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Democracy Michael Frayn

Teachers’ Resource Pack Researched & written by Laura Ward Nokes

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Castlist 3

LifeofthePlay 4LifeinthePlay 4

Writer’sLife 5Writer’sThoughts 6

PublicPoliticsNeilAschersononGermanDemocracy 7PrivatePoliticsAnnaFunderontheStasi 8

DemocracyCharacterBreakdown 9DemocracyActBreakdown 12

OnstageTalkingtoRichardHope 14OffstageTalkingtoAssistantDirector,AlexThorpe 15

Themes 16

Glossary 17

Bibliography 18

Democracy Contents

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democracy michael frayn

Andrew  BridgmontREINHARD  WILKE

William  HoylandHERBERT  WEHNER

James  Quinn

GÜNTHER  NOLLAUDavid  Cann Patrick  Drury

Ed  Hughes David  Mallinson

WILLY  BRANDTRichard  Hope

Aidan  McArdle

HORST  EHMKE

ULRICH  BAUHAUSGÜNTER  GUILLAUME HANS-­‐DIETRICH  GENSCHERRupert  VansiCart

ARNO  KRETSCHMANN HELMUT  SCHMIDT

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Democracy – Teaching resources

MichaelFraynspentsometimeinGermanyduringtheearly1970s,whichiswhenDemocracyisset.Hehasakeeninterestinthatperiodofhistoryandthepoliticsofthatera.HewasfascinatedbythepoliticalscandalgeneratedbyGünterGuillaume’sexposureasaStasispywithinChancellorWillyBrandt’sownoffice.

FrayneventuallywrotetheplayoncethereallifeprotagonistshaddiedandDemocracypremieredattheNationalTheatreon9September2003.ItwasdirectedbyMichaelBlakemore,whohasdirectedeightpremieresofMichaelFrayn’splays.

TheoriginalproductionwontheEveningStandardandCritics’CircleawardforBestPlay.IttransferredtoBroadwayinNovember2004andwasnominatedforaTonyandaDramaDeskawardforBestPlay.TheplayhasalsobeenprofessionallystagedinOslo,Norway;Copenhagen,Denmark;Stockholm,Sweden;Wellington,NewZealand;VancouverandToronto,Canada.

Democracy’slatestrevival,directedbyPaulMiller,wasperformedattheSheffieldTheatres,whichranaMichaelFraynseasonin2012tocelebrateMichaelFrayn’s80thyear.Theplayhasbeenmetwithexcellentreviews.

TheOldVichasinvitedthecastandcrewofDemocracytostagetheplayhereforalimitedrun.

Democracytakesusintoaworldofpoliticalintrigue,espionageandbetrayal.

TheplayfollowstheextraordinarytruestoryoftheStasispy,GünterGuillaume,workinghiswayuptobeingoneoftheWestGermanChancellor’sclosestaides.WefindourselvesinaGermanydividedbytheColdWarbetweentheSovietandWesternpowerblocs.

Brandt’smainaimandlegacyasChancelloristoimproverelationsbetweenthetwosides.Yetdespitehisidealism,suspicioniseverywhere–notjustbetweenEastandWestGermany,butwithinthegovernmentitself.

Politicaltreachery,dishonestyandcorruptiondogthepoliticalriseandfallofBrandt,aswellasthespysettogatherpersonalinformationonhim.Eventually,bothGuillaumeandBrandtsufferafallfromgraceasGuillaumeisexposedandBrandtresignsasaresult.Ironically,Guillaume’sobjectiveisinfacttokeepBrandtinpowerasaleaderfriendlytotheEast;yetheistheverypersonwhotriggershisdownfall.

Life of the Play

Life in the play

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Writer’s Life MichaelFraynwasborninMillHill,Londonon8September1933.Hisfather,TomFrayn,wasatravellingsalesmanandHismotherVioletwasashopassistantandamateurviolinistwhodiedofaheartattackwhenFraynwas12yearsold.Forashorttime,theylivedaboveanoff-licenceinMillHillbeforemovingtoEwellinSurrey,whereFraynandhisyoungersisterJillspentthemajorityoftheirchildhood.HeattendedtheprivateschoolSuttonHighforBoys,beforetransferringtoKingstonGrammarSchoolafterhismother’sdeath.

Afterleavingschool,hecompletedtwoyearsofcompulsoryNationalService,duringwhichtimehestudiedRussianandworkedasaRussianinterpreter.ItwasduringthisperiodthathemetandbefriendedtheyoungAlanBennettandtheybeganwritingrevuestogether.

HethenwentontostudyatEmmanuelCollege,Cambridge,initiallytakingFrenchandRussianbutlatertransferringtoMoralSciences,asubjectnowmorecommonlyreferredtoasPhilosophy.“Ilikedthenamemoralsciences,”Fraynsays,“No-oneknewwhatitmeantbutitsoundedveryimpressive.”

Whilstatuniversity,hejoinedtheCambridgeFootlights,thecelebratedstudentcomedyandtheatrecollective.Hewrotemanysketchesforthegroup,althoughunfortunatelyhisfinalyearshowZounds,forwhichhewrotethemajorityofmaterial,wasthefirstinthegroup’srecenthistorynottotransfertoLondon.TheexperienceturnedFraynawayfromthetheatreandhefocusedonotherformsofwriting.

Upongraduating,Fraynembarkedonacareerasajournalist,writingcolumnsandtravelfeaturesforpublicationsincludingtheGuardianandObserver.HeoftentravelledasajournalistandspentsometimeinGermany,wherehebecamefascinatedbyitsrecenthistory,politicsandhowithadchangedsinceWorldWarII.ThisiswherehefirstgottheideaforDemocracy.

