Claire van Kampen

Early Life: Tuning the Ear to Possibility

Claire van Kampen is a rare force in the world of the performing arts—a woman whose life’s work has bridged the centuries, blending the rigors of classical music with the raw power of contemporary theatre. As a composer, director, and dramaturg, van Kampen has spent decades breathing new life into old worlds, most often through her work with Shakespearean drama and historical storytelling. Yet to define her solely by her professional titles would be to miss the quiet revolution she’s led—one in which music is not a background element, but a living, breathing character in the drama of human experience.

Claire van Kampen was born in 1953 and raised in the United Kingdom, in a household that valued both creativity and curiosity. From a young age, she was drawn to music—not just its sound, but its structure, its mathematical beauty, and its emotional resonance. While most children might plunk away at the piano, van Kampen listened deeply: to the way a melody could mirror a conversation, or how a chord could carry the weight of unspoken feeling.

By the time she was a teenager, it was clear she wasn’t interested in performing for applause alone—she wanted to understand why music moved people and how it could be used as a vehicle for storytelling.

Education: Crafting an Artist’s Mind

Van Kampen studied at the Royal College of Music in London, where she focused on both composition and musical direction. It was a rigorous and traditionally male-dominated world, but van Kampen thrived, distinguishing herself not just through technical skill but through an interpretive sensitivity that caught the attention of mentors and peers alike.

During this time, she immersed herself in the study of early music, particularly the Renaissance and Baroque periods. This focus would later become a hallmark of her work, giving her a unique niche in modern theatre where historical authenticity and artistic innovation could intersect.

Career Journey

Breaking Ground: The Globe and Beyond

Claire van Kampen’s career took a definitive turn when she became one of the founding figures at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. In 1997, she was appointed the Globe’s first Director of Music, where she set out to transform the auditory landscape of Elizabethan theatre.

Her work at the Globe wasn’t just about adding music—it was about restoring it to its rightful place as a vital part of the drama. Whether recreating the sounds of a 16th-century London street or composing new scores rooted in historical modes, van Kampen used music to deepen the emotional and narrative resonance of the plays.

A hallmark of her style was precision without pretension. Audiences often didn’t realize they were hearing historically accurate instruments or modes—they simply felt transported.

Fun fact: She insisted that musicians at the Globe be visible and integrated into the action whenever possible—reviving the Renaissance idea of music as a theatrical character in its own right.

Composer, Playwright, Director

In addition to her work as a musical director, van Kampen composed original music for numerous theatre and film projects, including scores for the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and international productions. But her creativity didn’t stop with sound. In 2015, she made a bold leap by writing her first full-length play, "Farinelli and the King", which premiered at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse before transferring to the West End and then Broadway.

Starring her husband, actor Mark Rylance, the play told the story of King Philippe V of Spain and his relationship with the famous castrato Farinelli. It was a striking meditation on power, music, and mental illness—rooted in history but filled with contemporary emotional weight.

Critics praised van Kampen’s script for its lyrical dialogue and the way it blurred the lines between concert and theatre. The play earned six Tony nominations, including Best Play.

Personal Life: A Creative Partnership

Claire van Kampen’s personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined. She met actor Mark Rylance in the 1980s, and the two have been frequent collaborators ever since. Their relationship has been one of mutual artistic inspiration—her music guiding his performances, his interpretations deepening her compositions.

Together, they’ve created a body of work that challenges the idea of what classical theatre can be. They are also known for their quiet advocacy and support of younger artists, often mentoring behind the scenes and championing experimental theatre and music projects.

She has two daughters, including actress Juliet Rylance, and maintains a strong belief in the intergenerational power of storytelling.

Legacy: Reclaiming Music’s Place in Theatre

Claire van Kampen’s influence can be felt in every theatre where music does more than fill silence. She has reminded a generation of theatre-makers and audiences that sound is not a decorative element—it is central to how stories are felt, remembered, and lived.

Her unique blend of scholarship and soul has helped bring early music into the present tense, giving it new voice and new urgency. Through her compositions, direction, and writing, she’s carved out a space where intellect and intuition meet—and where women in theatre and music can find a model of leadership that is both powerful and profoundly generous.

She is remembered not just for the music she created, but for the worlds she made possible—where harmony, history, and humanity could coexist onstage.