Schmidts Tivoli

What Schmidts Tivoli does

Schmidts Tivoli GmbH operates a three-venue live entertainment complex on Hamburg's Reeperbahn (Spielbudenplatz 27-28), comprising Schmidt Theater (main stage), Schmidts Tivoli (larger hall), and Schmidtchen (intimate cabaret). Founded in 1988 and incorporated as a German GmbH in 1996, the company produces and hosts musicals, comedy, cabaret, variety shows, and children's theater for general audiences, Hamburg tourists, families, and group visitors. Its flagship production, the St. Pauli musical Heisse Ecke (running since 2003), has drawn more than three million guests, supported by a content library that includes Oberaffengeil, Die Koenigs schenken nach, and the upcoming Hotel Skiverliebt ski musical co-produced with Salzburger Landestheater.

The business model is primarily transactional: ticket sales (priced EUR19-EUR90 across seating categories, with discounts for students, seniors, disabled patrons, and groups of 20+) flow through the Eventim-powered tickets.tivoli.de platform and an on-site box office. Revenue is diversified across ticket sales, in-house gastronomy (Restaurant Reep, Bar Glanz & Gloria, Nachtcafe hausbar, Snack am Platz), merchandise (Schmidt-Shop), universal gift vouchers, and tiered subscription memberships (Schmidtcard at EUR52/year, Schmidtclub Kleine Freiheit at EUR79, Schmidtclub Grosse Freiheit at EUR139). Distribution leverages direct-to-consumer digital channels alongside partner hotels, bus companies, and a dedicated group sales desk, with marketing across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, email newsletter, and seasonal campaigns.

The company is privately held with 1-10 employees, no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds, and operates exclusively in Hamburg. Technology is intentionally light: a third-party ticketing engine (Eventim Webshop), a TYPO3 CMS website, and conventional marketing tooling. Strategic recent moves include international creative partnerships (United Queendom for Flying Dinner Circus 'After Dark', Salzburger Landestheater for Hotel Skiverliebt), accessibility expansion via a Sesselpatenschaft crowdfunding campaign for wheelchair-accessible Logen, and positioning within the 400 Jahre Reeperbahn anniversary celebration.

Name

Schmidts Tivoli

Legal name

Schmidts Tivoli GmbH

Website

https://tivoli.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theater and Musical Entertainment

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concert Venue Operators (Arenas, Amphitheaters, Clubs) (MPAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cabarets & Variety Nightlife (MPAGAIAI), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Live theater productions
• Musical entertainment
• Comedy cabaret shows
• Venue hospitality services
• Group booking tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from selling tickets to theatrical performances, musicals, comedy shows, and varieté acts across three venues (Schmidt Theater, Schmidts Tivoli, Schmidtchen). Revenue is event-based and varies by show popularity and seating category.
2. Gastronomy: In-house food and beverage service including pre-show theater menus, snacks at seats, wine service, and multiple restaurants/bars (Restaurant Reep, Bar Glanz & Gloria, Nachtcafé hausbar). These are consumed before, during, and after performances.
3. Merchandise & Fan Articles: Sale of show-related merchandise including CDs, T-shirts, program booklets, collectibles, and fan articles through the Schmidt-Shop. Items include show-specific products for productions like Heiße Ecke, Oberaffengeil, Der Räuber Hotzenplotz, and various comedy shows.
4. Club Memberships: Schmidtcard 52 (€52/year) offering 52% discount and 52 weeks of benefits; Schmidtclub Kleine Freiheit (€79/year) with bi-monthly discounted tickets and 5% discount; Schmidtclub Große Freiheit (€139/year) with unlimited show bookings and 10% discount plus exclusive premiere access.
5. Gift Vouchers: Universal gift vouchers redeemable for all events and gastronomy services, providing flexible gifting options for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schmidts Tivoli operates a three-venue live theater complex at Hamburg's Reeperbahn (Schmidt Theater, Schmidts Tivoli, Schmidtchen) producing and staging musicals, comedy, cabaret, family shows, and variety performances supported by in-house gastronomy, merchandise, club memberships, and gift vouchers. Tickets are sold direct to consumers via an Eventim-based online box office and on-site ticketing, with group bookings through partner hotels and bus operators serving the tourism segment.

