[Photo from hamburg-travel.com]

The repertory Theater der leichten Muse (Theatre of Light Entertainment) re-opened in 2004 and is perhaps the most beautiful of Hamburg's theatrical venues, and it is dedicated to presenting famous operettas and musical reviews in a daily changing programme.

The Hamburger Engelsaal is Hamburg's oldest private theatre. Its programme includes stirring operettas like ""Heimweh nach St. Pauli" (Homesick for St. Pauli), ""Maske in Blau" (Mask in Blue) and ""Der Bettelstudent" (The Student Beggar), as well as popular reviews such as ""Das macht die Berliner Luft" (It's the Berlin Air), ""Komm ein bisschen mit nach Italien" (Take a Little Trip to Italy) and ""In einer kleinen Konditorei" (In a Little Patisserie).

The Engelsaal Theatre was opened by the legendary Widow Hantje in 1809 in the Hotel de Rome, featuring popular shows and musical farces. After her, the Tütje family took over the theatre. In 1842, the concession was acquired by C.M. Schwarzenberger, who thereupon founded the Thalia Theater. In 1920 the building was remodelled and the Engelsaal closed. The house subsequently fell into ruin, and it was not until 1997 that it was renovated through private investment and rediscovered as a theatre.