His mother, a once promising young violinist, died when frayn was only 12, and his father, a rep for an asbestos and roofing materials firm, was forced to withdraw the young boy from the expensive private school he was used to attending in favor of a cheaper public. There are three characters in michael frayns awardwinning play copenhagen, and the main focus of the play is on only two of them, niels bohr and werner heisenberg. The action of copenhagen concerns a visit made by the german physicist werner heisenberg to the copenhagen home of niels bohr in september, 1941. Thomas wartenberg reports on the play copenhagen by michael frayn. Together, the two invented quantum mechanics, a theory that revolutionized not just atomic physics or even subdivisions of philosophy but the manner in which people perceive the. Like we have one set of obligations to the world in general, and we have other sets, never to be reconciled, to our fellowcountry men, to our neighbors, to our friends, to our family to our children. Why heisenberg went to copenhagen and what he wanted to say to bohr are questions that have vexed historians ever since. A panorama around the set for copenhagen by porpentines production in january 2015. Other recent works include democracy, and copenhagen, winner of numerous awards including the evening standard and critics circle best play.
English dramatist, columnist, reporter and translator michael frayn was born on september 8, 1933, in the suburbs of london. He has written fourteen plays, among them noises off, and democracy, as well as copenhagen, which won three tony awards in 1999. An entertaining, if inconclusive, game of historical catandmouse. In michael frayn s ambitious, fiercely intelligent, and daring new play heisenberg and bohr meet once again to discuss the intricacies of physics and to ponder the metaphysicalthe very essence of human motivation. The question bears the same gravitas as the one regarding books.
Copenhagen michael frayn mcnally robinson booksellers. Dec, 2019 michael frayns copenhagen is a fictional account of an actual event during world war ii, in which two physicists exchange heated words and profound ideas. The ramification of nuclear physics in michael frrayns copenhagen authors and many authors taking an appreciation to science. Copenhagen ist ein schauspiel in zwei akten des britischen schriftstellers michael frayn. Copenhagen by michael frayn delves into the events of that night, when two of the greatest minds of the 20th century tackled the pressing issue of nuclear weaponry. One of the few english writers to achieve success as both novelist and playwright, his three most recent novels, headlong, spies, and skios, were all nominated for the booker prize, while noises off first produced in new york in 1983, revived in 2001, and due to be revived again in. Historical thoughts on michael frayns copenhagen by alex wellerstein, published february 26th, 2016 when i meet new, educatedbutnotacademic people for the first time, and the subject of what i study for a living comes up, i almost invariably get two questions. Books inc in berkeley proudly presents indras net theater performing a live scene from michael frayns tony awardwinning play copenhagen, an ambitious. Copenhagen by michael frayn overdrive rakuten overdrive. Seizing upon this historical event and its mysterious circumstances, frayn recreates the event from a variety of perspectives in pursuit of a greater truth.
May 30, 2008 michael frayn s new play begins with a real life event but goes on to explore the meaning of theatrical performance. A live performance of michael frayns copenhagen by. He has also written a memoir, my fathers fortune, and fifteen plays, among them noises off and copenhagen, which won three tony. Frayns play takes place in the afterlife, as three characters reminisce and try to sort through particularly interesting details of their lives, including the infamous meeting. In michael frayns ambitious, fiercely intelligent, and daring new play heisenberg and bohr meet once again to discuss the intricacies of physics and to ponder the metaphysicalthe very essence of human motivation. I have tried to help you a bit by giving you some prereading information and providing other information for you to read as you go along. In 1941 the physicist werner heisenberg, who formulated the famous uncertainty principle about the movement of particles, and was at that time leading the nazis nuclear programme, went to visit his old boss and mentor, niels bohr, in copenhagen. Copenhagen and beyond with michael frayn the repository.
Reading copenhagen an introduction to michael frayns copenhagen. Buy copenhagen by michael frayn from waterstones today. Copenhagen, written by the renowned author michael frayn, is a captivating and out of the ordinary play. Michael frayn s awardwinning plays include alphabetical order, make and break andnoises off, all of which received best comedy of the year awards, while benefactors was named best play of the year. In michael frayns ambitious, fiercely intelligent, and daring new play. Mar 28, 2002 now that niels bohrs famous unsent letter to werner heisenberg has finally been publishedand for the most part only confirmed commentators in the differing views they already heldi have been looking back over the entire debate that my play copenhagen seems to have provoked since it was first produced in new york in the spring. The basis of frayns 1998 play copenhagen is the real life meeting between world renowned physicists and former associates niels bohr and werner heisenberg. Michael frayns new play begins with a real life event but goes on to explore the meaning of theatrical performance. The play happens to be based mostly in copenhagen, denmark. This book contains the text of michael frayns tony awardwinning play 94 pages, a fascinating 38page postscript, and a twopage word sketch of the scientific and historical background to the play.
This book contains the text of michael frayn s tony awardwinning play 94 pages, a fascinating 38page postscript, and a twopage word sketch of the scientific and historical background to the play. Now that niels bohrs famous unsent letter to werner heisenberg has finally been publishedand for the most part only confirmed. He is best known as the author of the farce noises off and the dramas copenhagen and democracy. A powerful exploration of the uncertainties of human memory and motivation. His play concerned a fateful but mysterious 1941 meeting between german scientist werner heisenberg a key figure in the nazi atomicweapons program and danish physicist neils.
