CAST in order of appearance
Gottlieb Biedermann – Simon Marples
a bourgeois
Firemen – Peter Wicks
Robin Bulow
Stephen Cowell
Keith Tolputt
Firemen’s leader –
Rodney Haddrell
Anna – Karen Alder
a maid
Joseph Schmitz – Adrian Hodges
a wrestler
Babette Biederman – Siobhan Doran
Wilhelm Eisenring – Steven Walker
an ex-waiter
Policeman – Stephen Cowell
Frau Knechtling – Byron Chatburn
Ph.D – Peter Wicks
a Doctor of Philosophy
Lighting – Paul Beecham
Roger Lewis
Sound – Billy Newman
Peter Marsh
Set Design – Gary Davidson
Stephen Wood
Martin Dodkins
Robert Hardy
Stage Management – Robert Dale
Michael Slater
David Cartwright
Dave Pudney
Nick Cooper
Martin Dench
Greg Foster
Make-up – Miss Thea Brueton
Michael Nunn
Kevin Black
Byron Chatburn
Dean Chatburn
David King
Stuart Lund
Mark Smithard
Martin Smith
Front of House – Norman Kaufmann
Peter Scriven
Programme – Philip Clipsham
Simon Carter
Director – Bryan Owen
Producer – Rod Cox
TIME – Now
PLACE – Europe
ACT 1
Interval of 20 minutes
ACT 2
Max Frisch (born 1911) is a German-speaking Swiss.
The Fire Raisers began life as a short prose passage in Frisch’s Diary 1946-1949, became a radio play in 1953 and was adapted for the stage in 1957.
The play opened in Zurich as “Bicdermann und die Brandstifter” and was first produced in England in 1961 at the Royal Court Theatre.
Like Brecht, Frisch employs devices to alienate his audience, so that they may observe not merely WHAT happens but WHY it happens.
Yet in judging Biedermann and those whom he represents we should remember – as the chorus puts it – that ‘he who sees from without…. more quickly perceives the peril that threatens.’ Frisch does not allow our individual conscience to escape judgement either.
Everyone must answer for himself Biedermann’s crucial question: ‘What would you have done in my place, damn it all, and when?’
Acknowledgments to Miss Hasler, Head mistress Dover Grammar School for Girls, for kindly allowing her girls to take part; to Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society; to Mr. D.K. Radley and S.G.B; St. George’s Church, Deal for the loan of a tape recorder; to the Guild Players, Deal; to Mr. Williams and Alan for erecting the scaffolding; TO Mr. Henneker; to Mr. and Mrs. Wills; to Mr. M.H. Smith and Mr. Bob Smith; Mrs Hogg; Mr Nicholas; Mrs Bibb; Mr and Mrs Lyle; Mrs Reidy; Mr and Mrs Wooton; Mrs Becket.
Printed by the Pharos Press, Art Department, Dover Grammar School for Boys.