Product overview

Schmidts Tivoli operates a multi-venue entertainment complex on the Hamburg Reeperbahn, comprising three theaters: Schmidt Theater, Schmidts Tivoli, and Schmidtchen. The company produces and hosts live theatrical performances including long-running musicals (Heiße Ecke, Oberaffengeil), comedy and cabaret shows, family musicals (Der Räuber Hotzenplotz), and special event productions (Hotel Skiverliebt, Schmidts Flying Dinner Circus). Their portfolio includes annual festivals like Comediennes de Luxe and seasonal productions like Weihnachten in der Heißen Ecke. Supporting services include on-site gastronomy (Restaurant Reep, bars, snacks at seat), merchandise through Schmidt-Shop, gift vouchers, group/tourism packages, and membership programs (Schmidtcard, Schmidtclub). The company uses Eventim as its ticketing platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schmidt Theater: Theater venue at Spielbudenplatz 27-28, 20359 Hamburg
• Schmidts Tivoli
• Schmidtchen

Products and services

• Schmidt Theater Main theater venue on the Hamburg Reeperbahn hosting musicals, comedy, cabaret, and guest productions including Hotel Skiverliebt and Der Räuber Hotzenplotz.
• Schmidts Tivoli Large theater venue among the company's three Reeperbahn stages, home to flagship musical productions.
• Schmidtchen Intimate cabaret-style theater hosting comedy, cabaret, poetry slams, and shows such as Reeperbahn Royale and Schmidts Flying Dinner Circus.
• Heiße Ecke (St. Pauli Musical) Flagship St. Pauli musical set around a legendary Kiez snack stand with nine ensemble members playing over 50 roles; running since 2003 with 3 million+ visitors.
• Weihnachten in der Heißen Ecke Seasonal Christmas edition of the Heiße Ecke musical featuring the St. Pauli characters in holiday-themed performances running November–December.
• Oberaffengeil Musical production taking audiences on a wild trip through the music and entertainment of the 1980s and 1990s.
• Die Königs schenken nach! Lingnau-Wohlgemuth-Needham musical serving as the sequel to Die Königs vom Kiez.
• Der 50-Dollar-Diktator Comedy production described as a freaky, wild experience, with multi-tier ticket pricing from PK 1 to restricted view categories.
• Reeperbahn Royale Showdown-format production performed in the Schmidtchen theater.
• Hotel Skiverliebt Romantic-comedy ski musical set in a mountain hotel during a ski World Championship; Germany's first ski musical and a Deutsche Erstaufführung, co-produced with Salzburger Landestheater.
• Schmidts Flying Dinner Circus Variety show at Schmidtchen combining acrobatics, comedy, music, and a five-course Flying Dinner menu (with meat & fish, meat-only, and vegan variants); the 'After Dark' edition is a cooperation with UK show collective United Queendom.
• Der Räuber Hotzenplotz Family musical based on the popular German children's story by Otfried Preußler, presented as a musical gangland adventure.
• Comediennes de Luxe (Festival der komischen Frauen) Annual three-week comedy festival celebrating humorous women across the company's three venues, featuring approximately 30 comedians.
• Restaurant Reep Theater restaurant inside the venue complex offering multi-course pre-show dining menus.
• Bar Glanz & Gloria Bar venue within the theater complex serving drinks before, during, and after performances.
• Snack am Platz Schnittchenteller, Günthers Gedeck, cheese, grapes and other snacks and beverages served at the seat during performances.
• Schmidt-Shop Online merchandise store selling show-related fan articles including CDs, T-shirts, program booklets, collectibles, and souvenirs tied to specific productions.
• Schmidtcard 52 Annual membership card at €52/year offering 52% discount and 52 weeks of benefits across almost all tickets.
• Schmidtclub Two-tier club membership with 'Große Freiheit' at €139/year (unlimited show bookings, 10% discount, exclusive pre-show access) and 'Kleine Freiheit' at €79/year (bi-monthly discounted tickets, 5% discount).
• Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers) Universal gift vouchers redeemable across all events and gastronomy at the theaters, providing flexible gifting options.
