Claire Van Kampen

1953 – 2025

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We are sad to announce the passing of our much loved friend and brilliant colleague, Claire Van Kampen on January 18th 2025.

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Claire was the musical director and composer for Sphinx Theatre Company from 1992 to 1996 collaborating on seven premiere productions. She brought a huge depth of musical experience to our eclectic programme, and her unique partnership was formative in the genesis and artistic success of the company.

Productions ranged from the all-female The Roaring Girl’s Hamlet; Every Bit of It by Jackie Kay in which Suzanne Bonnar sang Bessie Smith; and the modern classic Playhouse Creatures by April de Angelis. This was followed by Chandralekha by Amrit Wilson, a study of the Raj and insurgent women; Black Sail, White Sail by Helene Cixous about the life under Stalin of the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova. In 1995 Hanjo by the Japanese Noh master Seami and writer Mishima followed, and finally in 1996 Voyage In the Dark by Jean Rhys, with the jazz singer Hazel Holder.

But more than this superb palette of music, her spirit and humour infused our work. To echo Dominic Dromgoole: “a sort of preternatural joy emanated from her; she was the essence of bright.”

 

SUE PARRISH