Fireface
Encyclopedia
Fireface is a play
by Marius von Mayenburg
, written in 1997 and first performed in 1998 at the Munich Kammerspiele
. This play was the breakthrough of von Mayenburg as a new dramatist.
As well as two more performances in Germany (Kleist Theater in Frankfurt (Oder)
, Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg
), Fireface has been performed all over the world, including the Royal Court Theatre
in London
. It was produced during the Festival/Tokyo 09 autumn festival in March 2009, directed by Shu Matsui.
The play is about the claustrophobic feelings of the new generation, their fear of growing up and being like their parents, and about pyromania
.
Kurt and Olga are brother and sister in an incest
ous relation, living in a 'normal' family with their parents. Kurt is totally obsessed with fire. When Olga starts a relationship with another boy, Paul, Kurt's obsession begins to become dangerous. The parents don't want to see this danger and at the end they are killed by Kurt. When Olga finally chooses to live with Paul, Kurt burns himself.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Marius von Mayenburg
Marius von Mayenburg
Marius von Mayenburg is a German playwright, translator, and also instructor.In 1994, Mayenburg began his studies at Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. His first play, Haarmann, was first performed at Baracke in 1996.Fireface , written in 1997, was his breakthrough as a dramatist...
, written in 1997 and first performed in 1998 at the Munich Kammerspiele
Munich Kammerspiele
The Munich Kammerspiele is a successful German language theatre in Munich. The Schauspielhaus in the Maximilianstrasse is the major stage.-History:...
. This play was the breakthrough of von Mayenburg as a new dramatist.
As well as two more performances in Germany (Kleist Theater in Frankfurt (Oder)
Frankfurt (Oder)
Frankfurt is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Oder River, on the German-Polish border directly opposite the town of Słubice which was a part of Frankfurt until 1945. At the end of the 1980s it reached a population peak with more than 87,000 inhabitants...
, Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
), Fireface has been performed all over the world, including the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was produced during the Festival/Tokyo 09 autumn festival in March 2009, directed by Shu Matsui.
The play is about the claustrophobic feelings of the new generation, their fear of growing up and being like their parents, and about pyromania
Pyromania
Pyromania in more extreme circumstances can be an impulse control disorder to deliberately start fires to relieve tension or for gratification or relief. The term pyromania comes from the Greek word πῦρ . Pyromania and pyromaniacs are distinct from arson, the pursuit of personal, monetary or...
.
Kurt and Olga are brother and sister in an incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
ous relation, living in a 'normal' family with their parents. Kurt is totally obsessed with fire. When Olga starts a relationship with another boy, Paul, Kurt's obsession begins to become dangerous. The parents don't want to see this danger and at the end they are killed by Kurt. When Olga finally chooses to live with Paul, Kurt burns himself.