Michael frayns copenhagen is a fictional account of an actual event during world war ii, in which two physicists exchange heated words and profound ideas. Benedict cumberbatch, greta scacchi and simon russell beale star. Look, i know this is supposed to be a film column, but i cant resist the opportunity of commenting on a play that i saw recently, for copenhagen is one of the most philosophically interesting plays that i have ever seen. Michael frayn books list of books by author michael frayn.
Michael frayn brilliantly imagines a moment frozen in time heisenberg arrives from germany in 1941 to discuss something with his mentor, bohr in occupied copenhagen. Michael frayn was born in london in 1933 and began his career as a journalist on the guardian and the observer. He talks to aida edemariam about the challenge of writing for the stage and the. Copenhagen by michael frayn why do i go to the theatre. Copenhagen is a play by michael frayn, based on an event that occurred in copenhagen in 1941, a meeting between the physicists niels bohr and werner heisenberg. We have to go through not two slits at the same time but twentytwo. Michael frayns tremendous new play is a piece of history, an intellectual thriller, a psychological investigation and a moral tribunal in full session.
It does, however, provide a lot of background information about these two powerful thinkers and the struggles they must have encountered in their attempt to honor their friendship during extremely turbulent, even lifethreatening, circumstances. The play does not provide a clear answer to the question of what took place during that meeting. The script begins with excerpts from copenhagen and then transitions to farm hall as a playwithinaplay it is positioned to be something of a flashback for heisenberg. Please remember that when you read a play once, the best you can do is find out what is happening. As evidence, michael frayns copenhagen is a perfect example as to how the two can cohabitate the same plane of knowledge and work together in unison to create something more educational and entertaining. Not the least of its virtues is that it shows that out of a threecharacter, oneset play. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
It premiered in london in 1998 at the national theatre, running for more than 300 performances, starring david burke niels bohr, sara kestelman margrethe bohr, and matthew marsh werner heisenberg. In a brilliant coda to the play copenhagen, michael frayn receives mysterious letters that take him back to the theme of his bestselling novel, headlong human. A few minor things are missing but you get the picture. The copenhagen script takes some passages out of order to make the discussion more logically coherent to the purposes of the skit apologies to michael frayn.
Michael frayns tremendous play is a piece of history. In 1941 the german physicist werner heisenberg made a strange trip to copenhagen to see his danish counterpart, niels bohr. He has also written a memoir, my fathers fortune, and fifteen plays, among them noises off and copenhagen, which. Michael frayn is the author of ten novels, including the bestselling headlong, which was a new york times editors choice selection and a booker prize finalist, and spies, which received the whitbread fiction award. David burke is an actor who has worked extensively with britains national theatre and the royal shakespeare company. This study guide consists of approximately 23 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of copenhagen. He has also written a memoir, my fathers fortune, and fifteen plays, among them noises off and copenhagen, which won three tony awards he lives just south of lond.
His play concerned a fateful but mysterious 1941 meeting between german scientist werner heisenberg a key figure in the nazi atomicweapons program and danish physicist neils bohr. His novels, such as towards the end of the morning, headlong and spies, have also been critical and commercial successes, making him one of the handful of. Frayns tony awardwinning play, copenhagen, explores the relationship between neils bohr and werner heisenburg, two of the most significant physicistsand indeed intellects in generalof the twentieth century. About copenhagen michael frayns tremendous play is a piece of history, an intellectual thriller, a psychological investigation and a moral tribunal in full session sunday times a profound and haunting meditation on the mysteries of human motivation independent frayn has seized on a rallife historical and scientific mystery. How different would the world have looked had the nazis been. One man, werner heisenberg, seeks to harness the power of the atom for germanys forces. Copenhagen is a play by michael frayn, based on an event that occurred in copenhagen in. While frayns play copenhagen won three tony awards in 2000 including best play, and the london playwright has noises off. Michael frayn is the author of the awardwinning copenhagen and twelve other plays, including noises off. Reading copenhagen an introduction to michael frayn s copenhagen. Frayn has seized on a reallife historical and scientific mystery.
How different would the world have looked had the nazis been the first to build an atomic bomb. Garlanded with awards, michael frayn s copenhagen transfers impeccably from the national to the west end. Click on the links below for more information on bookstores in copenhagen. Copenhagen, duchess theatre, london stage the guardian. Seizing upon this historical event and its mysterious circumstances, frayn recreates the event from a variety of perspectives in pursuit of a. Michael frayn collected columns methuen humour by frayn, michael and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Michael frayn is the author of ten novels, including the bestselling headlong, a new york times editors choice selection and a booker prize finalist, and spies, which won britains whitbread fiction award. One of the few english writers to achieve success as both novelist and playwright, his three most recent novels, headlong, spies, and skios, were all nominated for the booker prize, while noises off first produced in new york in 1983, revived in 2001, and due to be. Feb 03, 2015 a panorama around the set for copenhagen by porpentines production in january 2015. He has also written a memoir, my fathers fortune, and fifteen plays, among them noises off and copenhagen, which won three tony awards. Garlanded with awards, michael frayns copenhagen transfers impeccably from the national to the west end. Like we have one set of obligations to the world in general, and we have other sets, never to be reconciled, to our fellow. His novels, such as towards the end of the morning, headlong and spies, have also been critical and commercial successes, making him one of the handful of writers in the english language to succeed in.