Theater legend Claus Peymann dies: A say goodbye to an era

Theater legend Claus Peymann dies: A say goodbye to an era

A black day for the theater landscape: Claus Peymann, the outstanding director and director, died on Wednesday at the age of 88 in his house in Berlin-Köpenick. After a long, serious illness, Peymann succumbed to his fate and leaves a striking gap in cultural life. Known for his provocants productions and his unshakable commitment to the theater, he was a formative figure of the German -speaking theater world. Yahoo Nachrichten reports on his moving life and work.

Peymann was born in Bremen on June 7, 1937 and only celebrated his 88th birthday last year. His career started in the politically charged student theaters of the 1960s. The premiere of Peter Handke's "insult" in 1966 also caused a sensation, which demonstrated his talent at an early stage. But it was the 1970s in which he caused a sensation as the acting director in Stuttgart. Peymann not only brought fame, but also controversy, as the political scandal for his call to dental treatment for RAF terrorists Gudrun Ensslin shows his direct confrontation with social reality. Süddeutsche Zeitung illuminates the curiosities of his work.

impressive stations of his career

From 1979 to 1986 Peymann headed the Schauspielhaus Bochum before taking over the renowned Burgtheater in Vienna in 1986. Here he worked intensively with sizes like Thomas Bernhard and Peter Handke, which contributed significantly to the development of the Austrian theater culture. The premiere of Bernhard's "Heldenplatz" in 1988 is one of the largest theater scandals in Austria and is another example of its ability to polarize with its productions.

After his time in Vienna, which lasted until 1999, Peymann devoted himself to the Berlin Ensemble, which he called his "dream theater". He staged numerous pieces in this role until 2017 and also left a deep impression here. Even after his official farewell, Peymann did not miss the opportunity to continue working as a freelance director in various houses. Most recently, in 2023 he directed Samuel Beckett's “Waiting for Godot” in the Theater in Josefstadt in Vienna - a worthy conclusion to an impressive career.

a legacy, that remains

his provocative statements and his brave commitment to the theater as a place of resistance will be remembered by many. Peymann was not only an artist, but a colleague for the freedom of art, such as the theater history and the theater community repeatedly emphasize. With his death on July 16, 2025, an era ends that has shaped the theater in Germany and Austria. Theater history speaks of an incomparable loss for culture and artistic work.

Peymann understood to touch people and stimulate thought. His legacy lives on in the many productions and the hearts of those who burn for art and theater.