The Magic of Theatre…
Roy Chatfield, Playwright

Nitrogen

Cast

5M 1F (playable 3M 1F)

Click here for full cast details

Setting

Various locations in Germany

Synopsis

1933,  A purge of Jewish scientists costs Fritz the post he fought to reach  The memory of Clara, his late wife, accuses him of selling his reputation for nothing. They met as  two provincial misfits bonding over a mutual passion for chemistry. when they meet again, Clara is a research and Fritz an assistant professor, frustrated by prejudices.  They marry.

Fritz makes his reputation averting  a world famine, but Clara can’t adapt to life as a housewife. The outbreak of war widens the split. Fritz’s launch of gas warfare to end the trench stalemate drives Clara to suicide.

Hartley, his British rival assures him their mode of warfare was more humane. Fritz believes he narrowly failed to change history for the better. Clara condemns him for letting ambition and the need to belong destroy his reputation. His colleague, Max thinks scientists should discover and leave the morality of what they find to politicians. Who is right?

Click here to read an extract

Staging Requirements

simple

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