Claus Peymann: Theater icon with sharp edges and big dreams

Claus Peymann: Theater icon with sharp edges and big dreams

On July 18, 2025, we received the sad news of the death of the renowned theater person Claus Peymann, who was considered the enfant terrible of the German-speaking theater landscape. “I am a mammoth that no longer really fits into the times,” Peymann once said about himself. But despite his idiosyncratic nature, he remains unforgotten and has had a significant impact on the theater world. His views were often provocative and caused heated debates - both in the theater and in the political world.

Peymann's path took him through the most important stages in Europe. Born in 1937 and 1968, he was artistic director at the Stuttgart and Bochum Theaters before directing the Burgtheater in Vienna from 1986 to 1999. During this time he staged the premiere of Thomas Bernhard's controversial play “Heldenplatz”, which sparked nationwide outrage. He then worked at the Berliner Ensemble until 2017, where as director he pursued the goal of turning the house into a “fang in the ass of the powerful,” which he ultimately saw as a failure because, in his opinion, there were too few true opponents.

A life of controversy

However, his career was not only characterized by success. After a controversial appeal for donations for the terrorist Gudrun Ensslin, he was declared “public enemy number one” in Stuttgart. “I wanted to show that terrorists are people too,” he said, justifying his decision. These provocative statements and actions regularly led to conflicts, but that did not stop him from making his voice heard with sharp criticism of other theater personalities and, for example, the then Secretary of State for Culture, Tim Renner.

Despite numerous controversies, Peymann was extremely popular with viewers. His strong sense of theater, which for him was always a place of utopia, made him unmistakable. “Isn’t the theater responsible for creating utopias?” he often emphasized. His passion and tireless commitment to art left a lasting impression on many people.

Cultural heritage

Peymann's legacy is honored not only in Vienna and Berlin, but also internationally. According to theater.de, the theater has a long history that dates back to ancient times. Peymann has continually reinterpreted this line of tradition through innovative productions and new impulses. Theater itself has developed over centuries; from simple performances to complex pieces and from an all-male cast to a diverse and inclusive stage.

The diversity of theater that Peymann promoted symbolizes the relevance and social significance of theater to this day. His critical attitude towards today's theater politics does not go unmentioned. Many theater makers use his honest nature, which did not fall silent even in difficult times, as an example. The loss of such a unique character will have a lasting impact on the Austrian and German theater landscape.

Whether berserker, elegant gentleman or grant shard - the opinions about Claus Peymann were as diverse as his work itself. In any case, we will honor the memory of this great person and his extraordinary work. His last public performance took place on October 10, 2021 at a matinee at the Theater in der Josefstadt. In an interview with Renata Schmidtkunz, he reflected on his work and the many facets of theater.

In these difficult hours, our condolences go out to the relatives and the theater community, which has lost a passionate advocate and tireless fighter. May his legacy continue to inspire future generations of artists.