Internationales Spielbudenfestival 2024

In the organizer's words:

Death wheel, breakdancing, fire shows: the international Spielbuden Festival from July 19 to 21 will be breathtaking!

Over 200 years ago, mobile showmen, tightrope walkers and jugglers set up shop on Spielbudenplatz. They set up their wooden stalls there, which still give the square its name today.
The international Spielbudenfestival on St. Pauli continues this tradition and presents street art from various genres such as acrobatics, comedy, music, magic and curiosities.

From 19 to 21 July 2024, the festival will take place for the fourth time on St. Pauli and has thus become an integral part of Hamburg's cultural scene.
The Spielbudenfestival, which is organized by the Corny Littmann Foundation for Art and Culture, is inviting 14 acts from Australia, the USA, Chile, France and Germany to Hamburg this year and will once again transform the square in the heart of St. Pauli into a huge open-air theater. The entire Spielbudenplatz will be divided into several so-called "playgrounds" on this weekend, where the audience can experience a varied program. In addition to Spielbudenplatz, Weingarten 26 between Tivoli and Schmidt Theater will also serve as a stage for the festival.

One of this year's highlights is definitely the French troupe Cie la Meute, who are coming to Hamburg with their wheel of death. A wheel of death is a steel construction that allows two connected treadmills to rotate around an axis. The show is spectacular due to the enormous centrifugal forces that the two artists have to face as they perform tricks in and on the treadmills. The two Frenchmen are accompanied by a musician.

Also from France is the group Surprise Effect, who will win hearts with a mixture of breakdancing, acrobatics, comedy and, above all, charm.

The American clown Peter Shub, known from Roncalli and the Cirque du Soleil, will impress with his brilliant pantomime. His sketch with a dog that he walks - or vice versa - is legendary.
On Friday and Saturday evening, the international team S.W.A.P., led by pyrotechnician Sabrina Wolfram, will present a fire show with floor fireworks.

The audience can also look forward to Oliver Kessler as the three-metre-tall walk act Robotman, puppeteer Francisco Obregon, acrobatic archery by Sara Twister, magic by Alana and Alexander Treville, comedy juggling by Klirr Deluxe, vendor's tray theater by Jörn Kölling, ladder acrobatics by Jens Ohle and music by Laura Dilettante and Sunshine Brass.

Donor and theater maker Corny Littmann will officially open the festival with a stunt on Friday, July 19, hosted by Konrad Stöckel. Acrobat and archer Sara Twister will shoot a balloon off his head. However, she will be doing a handstand and operating the bow with her feet.

There will be an after-show party in the "Alte Liebe" bar on Saturday.

Sunday starts with an ecumenical church service at 11.30 am, accompanied by our festival orchestra Sunshine Brass and a gospel choir. At 1 pm, children and young people from various Hamburg circus schools and projects will present their skills in the circus ring. The show will be hosted by Konrad Stöckel, who will also present his most beautiful magic experiments.
The finale at 6 p.m. will be an entertaining mixed show in which all the artists will once again present their best acts.

Once again this year, the international Spielbudenfestival on St. Pauli will be accessible to all visitors free of charge and without barriers. However, street performers live from the so-called hat money after the show. If the audience has enjoyed the performance, they are welcome to reward their skills with sufficient cash.

Further information about the festival and the full program can be found at spielbudenfestival.de.

Opening hours
Friday, 19.7.: 18.00 - 23.00
Saturday, 20.7.: 14.00 - 23.00
Sunday, 21.7.: 11.00 - 19.00

Official opening
Friday, 19.7.: 19.30 hrs

After-show party
Saturday, 20.7.: 11 p.m. in the "Alte Liebe"

Ecumenical church service
Sunday, 21.7.: 11.30 am

Family circus
Sunday, 21.7.: 1.00 pm