Archive     Archive     Archive     Archive     Archive     Archive    

Biedermann und die Brandstifter

© Philip Frowein

zum Programmheft

By Max Frisch
Staging: Nicolas Stemann

Just a moment ago, Biedermann [name translates to petty bourgeois] rebelled against all the arsonists, peddlers and good-for-nothings at his local pub, when they already arrive on his doorstep. Despite instructions, his maid Anna is unable to turn the arsonists away. Knechtling [name translates to servant], on the other hand, is turned away: the employee feels cheated out of the patent for his invention, which is the bread and butter of Biedermann's family business. Yet, Biedermann, who actually strives to be honest and open-minded towards phenomena of the zeitgeist, will not listen to him. Meanwhile, the arsonists have taken up residence in his attic. What is going on there? In the end, Biedermann's wife will barely be able to keep her composure, the maid will have collapsed, Knechtling will have killed himself, and Biedermann's house will be in flames – why did it have to come to this, how could it have to come to this?

When Max Frisch's Biedermann und die Brandstifter premiered at the Pfauen in 1958, the positive reactions were based on a misunderstanding: the audience did not understand the play as a farce about bourgeois hypocrisy but quite literally as an appeal not to let strangers into their house. Max Frisch was dismayed. Now co-artistic director Nicolas Stemann is revisiting the Swiss satire as the last production of his tenure at the Schauspielhaus.

 

Staging
Nicolas Stemann
Stage design
Katrin Nottrodt
Costume design
Marysol del Castillo
Music
Sebastian Vogel / Thomas Kürstner
Film / cinematic installation
Institut für Experimentelle Angelegenheiten / Claudia Lehmann / Konrad Hempel
Light
Carsten Schmidt
Dramaturgy
Benjamin von Blomberg
Show all contributers
Audience Development
Silvan Gisler
Touring & International Relations
Sonja Hildebrandt
Artistic Mediation T&S
Nicole Breitenmoser
Production intern
Linda Hügel, Philipp  Stevens
Stage design assistance
Naemi Jael Marty
Costume design Assistance
Renée Kraemer / Sophia May
Collaboration Film
Sabrina Tannen
Stage design intern
Philipp Stäheli
costume design intern
Lisa Alexa Gieseler
Dramaturgy intern
Maya Scharf
Audience Development & Dramaturgy intern
Anna Vankova
Inspection
Eva Willenegger
Soufflage
Katja Weppler
Surtitles Translation
Corinne Hundleby
Surtitles Operators
Raman Khalaf (Panthea)
Show less contributers

Performance rights: Suhrkamp Verlag AG Berlin

Supported by Peter and Gigi Frisch
Special thanks to Dr. Tobias Amslinger and Prof. Dr. Thomas Strässle from the Max Frisch Archive.

  • 2h 15min, without break
  • Premiere: 21. March 2024, Pfauen
  • Also interesting for ages 16 and up
  • English Surtitles
  • 🛈 Introduction 30 min before the play on 25.3., 12.4., 24.4., 13.5., 17.5. and

    "Pay what you want": The box office team will take your request on Saturday from 14:00 - 18:00 on 044 258 77 77.
Introduction: Katinka Deecke, Dramaturgy
00:00
00:00

Image gallery & Videos

Bits on Pieces
More texts and contexts related to our stagings in the theatre’s journal.

Wer profitiert von den Bränden dieser Welt, wer legt sie, wer schaut zu - und was für eine Rolle spielt dabei die Neutralität? Im Kontext der Inszenierung Biedermann und die Brandstifter publizieren wir Kurz-Beiträge von Menschen, die sich intensiv mit der Schweizer Geschichte und mit dem Thema Neutralität befassen. Der letzte Beitrag der Serie stammt von Steuer- und Finanzexperte Dominik Gross 

more

Wer profitiert von den Bränden dieser Welt, wer legt sie, wer schaut zu - und was für eine Rolle spielt dabei die Neutralität? Im Kontext der Inszenierung Biedermann und die Brandstifter publizieren wir Kurz-Beiträge von Menschen, die sich intensiv mit der Schweizer Geschichte und mit dem Thema Neutralität befassen.

more

Wer profitiert von den Bränden dieser Welt, wer legt sie, wer schaut zu - und was für eine Rolle spielt dabei die Neutralität? Im Kontext der Inszenierung Biedermann und die Brandstifter publizieren wir Kurz-Beiträge von Menschen, die sich intensiv mit der Schweizer Geschichte und mit dem Thema Neutralität befassen.

more
The Directors Talk
About Season 23/24

The 23/24 season of the Schauspielhaus Zürich will be special. Not only because it is the last season of Nicolas Stemann's and Benjamin von Blomberg's directorship, but also because the eight house directors are all returning to the house once again to work on new productions. In eight short videos, they talk about their plans.

more