ORF III remembers Claus Peymann: A spectacular TV highlight!

ORF III remembers Claus Peymann: A spectacular TV highlight!

On July 18, 2025, ORF III remembers the important theater director Claus Peymann, who shaped Austrian theater for decades. In a special program change, a special edition of “Kultur Today” entitled “Claus Peymann: Master of Provocation” will be broadcast on July 19, 2025 at 7:50 p.m. Peter Fässlacher will welcome the well-known actress Maria Happel to talk about Peymann's work as long-time director of the Burgtheater. This will be followed at 8:15 p.m. by the documentary “Fateful Days of Austria – The Heldenplatz Scandal”.

On July 20, 2025, the station will show a dacapo of the documentary at 9:45 p.m., followed by the original recording of the premiere of “Heldenplatz” from 1988 at 10:35 p.m. This production, directed by Peymann, deals with the Austrian post-war period and the suicide of the Jewish professor Josef Schuster. The play's original cast included notable actors such as Wolfgang Gasser and Kirsten Dene, and the performance has not been seen on television for over 25 years.

The meaning of 'Hero's Place'

“Heldenplatz” is seen as a central work by Thomas Bernhard, which not only deals with Austria's complicity in the crimes of the Nazi state, but also addresses the deep anti-Semitism in the post-war period. The main character, Professor Schuster, returns to Vienna in 1968 after having to flee in 1938 and is so overwhelmed by social reality that he finally throws himself out of the window. In 2024, the piece had a new premiere directed by Frank Castorf, which was met with massive protests and death threats. Castorf is described as a provocateur who particularly wanted to provoke a new scandal with his production.

Castorf's production, which lasts 5 hours and 15 minutes, brings together both comic and tragic elements and relates to the social fears and longings of the characters. The audience's reactions were divided, indicating that the work was noticeably controversial. Critics praised the acting, but criticized the length and complexity of the performance.

Claus Peymann's legacy

Claus Peymann took over the management of Vienna's Burgtheater in 1986, a year marked by political tensions in Austria. During his time he brought numerous controversial topics to the stage and was able to establish the Burgtheater as a symbol of national identity. Peymann was known for his direct manner and did not believe it was necessary to shy away from social disputes.

His premiere of “Heldenplatz” in 1988 is considered one of the most emotional theater events of the post-war period and brought him both international attention and protests. Even after his time as director, Peymann remains remembered as an outstanding figure in Austrian theater, and many draw comparisons between his work and the developments in theater after him. Peymann is considered by many to be the best director in the history of the Burgtheater.

For more information about TV programming, please visit ots.at, where the details of the program changes can be viewed.