The Fire Raisers

Summary

1963 BBC production of The Fire Raisers by Max Frisch.

Theatre play

The Fire Raisers [Biedermann und die Brandstifter] by Max Frisch (1911-1991) [more information]

Play synopsis

'This dark comedy is set in a town that is being regularly attacked by arsonists. Disguised as door-to-door salesmen (hawkers), they talk their way into people’s homes and settle down in the attic, where they set about the destruction of the house. Written in the years following World War II, as a metaphor for Nazism and fascism, the play shows how "normal" citizens can be taken in by evil. The central character, a businessman called Biedermann, is seen at the outset reading newspaper reports of arson, convinced that he could never be taken in. Within minutes, the first "hawker" has appeared (Schmitz), and through a combination of intimidation and persuasion he talks his way into spending the night in the attic. As the play unfolds, a second arsonist appears (Eisenring), and before Biedermann can do anything to stop it, his attic is piled high with oil drums full of petrol. He even helps them to measure the detonating fuse and gives them matches, refusing to believe the full horror of what is happening. He soon becomes an accomplice in his own downfall. The action is observed by a Greek-style chorus of "firemen", and the increasingly surreal flavour culminates in a final scene, the afterpiece, where Biedermann and his wife Babette find themselves at the gates of Hell.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fire_Raisers_%28play%29.

Production history

Written in 1953, first as a radio play, then adapted for television and the stage (1958) as a play in six scenes. It was revised in 1960 to include an epilogue, or afterpiece.

Date of transmission

Wednesday 11 December 1963

Time

9.10-10.10pm

Series

Festival

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Director

Ronald Eyre

Producer

Peter Luke

Playwright

Max Frisch (1911-1991)

Adapted for Television by

Ronald Eyre

Translator

Michael Bullock

Composer

Peter Tranchell

Designer

Moira Tait

Story Editor

Harry Moore

Cast

Leila Forde	Widow Knechtling
Dudley Foster	Eisenring
Alfred Marks	Gottlieb Biedermann
Kathleen Michael	Babette Biedermann
Ann Street	Anna
Peter Thornton	Policeman
Peter Vaughan	Schmitz
Arnold Yarrow	Doctor of Philosophy

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

comedy; Nazism

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 5 December 1963 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, p. 35; listing, p. 37