Director. After studying at the Ernst Busch school of drama in East Berlin he became director of the Volksbühne at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. His production of Büchner's "Leonce und Lena" was banned on political grounds resulting in his move to West Germany in 1978. There he held positions at various West German theaters including Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Bochum and Berlin. His version of Gorki's "Sommergästen" (Summer Guests) in Düsseldorf was recognized by Theatermagazin's "Theater heute" when it declared him Director of the Year in 2004. He was awarded the Faust Theatre Prize for his 2005 production of "Macbeth." It premiered at the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus where the audience found his version of "Macbeth" in which all actors were naked to be so bloody and brutal that many people hastily left the theater and a scandal resulted. Recognized throughout the German speaking world for his independent thinking that uniquely shaped and enriched the theater world, his 50+ productions are highly regarded. He received the 2009 World Theater Day Prize on April 28, 2009, at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. Died of complications from cancer.
Director. After studying at the Ernst Busch school of drama in East Berlin he became director of the Volksbühne at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. His production of Büchner's "Leonce und Lena" was banned on political grounds resulting in his move to West Germany in 1978. There he held positions at various West German theaters including Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Bochum and Berlin. His version of Gorki's "Sommergästen" (Summer Guests) in Düsseldorf was recognized by Theatermagazin's "Theater heute" when it declared him Director of the Year in 2004. He was awarded the Faust Theatre Prize for his 2005 production of "Macbeth." It premiered at the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus where the audience found his version of "Macbeth" in which all actors were naked to be so bloody and brutal that many people hastily left the theater and a scandal resulted. Recognized throughout the German speaking world for his independent thinking that uniquely shaped and enriched the theater world, his 50+ productions are highly regarded. He received the 2009 World Theater Day Prize on April 28, 2009, at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. Died of complications from cancer.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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