theatre director Claus Peymann passes away
Claus Peymann, a towering figure in the German-speaking theater landscape, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88 in Berlin-Köpenick. The renowned theater director and manager, known for his unyielding championing of the freedom of art, left an indelible mark on the cultural scene of Berlin and beyond.
Born Klaus Eberhard Peymann in Bremen in 1937, Peymann began his journey in the world of theater after completing his Abitur in Hamburg in 1956. He studied German studies, literature, and theater sciences at the University of Hamburg, where he led a student theater studio.
Peymann's career took off in the 1960s, with notable milestones marking his path. He served as the chief director at the Theater am Turm (TAT) in Frankfurt, premiering works like Peter Handke's "Offending the Audience" and Gerlind Reinshagen's "Doppelkopf." In 1970, he premiered Thomas Bernhard's first play, "A Party for Boris," at the Hamburg Schauspielhaus, initiating a long-term collaboration with Bernhard.
Peymann co-founded the new Schaubühne at Hallesches Ufer in Berlin with Peter Stein, directing the premiere of Handke's "Ride Across Lake Constance." He went on to become the drama director of the Württemberg State Theaters in Stuttgart, producing classic works like "The Robbers" and "Faust I and II."
In 1979, Peymann moved to the Schauspielhaus in Bochum, transforming it into one of Germany's leading theaters. He then served as the director of the Burgtheater in Vienna before taking the helm of the Berliner Ensemble in 1999. During his tenure, he earned the nickname "The Razor in the Ass of the Powerful" and celebrated record-breaking audiences.
At the Berliner Ensemble, Peymann collaborated with authors such as Thomas Bernhard, Thomas Brasch, Botho Strauß, Peter Turrini, Peter Handke, George Tabori, and Elfriede Jelinek. His productions often ruffled feathers with critics who dismissed them as stale, but Peymann remained steadfast in his approach, describing it as not being cool and having no sign of "cynicism as a worldview."
Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), called Peymann one of the most influential personalities of modern German theater, while Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer paid tribute to him, calling him a "titan of the theater" and a "master of provocation and renewal." At his farewell from the Berliner Ensemble, Peymann said, "The most important thing about theater is love."
Peymann will be remembered as an unyielding champion of the freedom of art. Actor Sabin Tambrea wrote on Instagram that Peymann shaped the German-speaking theater landscape like a "primal force" and a "storm." Tambrea also thanked Peymann from the bottom of his heart for their shared journey.
Despite a long career, Peymann remained passionate about theater and was never one to mince words, freely expressing his opinions. He lived with his partner Jutta Ferbers in Berlin-Köpenick and was a member of the Freie Akademie der Künste in Hamburg. Peymann passed away on July 16, 2025, in Berlin after a long illness.
Throughout his career, Peymann was involved in several controversies, such as the collection of donations for the dental treatment of Baader-Meinhof prisoners, which led him to decline a contract extension in Stuttgart and move to Bochum. His association with Thomas Bernhard's works sometimes led to public criticism and controversy due to Bernhard's critical writings about Austria.
Peymann received several awards for his contributions to theater, including the Theaterpreis Berlin in 1995 and an honorary membership of the Burgtheater in 2012. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of theater enthusiasts and practitioners.
Entertaining the public with thought-provoking productions, Claus Peymann often collaborated with celebrities in the world of literature, such as Thomas Bernhard, Elfriede Jelinek, and Peter Handke. His championing of the freedom of art and controversial decisions captured the attention of entertainment news outlets, earning him the nickname "The Razor in the Ass of the Powerful."