In1960HemarriedpsychotherapistGillianPalmer.Theyhadthreedaughterstogetherbeforedivorcingin1990.In1993FraynmarriedClaireThomalin,abiographerandcritic.

In1965hewrotehisfirstnovel,The Tin Men,aphilosophicalsatireaboutcomputers,whichwontheSomersetMaughamAwardthefollowingyear.Hecontinuedtowriteaseriesofwell-receivednovelsthroughoutthelate1960s,beforereturningtothetheatrein1970withasetoffourone-actplaysentitledThe Two of Us,directedbyMichaelCodronandstarringRichardBriersandLynnRedgrave.

AlthoughThe Two of Usdidnotreceivegoodreviews,itranintheWestEndforsixmonthsandgaveFrayntheideaforwhatwastobecomehisbiggestsuccesstodate.Whilstwatchingtheshowfrombackstage,hesawthepotentialforaplaythatshowedthegoingsonofbackstage.Hesaysthatherealizedthat,“theplaywasmuchfunnierfromthebackthanthefrontandIresolvedonedaytowriteaplayseenfrombehind.”

Duringthe1970s,Frayncontinuedtowritenovelsandplays,includinghisfirstfull-lengthfarceAlphabetical OrderandnewtranslationsofworksbyChekhovandTolstoy.In1977hewrotetheone-actfarceExitsforacharityevent,whichin1982hedevelopedintothefull-lengthfarce-within-a-farceNoises OffwhichransuccessfullyattheLyricHammersmithandthenattheSavoyTheatreforfiveyears.

Throughoutthe80sand90sFraynwroteastringofhitsincludingtranslations,farcesanddramas.HisgreatestsuccesseswereBenefactors,aboutthehousingprojectsofthe1960sandtheWorldWarIIdramaCopenhagen,whichpremieredattheNationalTheatre,beforetransferringtotheWestEndandBroadway.In2003,afteragreatdealofthoroughresearch,hefinishedDemocracy.DirectedbyMichaelBlakemore,thispremieredattheNationalTheatreon9September,2003.

Frayncontinuestowritenovels,newspaperfeaturesandplays.HismostrecentplayAfterlifewasstagedattheNationalTheatrein2008andseveralofhisotherplayshaveenjoyedsomemajorrevivals,includingSheffieldTheatres’2012trilogyofCopenhagen,DemocracyandBenefactorsandTheOldVic’srecentproductionofNoises Off.

[Edited extract by Simon Pollard, from the NoisesOff Educational Resources Pack]

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Democracy – Teaching resources

OnJournalism“Idiscoveredthatitisverydifficulttodescribetheworld—it’saveryoddshape.Itisnottheshapeyouthinkitiswhenyouimagineitbeforeyouactuallyconfrontit;itisaterriblemess,aterribleconfusion,nothingfitstogether,nothingseemstowork,anykindofholdonitisferociouslydifficult.”

“AfterIwrotethatunsuccessfulrevueatCambridge,Ireactedinasour-grapeswayagainstthetheatre.Alotofthoseearlycolumnsweremockeriesofthetheatre,abouthowembarrassingitistowaitforactorstodroptheirpropsorforgettheirlines.Ihatedthetheatre.ThenveryslowlyIwentbacktoit.”

“Iwasaterriblecritic,verysarcasticandimpatient.”

Ontheatre“Therestraintsontellingastoryinthetheatreareveryintriguing.Becauseassoonassomeonesaysyoucan’tdosomething,youimmediatelystartthinkingofwaysaroundit.Whereasinanovelit’snaturalforanauthortoknowwhatthecharactersarethinkingandfeeling,inthetheatreyoucan’tdothat.Thoserestrictionsareverystimulatingtotheimagination.”

“Theatreiswhatwealldoallthetimeinlife-we’rebothperformingandbeingtheaudience.”

“[The Two of Us]haduniversallybadreviews.Thegalleryclaquewhocametofirstnightsinthosedaysbooedtheplay.Theyalsobooedmepersonallyinthestreetafterwards,whichIthoughtwaspushingcriticismabitfar.”

“Youcanclassifyplaysinanynumberofways–ascomediesortragedies;asverseorprose,ashighcomedies,lowcomedies,blackcomedies,tragic-comedies;asartorentertainment.Buthoweveryoudoittheyallfallintotwoevenmorefundamentalcategories–theyareallhitsorflops.”

OnGermany“WhatcatchesmyimaginationaboutGermanyisthepost-warperiod:howGermanyhasrecoveredfromthetotalphysicalandmoraldestructionof1945.Ialwaysfinditmoving,whenIgotoGermany,tothinkthatoutofthatseaofrubble,GermanshavebuiltnotonlyoneofthemostprosperousbutoneofthemoststableanddecentsocietiesinEurope.”

“FederalpoliticshappenedinBonnandGermanyformethatsummer[1972]wasBerlin,theonce-greatcityIhadcometowriteabout,nowonlynotionallythecapital,leftmarvelousbutfunctionlessdeepinsideEastGermany,likealuxurylinerthathadsomehowbecomebeachedinthesandywastesoftheMarkBrandenburg.Thecitycompelledtheimaginationinallkindsofways.Itsgreatestfascination,though,wasundoubtedlyitsgreatestmonstrosity–theWall.”

OnDemocracy“Complexityiswhattheplayisabout:thecomplexityofhumanarrangementsandofhumanbeingsthemselves.”

