'Legend of Modern Theater'... Director Peter Brook Passes Away

Director Peter Brook. Photo by LG Arts Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] "A legend of modern theater," "the most influential theater director of the 20th century," "the most innovative director"

Peter Brook, regarded as "the most influential director of our time," has passed away at the age of 97. French local media reported his obituary in this manner. Born in the UK, Brook was a theater and opera director as well as a film director, and he died in France, where he had lived for many years.

He debuted as a theater director at the age of 17 and did not leave the stage until he was 92. He was globally praised for his outstanding ability to reinterpret classical works in a modern way. Over 70 years, he directed nearly 100 works ranging from various Shakespeare plays to ancient Hindu epics.

In his 1968 book The Empty Space, Brook wrote, "I can call any empty space a stage," and in fact, he attracted attention by directing the stage entirely in white in the 1970 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

He also created empty space in speeches. When introduced as a speaker, Brook sat silently, explaining at the time that "silence is more powerful because it is not ordinary."

He is also known for acquiring the small theater 'Bouffes du Nord' in Paris's 10th arrondissement, which had been practically abandoned, and establishing an international research center for exploring theater. He also gained attention in film. In 1963 and 1967, he attracted interest with films of the same name based on the novel Lord of the Flies and the play Marat/Sade, respectively.

His representative work is the 9-hour play Mahabharata, based on the Indian epic. He visited Korea in 2010 with 11 and 12.

He married in 1951 and had a daughter, Irina, and a son, Simon, with his wife Natasha Parry, who passed away first in 2015. Irina works as a director and actress, and Simon is active as a director.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.