Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire (original Swedish title Leka med elden) is a one act play by August Strindberg (1849-1912)

The original text

The Father is one of three superb plays written when Strindberg's first marriage was in the process of breaking up. All three works are fuelled by sexual tension and typify Strindberg's enduring theme: the constant and consuming battle for power between the sexes. The dark tragedy of The Father (1887) makes it one of haunting psychological dramas of the modern theatre, while Miss Julie (1888) has become one of the core masterpieces of 20th century theatre, often performed and adapted. By contrast Playing With Fire (1892), written when the couple were battling in court over the custody of their children, is less widely known, but it too is a gem of a one-act play.

Translations and adaptations

The English version was only performed in London in 1962.

Translated into Afrikaans as Wie Met Vuur Speel for the radio by S.J. Pretorius, adapted for the stage by Herman Pretorius.

Performance history in South Africa

1967/8? A production of the English text was done by the Drama Department of the University of the Orange Free State, directed by Marlene Kotzen with Schalk Jacobsz, Temple Hauptfleisch, Hudson Earp and two female students.

1983: A production of the English text was done by the Baxter Theatre in association with Minotaurus, directed by Dieter Reible, starring Chris van Niekerk, Mitzi Booysen, Michael Drin, Megan Kruskal, Marthinus Basson. The first performance in the Baxter Studio was on 13 April 1983.

1986: Wie Met Vuur Speel was presented by Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in the H.B. Thom Theatre in September 1986, directed by Juanita Swanepoel with drama stuudents. Decor by Emile Aucamp, costumes by Elaine Aucamp.

2018: Performed by the Claremont Dramatic Society in the Masque Theatre, Muizenberg, in a double bill with The Open Door (Alfred Sutro). Directed Bernie Jacobs,

The double bill opens at on Friday 27 July and runs until Saturday 4 August with shows at 20h00 Wednesday to Friday and 18h30 on Saturdays. There will also be a matinee performance at 14h30 on Saturday 4 August.