“Ithinkhumanbeingsarekindofdemocracieswithinthemselves.Eachofushasallkindsofdifferentpossibilitieswithinhimselforherself,andgettingthosepossibilitiestogether,gettingsomepracticalbehaviortoemergefromallthepossibleselvesonehasinsideoneself,isasdifficultaspublicdemocracy.”

“It’simpossiblenottohavepolitics;politicsisourattempttoreconcileallthedifferentforcesinsociety.Everybodyinsocietyhasadifferentviewpointandinterest,andthetaskofpoliticsistofindtheleastbadwayofreconcilingthemall,ofcoexistingwithoutkillingeachother.”

“Ithinkspyingisagoodmetaphorforwhatallofusdoallthetime.Allthetimewearelookingateachotherandtryingtojudgeeachother’sfeelingsandmotives.Wehaveto;it’stheonlywaywecansurvivewitheachother.”

“AllthreeoftheproductionsthatSheffieldTheatresdidofmyplaysearlierthisyearwereterrific.I’msopleasedthatatanyrateoneofthem,PaulMiller’sDemocracy,hasfoundaLondonhome–ifonlybecauseIsomuchwanttoseeitagainmyself.AndaparticularpleasuretohaveitatTheOldVic,stillwarmfromtheirNoises Off.”

[Quotes taken from various interviews with Michael Frayn. See Bibliography]

Writer’s Thoughts

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Public Politics Divided Germany

WhentheSecondWorldWarended,theideaofconstructinganewGermandemocracyseemedabsurd.Germany’scitiesandindustrieshadbeenbombedtorubble.TheeasternprovinceshadbeenannexedbyPolandandtheSovietUnion.MillionsofGermanshadbeenkilledortakencaptive;millionsmorewerewanderingtheroadsasrefugees.

As1945closed,hunger,coldandhomelessnessdescendedontheGermans.Mostpeopleintherestoftheworldthoughttheydeservedit.Allpoliticalactivitywasforbidden.ThecountrywasdividedintofourzonesofAlliedmilitaryoccupation–American,British,French,andSoviet–whichwereexpectedtolastforsomeyearsbeforeasolutionwasreached.

However,noneofthesepowerscouldagreeonhowtoruleGermanyandeachsidebecameincreasinglysuspiciousoftheother.Germanywasnowsplittingapart,alongthezoneboundarythatbecametheIronCurtain.WestGermanybecametheFederalRepublicofGermany(FDR)andEastGermanybecametheGermanDemocraticRepublic(GDR).TheEastrefusedtorecognisetheWestandviceversa.EvenmorecomplicatedwasthesituationinBerlin,whichwasintheheartofEasternGermanybutstilldividedintoanEasternandWesternzone.

In1961,tostopthemassivemigrationofEastGermanstotheWest,theSovietUnionputuptheBerlinWall.AnyonecaughttryingtocrossthewallfromEasttoWestwasshotonsite,andoverthecourseofitsexistenceover260peoplediedtryingtocrosstheBerlinWall.

WestGermanyrefusedtohavediplomaticrelationswithanystatethatrecognisedtheGermanDemocraticRepublic–alwaysreferredtoas‘theSovietOccupationZone’orjust‘theZone’.Meanwhile,thenewDeutschmarkcurrency(thattookoverfromthecollapsedNazicurrency)helpedWestGermanytoreconstructandthenenterasustainedboom,helpedbysignificantAmericaninvestments.Themoodwasmaterialistic;eventhebuildingoftheBerlinWalldidnotrousethepublicfromwealthydisinterest.

WillyBrandthadbeengoverningmayorofWestBerlinsince1957.HebecameForeignMinisterin1966andmadeastartontheOstpolitik(EasternPolicy),hispolicyofseekingreconciliationwithGermany’seasternneighbours.InspiteoftheSoviet-ledinvasionofCzechoslovakiain1968,relationswereestablishedwithRomaniaandYugoslavia.ButgesturestowardsEastGermanycametonothing.

However,inthe1969electionsBrandtcameoutontopasheadoftheSocialDemocraticParty(SPD).HeadingacoalitionthistimewiththeFreeDemocrats,BrandtbecameChancellor,andatoncereturnedtotheOstpolitik.Bythistime,politicshadwokenupinGermanyandyoungGermansinparticularhadbeenregisteringtheirdiscontentwithpreviousconservativegovernments.Brandt’scoalitionwasthefirstleftistgovernmentofWestGermanyandmarkedadeparturefromthecautiousconservatismofthepast.

SowhatdidBrandt’sOstpolitikachieve?Itscriticssayitmerelyhardenedthestatusquo,offeringCommunistregimeslegitimacyandsecurity.Butthatislessthanhalfthestory.Intheshortterm,itenrichedcountlesslivesbymakingcontactandtravelbetweenthetwoEuropeancampseasier.InabandoningunrealGermanclaims,itpreparedfortheendoftheColdWar.Aboveall,Brandt’streatiesandtravelspersuadedordinarypeopleallovertheworldthattheycouldtrustthisnewanddemocraticGermany.

[Edited extract from TheRoadtoDemocracy, by Neal Ascherson]

BrandthandsovertoSchmidtasthenewChancellor

BrandtwatchestheBerlinWallbeingbuilt

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Democracy – Teaching resources

TheStasiwastheStateSecurityServiceoftheEastGermany.TheywerethemassiveinternalarmybywhichtheEastGermangovernmentkeptcontroloveritspopulationandspiedonWestGermany.

