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

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

Wien, Österreich - Claus Peymann, a formative director and director, died on July 16, 2025 in Berlin-Köpenick at the age of 88. His death marks the end of an important era in the German -speaking theater and shakes the cultural scene, which appreciated him as one of the most innovative and controversial theater makers in recent 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 in the theater world.

Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig praised Peymann's influence on the Vienna Burgtheater and the entire theater landscape in Vienna. During his time as director, he built up on the strict principles of his predecessor Achim Benning and staged works that captivated the audience, including Richard III, Wilhelm Tell and Macbeth. His staging of Thomas Bernhard's "Heldenplatz" in 1988 caused a theater scandal and changed the perception of political theater work in Austria. These productions make him an outstanding protagonist of the theater who knew how to focus on domestic authors such as Peter Turrini and Elfriede Jelinek.

Peymann's influence and legacy

particularly highlighted is Peymann's role as a bridge between German and Austrian theater culture. Many German actors, including Gert Voss and Kirsten Dene, quickly became crowds in Vienna under his leadership. His great passion was considered the “moral institution”, a place that reveals social grievances and stimulates reflection. Peymann said several times that he regarded theater as a political force, which shaped his work.

The cultural councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler described Peymann as one of the most formative personalities in the German-speaking theater. She praised his ability to challenge and redefine the understanding of political theater. "He was never quiet and always on the pulse of time," said Kaup-Hasler, who showed her sympathy that Peymann stood human and artistically close.

a life in the sign of the theater

In addition to his time at the Burgtheater, Peymann was the director of the Berlin ensemble from 1999 to 2017, where he tried to develop the house into a national theater. In recent years of his career, he continued to stage at the theater in Josefstadt, at the Ingolstadt Stadttheater and at the Residenztheater Munich if it allowed his health. His last staging was "Waiting for Godot" in 2023, a tail unit that demonstrated its artistry and its inexhaustible wealth of ideas.

his death takes place after a long, serious illness and leaves a large gap in the theater landscape. The public interest and the critical reactions on his work will last for a long time, while his legacy, as one of the most important theater makers in 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.

Reporting on Peymann's life and work is diverse and shows how much he has shaped the theater. Further insights into the theater history can be found on Theatergeschichte.org, while süddeutsche.de Details of his life path illuminated. Information about the appreciation in Vienna is also at press.wien.gv.at Emphasize Peymanns.