Ohnsorg Theater, Hamburg

The Ohnsorg-Theater, located in Hamburg, is a renowned stage dedicated to the promotion and performance of plays in Low German (Platt), a minority language. Established in 1902 by Richard Ohnsorg as the Hamburg Dramatic Society, the theater originally aimed to provide a venue for Platt plays, which were often marginalized in other settings due to social perceptions. Over the years, the theater has moved locations, undergoing several name changes and eventually being named after its founder in 1946.

The theater operates under a British-style repertory system, producing up to six plays each season. Its repertoire primarily includes comedies set in the cultural milieu of Northern Germany, featuring characters like farmers, fishermen, and merchants. However, it also tackles serious traditional literature, musical theater, and adaptations of international works, including notable productions such as Stephen King's "Misery" and Tennessee Williams's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." These plays are generally performed in Platt, with exceptions made for standard German (Hochdeutsch) during television broadcasts.

In 2011, the theater relocated to a new, larger venue in the historic Bieberhaus near Hamburg Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). This move coincided with the naming of part of the square in front of the theater after German actress and musician Heidi Kabel and the erection of a monument in her honor at the theater's entrance. This modern facility continues to uphold the theater's mission of celebrating and preserving Low German culture through a vibrant theatrical program.