WithinEastGermany,theStasispiedon,imprisonedandruinedthelivesofanyoneitchose.Intheearlydaysthereweredeathsor‘liquidations’ofopponents.Inthe1970sand80stheregimepreferredtopsychologicallydestroyopponentsortoexilethembysellingthemtoWestGermanyformoney(asHorstEhmkeputsitintheplay,theGDR’s‘onesuccessfulindustry’was‘themanufactureofpoliticalprisoners’forexport).

TheStasiranitsownuniversities,hospitalsandelitesportscentresinwhichchildrenweredoped.Itmastermindedterrorist-trainingprogrammes.Itpockmarkedthecountrysidewithsecretbunkersforitsmembersintheeventofathirdworldwar.Andithadplans,wellintothe1980s,fortheinvasionofWestBerlin.TheGDRwasanationatthefrontlineoftheColdWar,andatthesametimeitwasobsessedwithaparanoid,pathologicalwaronitsowncitizens.Attheend,in1989,theStasihadsome97,000employeesand173,000informersinapopulationof17millionpeople.

Oneoftheproblemsforadictatorshipisthatafterithaseliminatedthefreepressandfreespeech,ithasnomeansbywhichtogaugethemoodofthepeople.So,theStasialsofunctionedasaninformationchannel.ItspreadinformersthroughoutEastGermansociety:overtorcovert,therewassomeonereportingtotheStasiontheirfellowsandfriendsineveryschool,everyfactory,everyapartmentblock,everypub.TheofficialestimateisoneStasiagentorinformerforevery50people;theCIAestimateisoneforeveryseven.Laiduprightandend-to-end,thefilestheStasikeptontheircountrymenandwomenwouldformaline180kilometreslong.

NotonlydidtheStasispyonEastGermany,italsohadnumerousagentsacrossthewallintheWest.SometimesEastGermansweresent,liketheGuillaumes,totheWest,butthemorecommonmethodwastorecruitWestGermaninformers.Overits40-yearexistence,EastGermanyhadsome12,000‘unofficialcollaborators’intheFederalRepublic.In1988,therewere1,929WestGermancitizensservingasinformers;149inBonn,theformercapital,and542inWestBerlin.

ManywererecruitedinindustrialareastorelaytradesecretsandtechnicalexpertisetoEastBerlin.Therewereinformersinchurches,thepolice,thearmy,theBND,theinternalsecurityorganisation,unions,universities,publishinghousesandbusinesses.Therewere78,inFrayn’swords,‘weevils’intheSocialDemocraticParty,including13initsexecutivecommittee.Oftentheywererecruitedlongbeforeastalented,left-leaningstudentswhoheldCommunistideals.

Democracydeftlyshowsthe‘owngoal’shotbytheGDR(EastGermany)intheGuillaumeaffair:byhavingGuillaumeinthechancellerytheStasibroughtdowntheverymanitwantedtokeepinpower.Then,15yearslater,despiteitsextensiveoverseasnetworksandruthlessinternalsurveillance,theStasientirelyfailedtopredicttheendofCommunism,theendofthestateandtheirown.

[Edited extract from UnderSurveillance, by Anna Funder]

Private Politics The Life of the Stasi

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Fiction Behind Fact I: Characters in Democracy

Günter GuillaumeAStasiagentfromEastBerlinwhohasbeenplantedinWestGermanyfor12yearsbeforegettingajobinBrandt’soffice.Inordertoobtainmoreinformationhebuildsareputationforhimselfashelpful,friendlyandaveryhardworker.Knownforbeingveryordinary,aself-proclaimed‘hatstand’thatnoonenotices.Despitehimself,heischarmedbyWillyaswellasbeingunswervinglyloyaltotheheadoftheStasi,MischaWolf.

Willy BrandtLeaderoftheSDPandelectedChancelloratthebeginningoftheplay.Unlikehisadvisors,hewasneverapartofNaziGermany,havingfledtoNorwaytoavoidarrestin1933andonlyreturningtoGermanyafterWorldWarII.Inpublicheischarming,entrancing,open,warmandfriendly.Inprivate,heoftensinksintoseveredepressions,isindecisiveandcanfailtotakeactionwhenneeded.AlthoughnotkeenonGuillaumeatthestartoftheplay,hewarmstohimandbeginstorelyonhimmore,deepeninghissenseofbetrayalwhenGuillaume’sstatusasaspyisexposed.

Arno KretschmannGuillaume’sStasiController.ItishisjobtopassonalltheinformationgatheredbyGuillaumetoheadoftheStasi,MischaWolf.KretschmannposesasGuillaume’sfriendandtheyoftenmeetinBonnformealsinplainsighttoavoidlookingsuspicious.Throughouttheplay,KretschmannisanonlookerasGuillaumedescribestheaction.AlthoughheistheonlypersonthatGuillaumecanbeopenwith,KretschmannisrarelyopenwithGuillaume,avoidinganyquestionsthatshowupEastGermanyinanegativelight.

Helmut SchmidtDeputyChairmanoftheSPDandDefenceMinisterinthecoalition.SecondincommandtoBrandt.Heisambitiousandhighlycompetent.ThismakeshimextremelyfrustratedandimpatientwithWilly’sindecisiveness.SchmidtandWehnerspendmuchoftheirtimeprivatelysnipingaboutBrandt’slackofleadership.AttheendoftheplaySchmidttakesoverasChancellor,althoughwhenhedoeshesuddenlydevelopscoldfeetattheideaofhavingtofollowinthefootstepsofoneofGermany’smostpopularpoliticians.