• Gruppen & Tourismus (Group Bookings) Group bookings, partner hotel packages, and bus company partnerships for tourism and group visits of 20+ persons, with dedicated phone support and special rates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million+ cumulative visitors to Heiße Ecke musical alone
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United QueendomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2026British show collective collaborating with Schmidt creatives for the Flying Dinner Circus premiere show 'After Dark.' The partnership brings international varieté expertise combining artistics, comedy, music, and gastronomy into a unique audience experience.
• Salzburger LandestheatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2026Austrian state theater co-producing 'Hotel Skiverliebt' - Germany's first ski musical. The Salzburg Landestheater provides creative resources, production support, and artistic direction for this Deutsche Erstaufführung (German premiere) at Schmidt Theater.
• NDR 90,3 Hamburg JournalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional public broadcaster serving as presenter for select Schmidt productions, providing broadcast promotion and media credibility for shows like Flying Dinner Circus.
• Partner HotelsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of Hamburg hotels offering combined accommodation and show ticket packages for tourists visiting the Reeperbahn entertainment district.
• Bus Companies (Busunternehmen)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation partners bringing group tours to Schmidt venues with commission-based or negotiated group rates.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stage Entertainment: Germany's largest musical theater producer, operating Theater im Hafen (home of The Lion King) and Operettenhaus in Hamburg. Directly comparable as a Hamburg-based live entertainment operator producing musicals and ticketed shows at scale.
• GOP Varieté-Theater: Operates a German chain of variety theaters combining live performance with dining. Closely comparable to Schmidts Tivoli's Flying Dinner Circus format and multi-venue variety programming.
• St. Pauli Theater: Hamburg Reeperbahn-area theater presenting musicals, comedy, and cabaret. Directly competes with Schmidts Tivoli for the same Hamburg theatergoing and tourist audience in the same district.
• Friedrichsbau Varieté Stuttgart: Long-established German variety theater mixing live performance with gastronomy. Comparable on the variety-show-plus-dining model that Schmidts Tivoli is pursuing with its Flying Dinner Circus.
• Alma Hoppe Lustspielhaus: Hamburg cabaret and comedy venue on the Reeperbahn. Directly competes with Schmidtchen for cabaret, comedy, and small-format show audiences in the same neighborhood.

Regional players

• Ohnsorg-Theater: Iconic Hamburg low-German language theater. Comparable as a Hamburg-based theatrical venue with a loyal local and tourist audience, though it focuses on dialect-driven drama rather than musicals or variety.

Broad incumbents

• Thalia Theater Hamburg: One of Germany's leading publicly-funded dramatic theaters, located in Hamburg. Competes with Schmidts Tivoli for Hamburg theatergoers' spend, though it focuses on serious drama rather than musical/variety entertainment.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in variety and acrobatic dinner-show entertainment. Comparable to Schmidts Tivoli's variety/Flying Dinner Circus ambitions at the premium experiential end of the market, though at vastly larger scale and international footprint.

Emerging players

• Kampnagel Hamburg: Hamburg's center for contemporary performing arts hosting theater, dance, and music. Adjacent peer offering live performance programming in Hamburg, though focused on experimental and contemporary works rather than commercial musicals.
• Chamäleon Theater Berlin: Berlin variety and dinner-show theater. Comparable on the live-performance-plus-dining model and German variety show market, though based in Berlin rather than Hamburg.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/SchmidtTivoli
• Instagraminstagram.com/schmidttivoli
• Xx.com/schmidttivoli
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schmidts-tivoli-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schmidts Tivoli