Culture shock in Vienna: Claus Peymann, theater revolutionary, dies!

Culture shock in Vienna: Claus Peymann, theater revolutionary, dies!

Claus Peymann, a formative director and artistic director, died on July 16, 2025 at the age of 88 in Berlin-Köpenick. His death marks the end of an important era in German-speaking theater and shakes the cultural scene, which valued him as one of the most innovative and controversial theater makers of the last decades. Peymann, born on June 7, 1937 in Bremen, began his career in the politically active student theater of the 1970s and left a lasting impression on the theater world.

Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig acknowledged Peymann's influence on the Vienna Burgtheater and the entire theater landscape in Vienna. During his time as director, he built on the strict principles of his predecessor Achim Benning and staged works that captivated audiences, including Richard III, William Tell and Macbeth. His production of Thomas Bernhard's “Heldenplatz” in 1988 caused a theater scandal and greatly changed the perception of political theater work in Austria. These productions make him an outstanding protagonist of the theater who also knew how to bring local authors such as Peter Turrini and Elfriede Jelinek into focus.

Peymann's influence and legacy

Particularly noteworthy is Peymann's role as a bridge between German and Austrian theater culture. Many German actors, including Gert Voss and Kirsten Dene, quickly became audience favorites in Vienna under his direction. His great passion was the theater as a “moral institution”, a place that uncovers social injustices and encourages reflection. Peymann said several times that he viewed theater as a political force, which had a lasting impact on his work.

City Councilor for Culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler described Peymann as one of the most influential personalities in German-speaking theater. She praised his ability to challenge and redefine the understanding of political theater. “He was never quiet and always had his finger on the pulse of the times,” said Kaup-Hasler, who expressed her sympathy to everyone who was close to Peymann personally and artistically.

A life dedicated to the theater

In addition to his time at the Burgtheater, Peymann was director of the Berliner Ensemble from 1999 to 2017, where he tried to develop the house into a national theater. In the last years of his career he continued to direct at the Theater in der Josefstadt, the Stadttheater Ingolstadt and the Residenztheater Munich when his health permitted. His last production was “Waiting for Godot” in 2023, a landmark work that demonstrated his artistry and inexhaustible wealth of ideas.

His death comes after a long, serious illness and leaves a large gap in the theater landscape. The audience interest and critical response to his work will continue to resonate for a long time, as his legacy lives on as one of the most important theater makers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The theater community will remember Peymann's provocative, often controversial approaches and his tireless search for truth and meaning in art.

The reporting on Peymann's life and work is diverse and shows how much he influenced the theater. Further insights into theater history can be found at theatergeschichte.org, while Süddeutsche.de sheds light on the details of his life. Information about the awards in Vienna can also be found at presse.wien.gv.at, which describes the great achievements Highlight Peymanns.