Fact Behind Fiction I: Historical Figures in Democracy

Günter Guillaume (1927–1995)In 1956 Guillaume and his wife Christel were ordered by the Stasi to move to West Germany and infiltrate the West German political system. Rising through the ranks of the SDP, he eventually became a close aide of Brand. He had a reputation for being ‘matey’ and easygoing as well as extremely hard working. One journalist described him as, “not a person but a part of the place. You’d find him there just as you’d find a chair in the room”.

Willy Brandt(1919 –1992)Fled Germany in 1933 as a young Socialist Worker, during which time he changed his name from Herbert Frahm to Willy Brandt. Brandt returned to Berlin in 1946 and started his political career. He first came to international recognition as mayor of West Berlin in 1957 and by the 1960s he was a leading party figure. Although his time as Chancellor was short (1969–1974) he remained chairman until 1987. When he resigned in 1974 it was not entirely due to the ‘Guillaume Affair’, but also as a result of rising social problems in Germany and in Brandt’s own personal life (depression, drinking, womanizing). He later blamed his wife and Wehner for not persuading him out of resignation.

Arno KretschmannIn Democracy Kretschmann is an amalgamation of Guillaume’s various Stasi controllers. In fact he was only Guillaume’s point of contact with the Stasi from 1972–1974. He and Brandt had a close relationship and on their first meeting they enjoyed “a conversation about God and the world as completely unconstrained as any two men who wanted to spend a stimulating afternoon with beer foam under their noses”.

Helmut Schmidt (b. 1918 )Frayn has admitted that his portrait of the hostile, ambitious Schmidt is “slightly sharp”. Although he was extremely impatient with Brandt’s dithering, he nevertheless had a great deal of respect for him.

Democracy Character Breakdown

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Herbert WehnerAlsonicknamed‘Uncle’behindhisback.AformerCommunistwhojoinedtheSDPafterWorldWarII.AsheadoftheparliamentaryfactionofBrandt’sgovernment,heisresponsibleforkeepingthecoalitiongoing.However,heisinfactagainstBrandt’smovetosetupacoalitionwiththeFDPashewantsamorestablecoalitionwiththeChristianDemocrats.HekeepsfilesonalltheSDPmembersintheBundestagsohecanwatchtheirpoliticalmovementsclosely.HeevenpersuadesNollautokeephiminformedonGenscher,whomhesuspectsofpoliticaltreachery.

Günter NollauHeadofWestGermanSecurity.OriginallyfromEastGermany,hefledtotheWestwhentheEastGermanauthoritiestrytoarresthimformurder.HehasacloserelationshipwithWehneranduponhisrequestspiesonGenschertoseeifhehasplanstousurpBrandt.ItisNollauwhofirstbringsupthepossibilityofaspyinthepartyandwhoistheprimaryinvestigatorintotheaffair.

Hans-Dietrich GenscherMemberoftheFDP(theotherpartyinthecoalition)andInteriorMinister.PartofhisjobistodealwiththedemonstrationsandterrorismoftheNewLeft.TherearesomereactionarysupportersinhispartywhowouldliketoseehimmadeChancellorinacoalitionwiththeChristianDemocrats.HeissuspectedoftryingtosabotageBrandt’scareer.

Herbert Wehner (1906–1990)Wehner never thought Brandt was up to the job of Chancellor and in Brandt’s second term made a consistent effort to undermine and criticise his leadership. He was eager to put Schmidt in place as Brandt’s successor. Brandt was highly suspicious of Wehner convinced that he was passing information on to his contacts in East Germany. It is thought that Wehner knew about the suspicions surrounding Guillaume for some time, but was eager to leave him in place in order to further discredit Brandt’s office.

Günter Nollau(1911–1991)Although officially responsible to Genscher, Nollau is accused of passing all the information regarding Guillaume on to Wehner before it reached Genscher. He is known for handling the whole affair with “remarkable ineptitude... if nothing worse” .

Hans-Dietrich Genscher(b. 1927)A member of the Free Democratic Party. In the coalition, he helped shape Brandt’s Ostpolitik, and after Brandt’s resignation continued the policy as Foreign Minister from 1974–1972. He disliked Nollau and accused him for lying about the amount of information Nollau passed on (or didn’t pass on appropriately) about Guillaume.

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Horst EhmkeWilly’schiefofstaffandclosestconfidante.HeisloyaltoWillyandsupportivewhenheisdepressed.EhmkeiseagertoprotectWillyfrompotentialpoliticalsabotage.HeisdislikedbyWehnerandSchmidt,whoarejealousofhisinfluence.ItishewhohiresGuillaumeonshortnoticeatthebeginningoftheplay.AlthoughhegivesGuillaumeaninitialsecuritygrillingonGuillaume’stimespentinEastGermany,heseemstotrusthim.InActIIheissackedandmadeheadofthepostofficeservice,mainlyasaresultofSchmidtandWehner’sbackstabbing.However,hecontinuestosupportandadviseBrandtuntiltheend.

Reinhard WilkeAnotherofBrandt’scloseadvisorsandEhmke’sdepartmentalleader.HeaccompaniesBrandttoEastGermany,isloyalandslightlyinaweofhim.HeisverykeentokeepGuillaumeawayfromBrandtatalltimes.

Ulrich BauhausOfficiallyBrandt’ssecurityguard.However,heismoreoftenusedasabarmanandtherapistwhenBrandtisdrinkingorfightingoneofhisdepressions.HeworkscloselywithGuillaumeastheypersonallystaffBrandt.Inparticularhe‘controlsthequeue’(hiswords)ofwomenhavingaffairswithBrandt.Devotedandloyal.

