Peter Zadek | German director, 83

Peter Zadek, 83, a German stage director known for his provocative and unconventional renditions, died Thursday in Hamburg, said the St. Pauli Theater, where he had been working.

Mr. Zadek was considered among the top German stage directors and was especially known for his staging of plays by Shakespeare and Chekhov.

Born in Berlin, Mr. Zadek immigrated with his parents to Britain in 1933.

He began his career as a film cutter and television director at the BBC before turning his attention to the theater.

In the late 1950s, he returned to Germany and over the next decades earned a reputation for directing productions that were considered unorthodox and experimental. He also put on several productions at Vienna's renowned Burgtheater.

In 2008, Mr. Zadek received Austria's prestigious Nestroy prize for his achievements.

- AP