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!
Auditions for the Upcoming Production:
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
From the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R.L. Stevenson
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher,
Directed by Miriam Barbi
Audition Dates
October 14 / 15 / 16 / 17, 6–9 pm
Callback (invite only!): October 18, 11am–5pm
Readthrough (invite only!): October 20, 6–9 pm
All at Audimax, Von-Melle-Park 4, 20146 Hamburg
Our upcoming production is a contemporary retelling of Stevenson’s timeless tale of the battle between good and evil. In this new version of the Gothic thriller, the line between good and evil blurs as the brilliant Dr. Henry Jekyll unleashes his violent alter ego, Edward Hyde.
Auditions are your chance to join the cast or get involved behind the scenes. A wide range of roles and backstage positions are available. We welcome people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and abilities—no prior experience needed.
Show Dates
January 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
Auditions for the Upcoming Production:
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
From the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R.L. Stevenson
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher,
Directed by Miriam Barbi
Audition Dates
October 14 / 15 / 16 / 17, 6–9 pm
Callback (invite only!): October 18, 11am–5pm
Readthrough (invite only!): October 20, 6–9 pm
All at Audimax, Von-Melle-Park 4, 20146 Hamburg
Our upcoming production is a contemporary retelling of Stevenson’s timeless tale of the battle between good and evil. In this new version of the Gothic thriller, the line between good and evil blurs as the brilliant Dr. Henry Jekyll unleashes his violent alter ego, Edward Hyde.
Auditions are your chance to join the cast or get involved behind the scenes. A wide range of roles and backstage positions are available. We welcome people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and abilities—no prior experience needed.
Show Dates
January 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
UP NEXT:
THE TIME IS NOW: Climate Change Theater Action 2025
Coproduction with Charlotte Manzella and her seminar „Climate Activism in/and Theatre“
November 17th, 2025, 7 PM
Universität Hamburg
Philturm, Hörsaal D
Von-Melle-Park 6
20146 Hamburg
Launched in 2015, Climate Change Theatre Action is a global festival of short plays focused on the climate crisis, presented biennially in conjunction with the United Nations COP conferences. Find out all about it on climatetheatreaction.com.
For the second time since 2021, the University Players will take part in this powerful initiative with an engaging evening of theatre and climate activism. Presented in collaboration with Charlotte Manzella’s seminar „Climate Activism and/in Theatre,“ the event will feature a curated selection of thought-provoking short plays alongside insightful presentations by expert guest speakers. Programme details will be published here in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
This event is free of charge. If you’d like to support the work of the University Players, you can buy a voluntary ticket here.
Supported by the Alfred Töpfer Stiftung
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.
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.