Ehmke (b. 1927) & Wilke“It was daunting to write Reinhard Wilke and Horst Ehmke, who both worked in Brandt’s office, Horst Ehmke running the Chancellory, Wilke as his immediate departmental leader. They’re still alive and they came to see the play in London. The cast were absolutely enchanted by their visit because there’s a lot in the play about how everyone in the SPD at the time had drunk far too much red wine. And Horst Ehmke and Reinhard Wilke had arrived with large supplies of red wine, which they took around back stage afterwards and sat talking to the cast and drinking far into the night and telling them indiscreet stories about life in Brandt’s government. When I met them they were extremely generous about the play and they said that one of the things they thought I hadn’t got right was that in the play they call each other Horst and Reinhard. They both said they would have never done that: “We would have called each other Herr Dr Wilke and Herr Dr Ehmke.” Wilke and Ehmke also said that I made Guillaume too interesting, that he was a very dull man.”

[Edited extract from DramatizingGermanHistory:MichaelFraynonDemocracy]

Ulrich Bauhaus(b. 1922)One of the points of historical dispute in the play is whether Bauhaus in fact remained loyal to Brandt throughout the Guillaume scandal. Brandt claimed that Bauhaus confessed “with tears in his eyes” that he had collapsed only under the pressure of interrogation and given information about Brandt’s women. However, other sources claim that “family man” Bauhaus was genuinely shocked at the Chancellor’s behaviour so voluntarily went to the authorities when the Guillaume scandal erupted.

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Democracy Act Breakdown

Fiction Behind Fact II: The Plot of Democracy

ThroughouttheplaytheactionflowsbetweenpastandpresentasGuillaumedescribestoKretschmanntheeventstakingplace.Therearenoseparatescenesassuch,butacontinuousswitchingbetweennarrationandaction.

Act ITheplayopenswiththeelectionofWillyBrandtasChancelloroftheFDR(FederalRepublicofGermany).

Willy’schiefofstaff,HorstEhmke,hiresGünterGuillaumeforajuniorpositionintheparty.GuillaumehasagoodreputationfromhisworkinthepartyinFrankfurt.

Guillaumetriestoingratiatehimselfwithhispoliticalcolleaguesbuttheyaresuspiciousandsnobbish.Brandtisnotkeenonhis“ordinariness”andasksEhmketofindhimsomeoneelse.Bymakinghimselfusefulandbeingextremelyhelpful,Guillaumeslowlyworkshiswayintofavour.

Meanwhile,heandhisStasicontrollerArnoKretschmannagreetomeetupinpubliconaregularbasistoavoidlookingsecretive.Guillaume’smaintaskistogathergossipandcopydocuments.HegivesthesetohiswifeChristel(alsoaspy)sothatshecanpassthemontoStasiinEastGermany.

BrandtgetstoworkonhisOstpolitik.HesignstreatieswithRussia,Poland,andEastGermany.HeisthefirstWestGermanleadertovisitEastGermany.

Fact behind Fiction II: Historical Context in Democracy

By the start of the play Germany had been divided into East and West, Communist and Capitalist, rich and poor. Left wing groups in Germany had become unhappy with the right-wing coalition in power and had sparked off violence and protest not just in Germany but around the world.

Oct1969 Brandt, leader of the SPD, was losing in the elections to the ChristianDemocrats(CDU). He unexpectedly made an announcement on television (infuriating some of his staff who are against the decision) stating his willingness to have a coalition with the FreeDemocrats(FDP).

Guillaume’s career began around the same time as Brandt’s. Doubts were raised about his background but were dismissed fairly quickly. Brandt was not enamoured with him, finding him too ordinary and eager to please.

Guillaume reported to many different people, but in the play we see only Arno Kretschmann. He and Guillaume got on well together; Kretschmann must have been the only person in Guillaume’s life approaching a friend. At first they were going to meet in a secluded boat-house, but Guillaume felt that taking up sailing would not fit with his ‘character’.

Brandt had tried to implement Ostpolitik as Foreign Minister but without success (due to a conservative majority in the Bundestag). Once in power, he began to pursue it once more.

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Democracy – Teaching resources

TheSecurityServicessuspectasleeperinthedepartment,plantedoveradecadeago.Wehner&Nollaustarttoinvestigate.Guillaumeisaware,andKretschmannwarnshimtobecareful,butheisunconcerned.

Brandt’ssupportersaremoreconcernedwithpoliticaltreacherywithintheparty.GenscherinparticularcomesundersuspicionassomeonewhomaytrytotoppleBrandtasleader.

Ostpolitikenragestheright.ReactionariesintheBundestagputhimupforavoteofnoconfidence.Brandt’ssupportersgathersilentlyinthestreets.Theparliamenthangsinthebalance.Brandtsurvivesthevote,butonlybecauseSchmidtandWehnerbribeseveralmembersoftheChristianDemocrats.

Despitescrapingthroughthevoteofnoconfidence,Brandtsinksintodepression(whichispublicallyreferredtoas‘oneofhisfeverishcolds’)andconsidersresigning.Similarly,Guillaumeisunderalotofpersonalstrain.Hismarriageissuffering,partlyasaresultofthestressesofbeingaspy,andpartlyduetoGuillaume’swomanising.

