Theatre Director Claire van Kampen Dies at 71, Husband Mark Rylance Confirms

KASSEL, Germany — Claire van Kampen, a renowned theatre director, composer, and the wife of actor Sir Mark Rylance, died Saturday, Jan. 18, at the age of 71. She passed away in Kassel, Germany, surrounded by her family, after a battle with cancer. Her death coincided with Rylance’s 65th birthday.

Van Kampen’s family confirmed her passing in a statement to PEOPLE, describing her as “one of the funniest and most inspiring women we have ever known.” The statement added, “We thank her for imbuing our lives with her magic, music, laughter, and love.”

Born in London, van Kampen trained at the Royal College of Music, specializing in piano and music theory. She made history as the first female musical director at both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. Her career spanned decades, during which she composed music for numerous productions, including Broadway plays and Shakespeare adaptations.

Van Kampen and Rylance married in 1989 after meeting at the Royal National Theatre. She was a creative force behind many of Rylance’s projects, including the play Farinelli and the King, which earned Olivier and Tony Award nominations. Rylance once described her as “the rock of my life,” crediting her with introducing him to the world of classical and modern music.

She is survived by her husband, her eldest daughter Juliet Rylance, and countless friends in England and America. Her youngest daughter, Nataasha, tragically died in 2012 at the age of 28 following a brain hemorrhage.

Van Kampen’s legacy includes her work as a Globe associate and senior research fellow for early modern music at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, as well as her role as a creative associate at the Old Vic Theatre in London. Her contributions to theatre and music continue to inspire artists worldwide.