Claire Van Campen, wife of Sir Mark Rylance, passed away at 71 on his 65th birthday after a battle with cancer. Surrounded by family, her death prompted tributes highlighting her brilliance as a concert pianist, composer, playwright, and director, particularly at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, where she spent nearly 20 years. Van Campen composed music for notable productions, including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1989 Hamlet and her acclaimed play “Farinelli and the King.” Known for her humor and inspiration, she leaves behind a legacy in theater and two daughters, following the earlier loss of her youngest daughter in 2012.
Claire Van Campen, wife of Sir Mark Rylance, has died at the age of 71 on her husband’s 65th birthday.
Van Campen died surrounded by his family after being diagnosed with cancer, a statement released on behalf of Sir Mark and his daughter Juliet said.
Van Campen was a concert pianist, composer, playwright, and theater director who spent nearly 20 years in various roles at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.
The statement also called her “one of the funniest and (most) inspiring women we have ever known.”
“Thank you to her for injecting magic, music, laughter and love into our lives.”
“Ring the bell, sound the trumpet, and dream, something ends and something begins.” One of the great sages has passed away. ”
Her theater credits include composing the music for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet starring Sir Mark in 1989, the same year she married.
Later in his career, he created original scores for Broadway productions of 2000’s True West, 2008’s Boeing-Boeing, and the 2010 comedy La Bete, as well as Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and I also worked on an adaptation of Richard III.
Claire van Kampen (right), wife of Sir Mark Rylance, dies at the age of 71 on her husband’s 65th birthday.
Van Kampen was diagnosed with cancer and passed away surrounded by his family.
Rylance and Van Kampen were photographed attending the eighth day of last year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
Van Campen also wrote a play called Farinelli and the King, starring Sir Mark as King Philip V of Spain, which was nominated for several Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, and numerous Tony Awards.
A director and composer, she studied music theory and piano at the Royal College of Music in London, specializing in the performance of 20th century music.
She pursued a career as a composer and performer, writing and performing for theater, radio, television, film soundtracks and concert halls.
He began his theater career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1986 and the Royal National Theater the following year.
She was Artistic Assistant at Shakespeare’s Globe from 1996 to 2006, when Sir Mark was Artistic Director.
Van Kampen then served as musical consultant and resident composer to his successor, artistic director Dominic Dromgoole, from 2007 to 2015.
She was also a creative associate at London’s prestigious Old Vic Theatre.
Van Kampen was previously married to architect Christopher Van Kampen, with whom she had two daughters, Juliette and Natasha.
Her youngest daughter, Natasha, a film director, died in 2012 at the age of 28 from a brain hemorrhage.
