam und Loge Audimax (esp. Frauke Nester und Lars Mertens)
- Johanna Heinemeier and Frauke Dünnhaupt (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik)
- Paul Voigt and the Medienzentrum der Fachbereiche SLM I + II
Cooperation Partners
Over the past few years, we have cooperated with several non-academic institutions. They have supported us generously – whether through financial contributions, significant discounts on their services, or simply by being outstanding partners who make great things possible. We hope to continually expand this list.
Golden Tickets and Patrons Deluxe
A third category is currently in the making: our Golden Ticket Holders and Patrons Deluxe („Fördermitgliedschaft“). Patrons support our work with an annual contribution of €80 (tax-deductible). Golden Ticket Holders support us with €200 per year (tax-deductible), receive a certificate to showcase their engagement for the arts and free access to all shows at all venues throughout the sponsored year — plus one guest.