The Fire Raisers (2008)

Poster by Poster designer

by Max Frisch

Directed by Richard Watkins

Performances: Tue 15th - Sat 19th April 2008, Prompt Corner

Auditions

Pre-audition read-through: Sunday 16th December, 6-8pm (Rehearsal Room)

• Monday 17th December, 8-10pm (Prompt Corner)
• Tuesday 18th December, 8-10pm (Bell Theatre)
• Wednesday 19th December, 8-10pm (Prompt Corner)

Introduction

A spate of arson attacks is terrorising the country. The arsonists insinuate themselves into respectable people’s homes to use as a base for starting the fires which are wreaking havoc.

Capitalist Herr Biedermann is forthright in his condemnation of those responsible, happy to hold forth on the subject with little prompting. So, how does Herr Biedermann react when a strange man shows up at his home seeking food and shelter?

Swiss writer Max Frisch’s most famous play was written in the late 1950s, and is a black comedy of the most grotesque kind. It appears to have resonances with fears of terrorism in Britain in recent times. It is also a tremendously funny play about how very middle-class, small-minded people might deal with the direct threat of "others".

I would like to bring out the stylised nature of the play in the staging, whilst also retaining the essential humanity in the reactions to the awfulness of the story unfolding.

Cast

There will be eight in the cast, including the 3 chorus/firemen, whom I am doubling with three other small characters. All actors cast will have plenty to get their teeth into.

• Gottlieb Biedermann - M, 30s-40s
• Babette Biedermann - F, 30s-40s
• Anna, the maid - F, teens-20s
• Schmitz - M, 20s-30s (needs to be a fairly imposing build)
• Eisenring - M, 20s

• Chorus/Fireman 1 (doubling as the Policeman) - M, 30s-50s.
• Chorus/Firewoman 2 (doubling as Widow Knechtling) - F, 40s-50s.
• Chorus/Fireman 3 (doubling as Doctor of Philosophy) - M, 20s-30s.

Crew

Stage Manager - Mark Ireson Assistant Stage Manager / Production Assistant - David Redford-Green Assistant Stage Manager - Kavina Kamat Sound Design - Bob Callender Lighting Design: Anna York/Induja Bandara Special set and props work - Hans Mudlamootoo, Michael Wilson, Alex Robinson Costume - Lisa Thomas Photography - Mark Davies Poster Design - Alex Robinson

For more details, please contact Richard Watkins, Director: richardathome3@googlemail.com

Reviews

Some review quotes go here

Reminiscences and Anecdotes

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See Also

• The Fire Raisers (1970)

References

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