Theater director Claus Peymann, known for his politically charged productions, has passed away.
Claus Peymann, a German theater legend and trailblazer, has passed away at the age of 88 in Berlin. Known for his tireless efforts to fight for a fairer world and his significant contributions to the theatrical landscape, Peymann's influence will be felt for generations to come.
Peymann's career spanned over five decades, during which he made headlines off the stage in Stuttgart, Bochum, Vienna, and Berlin. His commitment to his craft and his political engagement often caused controversy but never deterred him from speaking out against injustices.
Peymann began his career as the chief director at the Theater am Turm (TAT) in Frankfurt, where he premiered works such as Peter Handke's "Offending the Audience" (1966) and "Kaspar." He went on to establish a long-standing working relationship with Austrian author Thomas Bernhard, premiering Bernhard's first play, "A Party for Boris," at the Hamburg Schauspielhaus in 1970.
In 1971, Peymann co-founded the Schaubühne at Hallesches Ufer in Berlin with Peter Stein, premiering Handke's "Ride Across Lake Constance." His work with Handke continued throughout his career, as he directed numerous premieres of the author's plays.
Peymann gained attention for his classic productions at the Württemberg State Theaters in Stuttgart, including "The Robbers," "Käthchen of Heilbronn," and "Faust I and II." His tenure at the Schauspielhaus in Bochum, from 1979 to 1986, saw the theater become one of the best in Germany.
In 1986, Peymann took over as the head of the Burgtheater in Vienna, leading the theater during a significant period. He returned to Berlin in 1999 to serve as Intendant of the Berliner Ensemble, a position he held until 2017. During his tenure, he was known as a "fighting spirit in the ass of the powerful" and ensured a sold-out house until his departure.
Peymann's political engagement often caused controversy, such as his solidarity with Robert Handke, who was criticized for his sympathy towards Serbia. However, he remained steadfast in his convictions and continued to intervene and draw attention to abuses.
Peymann was also known for his donation action for RAF prisoners, which led to his departure from the bourgeois Stuttgart. He offered a traineeship at the Berliner Ensemble to the former RAF terrorist Christian Klar.
Throughout his career, Peymann collaborated with various authors, including Thomas Bernhard, Thomas Brasch, Botho Strauss, Peter Turrini, Peter Handke, George Tabori, and Elfriede Jelinek. He also worked with US director Robert Wilson and pop star Herbert Gronemeyer on acclaimed productions like the Goethe musical "Faust I and II."
Peymann preferred classic interpretations of classic plays over hyped spectacle and performance theater. He critically addressed his own successor at the Berliner Ensemble, Oliver Reese, and intervened in the departure of Frank Castorf as head of the Berliner Volksbühne, criticizing the failure of Chris Dercon's tenure.
Peymann received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Nestroy Theatre Prize in 2002 for his life achievements, the Theaterpreis Berlin in 1995, and an honorary membership of the Burgtheater in 2012. He will be remembered as a remarkable monster that still upheld a certain ethics of the profession, a rockstar of the theater world, and a beacon of influence for a new generation of artists.
Peymann passed away on July 16, 2025, after a long illness. His legacy will continue to shape the modern German theater landscape for years to come.
In Peymann's tenure at the Berliner Ensemble, he was often compared to a rockstar in the theater world, attracting attention not just for his classic productions but also for his associations with controversial figures and stances on sensitive issues. His work and political engagement were marked by a strong solidarity with celebrities who faced criticism, such as his support for the controversial playwright Robert Handke.
