At the age of 97, renowned theatre and film director Peter Brook passed away. His works include Lord of the Flies and a theatrical version of the Mahabharat. The British-born director has been residing in France for a number of years. Following his passing, condolences from the arts, film, and even international leaders have poured in.
Peter Brook’s publisher, Nick Hern Books, stated in a statement issued on Sunday that he “leaves behind an outstanding artistic legacy.” The director passed away on Saturday in Paris, according to French media sources.
Peter, who was born in London in 1925, studied at Oxford University and, as a young child, directed Doctor Faustus, his first performance in London. Later, before starting his relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he worked as the production director at London’s renowned Royal Opera House (RSC).
He twice received the prestigious Tony Award for best direction: in 1966 for his production of Peter Weiss’ Marat/Sade and in 1970 for his production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He additionally received an Olivier Award, an Emmy, and an International Emmy during the course of his seven-decade career.
He was most renowned in India for directing a nine-hour, multiethnic stage rendition of the Mahabharat. Critics praised the spectacular production, which featured elaborate staging and trapeze work. The Mahabharata had a cast assembled from all over the world when it made its debut at the Avignon festival in 1985 (it was performed in Adelaide in 1988, and it was filmed in 1989). Mallika Sarabhai played Draupadi, and Ciaran Hinds played Ashwatthama.
Many others, nevertheless, also criticised the show for cultural appropriation. The Mahabharata “would never have existed without India,” Brook admitted, but he added that “we had to avoid enabling the suggestion of India to be so powerful as to impede human identification to a significant extent.”
In addition to his numerous theatrical plays, Peter also directed the 1963 version of Lord of the Flies, which helped him gain mainstream recognition in the movie industry. A five-hour cinematic adaptation of The Mahabharata was also released in 1989.
After relocating to Paris in the 1970s, the director founded the International Center for Theater Research. He would renovate the run-down Bouffes du Nord theatre in the French capital for this organisation.
He and actress Natasha Parry were wed from 1951 until her stroke-related death in 2015. Their two children, Irina and Simon, are both directors.
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