Nevertheless,GuillaumecontinuestoriseuptheranksandiseventuallypromotedtoBrandt’sPersonalAssistant.Brandt,Bauhaus(Brandt’sbodyguard)andGuillaumetravelaroundGermanyonBrandt’sprivatetraininthecampaignforBrandt’sre-election.DespiteBrandt’spersonalmisgivingsaboutGuillaume,thetwobecomecloser.

Act IIDespitewinningtheelection,Brandt’sgovernmentsinksintoconfusion,misdirectionandlackofpoliticalsuccess.Brandt’sstaffbecomeresentfulathisineffectiveleadershipasheisfrozenwithindecision.

BythistimeGuillaumeissickofleadingadoublelifeandbegsKretschmanntolethimreturntotheEast.MeanwhileGenschereventuallywarnsBrandtaboutthepossibilityofGuillaumebeingthespyintheparty.BrandtissurprisedbutneverthelessinvitesGuillaumeonholiday.TheygotoNorwaytogetherwiththeirwivesandsons.

ThepoliticalsituationinGermanycontinuestodeteriorate,withstrikesandalowpublicopinion.WehnerissackedforcriticizingBrandt’slackofleadership.Brandtisincreasinglydepressedandevenpublicappearancesdonotlifthisspiritsastheyusedto.GuillaumetellsKretschmannthatChristelisbeingfollowedandthatsuspicionisclosinginonhim.Finally,thelastpieceofthepuzzlefallsintoplaceforthosewhohavesuspectedBrandtofbeingaspy.Guillaumeisarrestedandconfessesimmediately.Kretschmanndisappears,BrandtresignsandSchmidttakesoverastheelectedChancelloroftheFDR.

Aftersixyearsinprison,GuillaumeisallowedhometoEastGermanyatlast.HehaslostcontactwithhissonPierreandcontractedcancer.TheplayclosesatthefalloftheBerlinWall.

1970Brandt travelled to Erfurt, East Germany, to meet Willi Stoph, the East German Prime Minister. He was the first West German leader to do so. Brandt also signed a non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and West Germany.

Dec1970Under the Warsaw Treaty, Brandt accepted Poland’s new western frontier as ‘inviolable’. It is on this trip that Brandt dropped to his knees at the Jewish memorial in Warsaw. He goes down in history for this image, and is depicted in the play as an example of Brandt’s unpredictable brilliance. The following year, Brandt received the Nobel Peace Prize for his foreign policies.

1972Brandt survived Bundestag no-confidence motion by two votes. The following year, a Christian Democrat confessed to having received 50,000 marks for abstaining from voting against Brandt.

Brandt’s depression is well-documented. His drinking and womanising was common knowledge, as was his fondness for jokes. Frayn got almost all the jokes made in the play from a collection that Brandt assembled.

When Guillaume was promoted to Brandt’s Personal Assistant, he had access to all of his files and was in charge of organising the Chancellor’s train. On the train journeys, he acted as Brandt’s valet, and all communication between Brandt and the outside world went through Guillaume.

Brandt’s Second Term

1972SPD won the elections and Brand is re-elected Chancellor. A ‘Basic Treaty’ was signed covering relations between the two German states, recognising each other’s frontiers.

Because Reinhard Wilke & his deputy had holiday plans of their own, Brandt was encouraged to take Guillaume to Norway as his only assistant, despite the growing suspicion against him. He was allowed to deal with all communications between Norway and Bonn unsupervised during this time.

During his second term, Brandt’s indecisiveness and inaction alienated him from the liberals who had put him in power.

1974 Brandt resigned as Chancellor following the Günter Guillaume affair. Kretschmann and his wife disappeared, immediately and no Stasi records have uncovered their whereabouts.

Helmut Schmidt followed Guillaume as his successor, but Brandt remained the Chairman of the SDP until 1987.

1989 With little warning and in one of the most memorable nights in history, the Berlin Wall opens and is dismantled by thousands of East and West Berliners. After this the Cold War began to wind down rapidly as Communism collapsed throughout Eastern Europe. By 1990, East and West Germany were formally reunified and an all-German parliament met in Berlin for the first time since 1933.

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Democracy – Teaching resources

RichardHopeplaysHorstEhmke.HetrainedwiththeNationalYouthTheatreofGreatBritain(1972–1976)andisamemberoftheNationalYouthTheatreAssociation.HeisalsoanAssociateMemberofComplicitéandhasworkedwithmanyothertheatrecompanies,includingtheNationalTheatre,RSCandSharedExperience.

WhenyoureadDemocracyforthefirsttimewhatimmediatelyleaptoutatyou?Ifounditveryhardtoreadbecauseitissodenseonthepage,there’ssomuchinformation.Ifeltquiteinadequate!HavingdonesomeotherFraynshowsIknewthattheyneedtogoatquitealickforittowork.Assoonasyouponderthentheydon’twork.

Normallythenarratorisasetcharacterbutsuddenlyyou’reinasituationwhereyouhavetoswitchbetweenthetwo.Sowhenwewerestagingitwehadtoworkout,whoamItalkingto?WhohearswhatI’msaying?Andthenyourealisethattheoneelementthat’snotonthepage–whichyousuddenlyrealisewhenyou’vedonesomeFrayn–istheaudience.Youhavetoputthemintheequationsotheywillbeaheadofeverything.Democracy,likemostofFrayn’swriting,looksverysimpleonthepagebutisinfactveryhardtoplay.Butit’sveryrewardingwhenyouareuptospeed.Itisdeceptivelysimple,asanyspywouldsay.

SomethingaboutMichael’sstylethatisveryinteresting:Ifyouweretoaskhimwhetherhe’saplaywrightorajournalist,he’dsayjournalistbecausehe’sobsessedwithdetailIthinkthatcomesoverinthewayinformationishandledintheplay.

