Hamburg is renowned for its musicals (including The Lion King and Dirty Dancing) and also its cabarets and variety shows, but the dialogue in all of these is in German.

At Kehrwieder Varieté-Musik-Theater, Kehrwieder 6, Speicherstadt (tel: (040) 3118 6402 or 01805 4444 for tickets; website: www.kehrwieder-variete.de), the spectacular airborne and stage acrobatics, clowns, jugglers, music and dance routines outweigh any foreign language difficulties.

The Hamburg State Opera (Hamburgische Staatsoper), Grosse Theaterstrasse 34 (tel: (040) 356 868; website: www.hamburgische-staatsoper.de) is ranked among the best in the world and its ballet company has a high reputation too. The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra provides the music for most opera and ballet productions.

One of the most beautiful concert venues in Germany is Musikhalle/Laeiszhalle, Johannes Brahms Platz (tel: (040) 346 920; website: www.musikhalle-hamburg.de), with three halls offering a choice of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental concerts (and sometimes jazz).

To find out what's on pick up a free copy of the monthly English-language Hamburg Guide, available from several hotels and shopping malls, or go online (website: www.hamburg-guide.de). Also see www.hamburg-tourism.de and click on Events.