…The theatre is the sphere, 
that for every writer 
is the most profitable...

 
As a whole Andersen's dramatic production consists of more than 50 works. They comprise all genres: plays, vaudevilles, romantic comedies, farces, melodramas, opera libretti, ballet drafts, revues, prologues, dramatic appearances at artists' carnivals, puppet shows, and plays for children.

Of his extensive production 34 works were performed at the two leading theatres in the capital, The Royal Theatre and The Casino Theatre, while many of his lesser plays such as vaudevilles, student plays, dramatic scenes, and parodies were performed at e.g. The Students' Club. Now and then Andersen performed as an actor himself at The Students' Club and sometimes he even satirized his own poetic works. Furthermore he wrote numerous special plays for the Court Theatre and a number of private people.

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Finally some of his most well-known plays and operas were performed at theatres abroad and were published in Sweden as well as in Germany. 

The theatre had a life-long attraction for Andersen. Also for practical reasons as his income from The Royal Theatre and The Casino Theatre for many years was of vital importance for his economic independence and made his extensive travelling possible.