Renowned theatre director Claus Peymann passes away.
## Remarkable Life and Career of Claus Peymann: A Titan of the Theater
Claus Peymann, a titan of the theater and a master of provocation and renewal, passed away at the age of 88 in his home in Berlin-Köpenick on Wednesday. Throughout his decades-long career, Peymann left an indelible mark on the German-speaking theater landscape, working with some of the most prominent playwrights, including Thomas Bernhard, Thomas Brasch, Botho Strauß, Peter Turrini, Peter Handke, George Tabori, and Elfriede Jelinek.
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer paid tribute to Peymann, stating that he was one of the most influential personalities in modern German theater. Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), echoed this sentiment, calling Peymann a controversial spirit and a great theater maker who significantly shaped Berlin's culture.
Peymann's career began at the Stuttgart State Theater, followed by the Schauspielhaus Bochum and the Vienna Burgtheater. In 1986, he became the artistic director of Vienna's Burgtheater, where he staged notable productions, including the world premiere of works by prominent playwrights. From 1999 to 2017, Peymann served as the artistic director of the Berliner Ensemble, celebrated for record-breaking audiences and artistic innovation.
At the Berliner Ensemble, Peymann remained passionate about the theater, never afraid to speak his mind. Despite critics sometimes describing his classic productions as old-fashioned, Peymann's approach to theater was devoid of "cynicism as a worldview." Actor Sabin Tambrea wrote on Instagram that Peymann shaped the German-speaking theater landscape like a primal force and swept along artistic colleagues.
In his later years, Peymann continued to direct freelance productions, including at Stadttheater Ingolstadt and a production of Thomas Bernhard's "Minetti" in Munich. At his farewell from the Berliner Ensemble, Peymann said, "The most important thing about theater is love."
One of the most significant controversies in Peymann's career was his involvement with the premiere of Thomas Bernhard's play "Heldenplatz" at the Burgtheater in 1988. The production, a critical reflection on Austrian society and history, sparked significant public debate and criticism. Despite these controversies, Peymann will be remembered as an unyielding champion of the freedom of art.
Tambrea thanked Peymann from the bottom of his heart for their shared journey, and Peymann's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of theater-makers.
Entertainment was a significant aspect of Claus Peymann's career, as he staged notable productions that attracted record-breaking audiences at the Berliner Ensemble. Furthermore, Peymann's collaborations often involved celebrities, such as the renowned playwright Thomas Bernhard, with whom he worked on multiple productions.
