British theatre director and composer Claire van Kampen passed away at the age of 71, as confirmed by her husband, actor Sir Mark Rylance.
Van Kampen, the first female musical director at both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, succumbed to cancer on Saturday, according to a statement released by Sir Mark Rylance and her daughter, Juliet.
Described as "one of the funniest and inspiring women we have ever known" by her family, Van Kampen's notable achievements include writing the play Farinelli And The King, starring her husband, which received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.
She spent her final moments surrounded by family in Kassel, Germany, on Sir Mark's 65th birthday. The statement expressed gratitude for her magical presence in their lives filled with music, laughter, and love.
Van Kampen married Sir Mark Rylance in 1989, the same year she provided the music for the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet, featuring her husband.
Having studied music theory and piano at the Royal College of Music in London, Van Kampen's illustrious career extended to composing original scores for Broadway productions and Shakespearean adaptations.
Her contributions as an artistic associate at Shakespeare's Globe and a creative associate at the Old Vic Theatre in London solidified her reputation in the theatre world.
Van Kampen leaves behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in British theatre, with two daughters from her previous marriage to architect Christopher van Kampen.