Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today sent the following letter of condolence to the longtime companion of theatre director Peter Zadek, Dr Elisabeth Plessen.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of your partner Peter Zadek. I would like to offer you my heartfelt condolences. German-language theatre has lost one of its most important and influential directors. He lived for the stage and with theatre. His death has left a large and painful void, not only among theatre lovers. We will not forget him.

Peter Zadek was an influential figure in German theatre for more than half a century. His bold and provocative productions were like a breath of fresh air. Together with other outstanding figures in post-war German theatre such as Peter Stein, Rainer Werner Fassbinder or Peter Palitzsch, he founded the ”Bremen Style“, thus writing theatre history.

Provocation was often Peter Zadek's trademark. Although not everyone immediately appreciated this, he did create an understanding of theatre which left no-one unmoved. And it was Peter Zadek's radicalness and impulsiveness which fascinated audiences, writers and actors alike. All great actors in German theatre worked with him. He regarded them as his family.”