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2000

Fireface

Written by Marius von Mayenburg

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director
Ian Rickson

Translated by 
Maja Zade

Original Language 
German

Part of 
International Playwrights Season

Dates Performed

Friday 26th May 2000
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

Kurt, a young man obsessed with fire, experiments with dangerous substances and becomes increasingly withdrawn and violent. His sister Olga is struggling with her own identity and desires, and finds herself drawn into Kurt’s world of chaos. The parents, overwhelmed and disconnected, fail to comprehend the depths of their children’s discontent. The family dynamics unravel as Kurt’s pyromania escalates, leading to catastrophic consequences.

Fireface” delves into themes of alienation, violence, adolescent angst, and family dysfunction. The play presents a raw and disturbing portrayal of a family on the brink of collapse, highlighting the intense emotions and destructive impulses that can fester in a repressive and neglectful environment. Mayenburg’s sharp dialogue and vivid imagery capture the unsettling atmosphere and the characters’ profound sense of isolation and despair.

Director(s)

Dominic Cooke

Cast & Creative

Cast

Lyndsey Marshal

Cast

Mel Raido

Cast

Ian Gelder

Cast

Gillian Hanna

Cast

Michael Mallon

Translator

Maja Zade

Designer

Ultz