Theater legend Claus Peymann dies in Berlin at the age of 88!

Theater legend Claus Peymann dies in Berlin at the age of 88!

It is with deep sadness that we have to announce the death of Claus Peymann, the former director of the Burgtheater in Vienna. The formative theater maker died in Berlin at the age of 88. Born on June 7, 1937 in Bremen, Peymann has had a significant influence on German-speaking theater with his productions. Particularly noteworthy are his works by greats such as Thomas Bernhard, Peter Handke and Elfriede Jelinek.

Peymann took over the management of the Burgtheater in 1986 and set the tone there. One of his most important works is the production of Bernhard's “Heldenplatz” in 1988, which is considered one of the biggest theater and social scandals in the Second Republic of Austria. The piece was performed on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Burgtheater - and coincided with the 50th anniversary of the “annexation of Austria”. Even though the political mood was turbulent, the premiere was held and sparked heated debates about how to deal with the Nazi past. Despite massive protests and attempts to prevent the performance, “Heldenplatz” became the greatest success of Peymann's career with 120 performances and was one of the most performed pieces of his time in office. Peymann himself described the premiere as a “victory against adversity,” which was only underlined by the audience’s support amidst heckles and whistles.

A legacy in the theater

After retiring from Vienna, Peymann led the Berliner Ensemble from 1999 to 2017. Even after his time as director, he remained active and staged until the end, including “The German Lunch Table” in 2020 and “Waiting for Godot” in 2023 at the Theater in der Josefstadt. His long career received special recognition in 2012: he became an honorary member of the Burgtheater, leaving behind a lasting legacy. The Burgtheater itself, founded in 1748 and located on Ringstrasse since 1888, is considered one of the most important theaters in the German-speaking world. Peymann's time there will go down as a golden period in the history of the house.

As geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at shows, political and social challenges often had to be taken into account during Peymann's direction, so that the performance of “Heldenplatz” stirred up a lot not only artistically but also socially. The social situation in Austria was on the verge of major upheaval, especially given Kurt Waldheim's presidential election campaign and the rise of Jörg Haider, and Bernard's play was a reflection of this time.

The legacy of Claus Peymann, who impressed with a great feel for materials and their relevance in a social context, will remain unforgotten. A great man of the theater whose figure and visions will live on in the hearts of many culture lovers.