Theatre director Claus Peymann passes away
**Claus Peymann: A Remarkable Career and Contentious Spirit in the Theater World**
Claus Peymann, a renowned German theater director, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88 in Berlin-Köpenick. Throughout his extensive career, Peymann left an indelible mark on the theater landscape, serving in prominent positions across Europe.
### A Theatrical Journey
Peymann's career began in 1966 as the chief director at the Theater am Turm (TAT) in Frankfurt. His tenure saw the premieres of groundbreaking works such as Peter Handke's "Offending the Audience" and Gerlind Reinshagen's "Doppelkopf."
In 1970, Peymann commenced a long-standing collaboration with Austrian author Thomas Bernhard, premiering Bernhard's first play "A Party for Boris" at the Hamburg Schauspielhaus. He co-founded the Schaubühne at Hallesches Ufer in Berlin with Peter Stein, where he directed the premiere of Handke's "Ride Across Lake Constance."
From 1974, Peymann served as the drama director at the Württemberg State Theaters in Stuttgart. His classic productions, such as "The Robbers" and "Faust I and II," garnered significant attention. Following a controversy over donations for the dental treatment of Baader-Meinhof prisoners in 1977, Peymann left Stuttgart and took over the management of the Schauspielhaus in Bochum from 1979 to 1986. Under his leadership, the theater became one of Germany's best.
Peymann headed the Burgtheater in Vienna from 1986 to 1999. This period saw the theatre flourish, with Peymann being particularly celebrated for his Thomas Bernhard productions. He then became the Intendant, artistic director, and manager of the Berliner Ensemble until 2017. His tenure ended with a celebratory evening attended by prominent figures like Nina Hagen and Herbert Grönemeyer.
### Political Statements and Controversies
Peymann was known for his outspoken nature and involvement in political discussions, particularly through his theatre work. The most notable controversy occurred in 2008 when he was sharply criticized for offering a former RAF terrorist, Christian Klar, an internship at his theater.
### Legacy and Tributes
Peymann received several awards for his contributions to theatre, including the Theaterpreis Berlin in 1995 and an honorary membership at the Burgtheater in 2012. Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), called Peymann one of the most influential personalities in modern German theater. Politicians paid tribute to Peymann, with Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer stating that Peymann was a titan of the theater, a master of provocation and renewal.
Actor Sabin Tambrea, who worked with Peymann at the Berliner Ensemble, wrote on Instagram that Peymann shaped the German-speaking theater landscape like a primal force. Tambrea thanked Peymann from the bottom of his heart for their shared path.
Claus Peymann will be remembered as an unyielding fighter for the freedom of art, a contentious spirit, and a significant figure in the theater world. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of theater professionals.
- Claus Peymann's influence extended beyond the theater, often intertwining with the world of celebrities, as prominent figures like Nina Hagen and Herbert Grönemeyer attended his celebratory evening.
- Throughout his career, Peymann's theater productions often centered around political statements, even causing controversy when he offered a former RAF terrorist an internship at his theater in 2008.
