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

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

Berlin, Deutschland - With deep grief we have to announce the death of Claus Peymann, the former director of the Vienna Burgtheater. The formative theater maker died in Berlin at the age of 88. Born on June 7, 1937 in Bremen, Peymann significantly influenced the German -speaking theater with its productions. His work of greats such as Thomas Bernhard, Peter Handke and Elfriede Jelinek.

Peymann took over the directorate of the Burgtheater in 1986 and set the tone there. One of his most important work is the staging of Bernhard's "Heldenplatz" in 1988, which is one of the largest theater and social scandals in the second Republic of Austria. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Burgtheater, the piece was performed-and fell together in time with the 50th anniversary of the "Aus Aus". Even if the political mood was turbulent, the premiere was carried out, the violent debates about dealing with the Nazi past. Despite massive protests and the attempt to prevent the performance, "Heldenplatz" became the greatest success in Peymann's career with 120 performances and was one of the most played pieces of his term. Peymann himself described the premiere as a "victory against adversities", which also underpinned the support of the audience in the middle of intermediate calls to whistles.

a legacy in the theater

After retiring from Vienna, Peymann headed the Berlin Ensemble from 1999 to 2017. Even after his management period, he remained active and staged until the end, including "The German Lunch" in 2020 and "Waiting for Godot" in 2023 in the Theater in Josefstadt. His long career was particularly recognized in 2012: he became an honorary member of the Burgtheater and leaves a lasting legacy. The Burgtheater itself, founded in 1748 and based on the ring road since 1888, is considered one of the most important speech stages in the German -speaking world. Peymann's time there will be a golden section in the history of the house.

as Historywiki.wien.gv.at, while Peymann's directorate often had to be observed, so that the performance of "Heldenplatz" was not only artistically but also socially raised. The social Situation in Austria faced the great upheaval, especially in view of the presidential election campaign by Kurt Waldheim and the rise of Jörg Haider, and Bernard’s piece was a mirror of that time.

The legacy of Claus Peymann, who impressed with a great sense of fabrics and their relevance in the social context, will remain unforgettable. A great man of the theater, whose shape and visions will live on in the hearts of many cultural lovers.