Diverse cultural programme
Close to the Alster lake and just south of the Stadtpark city park, Kampnagel is a central hub for contemporary performing arts in the bustling and beautiful Winterhude neighbourhood. Kampnagel boasts a diverse range of performances: international music acts, acclaimed comedians, avant-garde theatre, stunning dance performances and much more.
Since 2008, Kampnagel has hosted the International Summer Festival on their premises as well as all over Hamburg. The festival has since become a production site for creative minds from all over the world and shows that creativity does not need a summer break.
Stage performances in a former factory
Kampnagel’s six halls and stages have capacities from 150 to 2,500 seats and are located all on a former manufacturing site for cranes, which was converted to an event venue in 1984. The Deutsches Schauspielhaus temporarily used the location between 1981 and 1984, firmly establishing it in Hamburg’s cultural scene. Rehearsal spaces, a restaurant, a foyer made of glass and a cinema round off Kampnagel’s cultural landscape.
As of today, Kampnagel has become the largest independent performance and production site in Germany, putting the former factory grounds on the map as one of the most popular spots for contemporary dance and theatre. Whether it’s a concert hall or a small room with bar tables, the factory puts its focus on the diverse and colourful nature of the performing arts.
Historical background
The history of the factory site started when civil engineers Nagel & Kaemp founded a company in 1865 for manufacturing rice mills and later port cranes for loading and unloading ships. In 1934, the company was rebranded as Kampnagel AG.
During World War II, the Kampnagel factory was used to produce heavy weapons for warfare. The company returned to manufacturing port cranes after 1945. During this time, the company earned an international reputation and there are even still cranes with the Kampnagel logo on their backs in many ports around the world.
Starting in the 1960s, container ships became more widely used in commercial logistics, making the freight cranes manufactured by Kampnagel less important. Between 1968 and 1981, after the factory was sold to Demag AG, the production facilities were used to manufacture forklift trucks.
Address
Kampnagel
Jarrestraße 20
22303 Hamburg
More information and tickets: Kampnagel
