About the play

Playing Up present Max Frisch’s The Arsonists, a gripping dark comedy that masterfully explores the dangers of moral complacency and denial. The story follows Biedermann, a seemingly respectable businessman, who naively invites two strangers into his home despite clear signs they may be arsonists. Frisch’s sharp satire delves into the psychology of self-deception, revealing how easily we rationalize the unthinkable. With its absurd humour and biting social critique, the play remains disturbingly relevant in addressing collective guilt and our passive complicity in modern crises.