It’sinterestingthatyoumentionthejournalisticaspectofFrayn’swriting.You’replayingacharacterthatactuallyexistedinthelivingmemoryofalotoftheaudiencemembers.Howdidyouapproachthat?Ididalotofresearch;there’salotyoucanfindout.TheonlyproblemisthatalotofitisinGerman!IfyoucanreadGermanit’sverydetailedstuff.IfyoureadMichael’spostscript,it’saverythoroughweighingupthepossibilitiesofwhatactuallyhappened.AndsinceDemocracywasfirststagedattheNationaleverything–allthesuppositionsMichaelmade–haveactuallyallbeentrue.Hewasextremelywellinformed.That,Ithink,ishisjournalistinstinct.

Anddidthatinformthewayyouworkedoutyourcharacter?Yesitdidalot,andalsopartlyinperformance.WeresearchedalotofphotosformannerismslikeBrandtwhenhekneltinfrontofthememorialinPoland;thosereallysignificantmomentsofhistoryandespeciallyEuropeanHistory.Andinthiscountrywedidn’treallyhaveanyideaaboutcoalitiongovernmentsbeforethisone,whereasonthecontinentthat’swhattheydealwithallthetime.That’swhyit’snowquitearelevantplayforthiscountry.

HavingdonetheshowattheCrucibleandhadatwomonthbreakisithardtokeepupmomentum?No,it’sagoodshow.I’verepeatedshowsalot.I’veworkedwithComplicitéandSharedExperienceandeverytimeyoureviveashowyoubringsomethingfreshtoit.Yourealisethatyou’renotdoingthesameshow,you’realwaysaddingsomethingextra.We’reinadifferentspace,aslightlydifferentsettingbutwiththesamecast,andalthoughwe’vehadsometimeoffpeoplehaven’tforgottenit.Soinawayweareabletocometoitfresh.

Finally:doyouhaveanypearlsofwisdomfortheyoungaspiringactor?Ifyoureally,really,reallywanttodoit:doit.Giveitfiveyearsandifyouhaven’thadanyluckbythen,giveupanddosomethingelse.Therearesomanypeopledoingitnow,it’svery,verycompetitive.It’sanup-and-downlifesoyoueitherhavenothingoryousuddenlygetagreatwadofmoney.Joinanyyouththeatrethatyoucan.IwasamemberoftheNationalYouthTheatreanditgivesyousomereallygreatexperience.GetinvolvedwithlocalprojectslikeTheOldVic’sOVNVandtheirrecentcommunityprojectEpidemic.It’llgiveyouanideaofwhereyourstrengthslie.

Lastly,I’llalwaysremembertheadvicewhichLaurenceOliviergavetome:“Turnupontimeandwithyourlineslearnt”.

Onstage Talking to Richard Hope

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Democracy – Teaching resources

AlexThorpeistheResidentAssistantDirectoratSheffieldTheatresandisabouttograduatefromtheMFATheatreDirectingProgrammeatBirkbeck.

WhenyoufirstsatdownandreadDemocracy,whatdidyoufindmostimmediatelystrikingaboutit?Ihadtoreaditthreetimestoreallygraspwhattheplaywasabout.ButwhenonthethirdreadwhatreallyhitmewashowMichaelFraynwritesaboutverybig,heavysubjectsinsuchawaythatmaketheplayflow.Hisplayingwithtimeintheplayisreallyinteresting.We’llbeinthepresent,andthenallofasuddenGuillaumewillstepoutofthatandbecommentating.Germanpoliticsdoesn’tseemthemostattractivesubjecttoreadorwriteabout.ButthewayFraynmakesitsoaccessiblewasoneofthefirstthingsthatstruckme.

Democracybeendescribedas‘unashamedlyhigh-brow’and,‘anessayonlegs’.Howdoyougoaboutmakingtheperformanceofsuchaplayaccessiblewithoutwateringdownthecontent?PaulMiller’sstagingofthisparticularproductionhasalottodowithmakingtheplayaccessiblewithoutitlosingitsweightiness.It’sbeautifullychoreographed.Peopleareinandout,eventsareflowingandoverlapping.It’sadance.ItworkswellwithSimonDaw’sset,whichisonemainareawithminiislandsaroundit.Paul’sfreedominthatkeepstheplaylight.He’salsocapturedandhonouredFrayn’swayofwritingsucharichtext.BetweenthePaul’sdirectionandMichael’swriting,theykeeptheplayaccessibleandfreeandfluid,ratherthanalectureonGermanpolitics.Aidan’stakeonGuillaumehasverymuchbeenpartofthataswell.There’salmostaclownicelementtohisperformance,whichkeepsthewholethingbouncyandbuoyant.

Whatarethechallengesoftransferringaplaythat’salreadyhadasuccessfulrunatanothertheatre?IthinktheCrucibleTheatrewasagreatstartingpointfortheDemocracy.Youhavetheaudienceonthreesides;it’sathree-sidedspace,soyou’reforcedtokeeptheplaymoving.TheOldVicwillbenefitfromthatbecausetheCruciblehasforcedusnottobestatic,tokeepitmoreofadance.

Ofcoursethatdoesmeanthattherehavebeensomechallengesofgoingfromathree-sidedspacetotheprosceniumarchspaceofTheOldVic.Butthey’veletustakeoutthefirstfiverowsofthestalls,soratherthanhavingtoshovealloftheactionbackoradapthowtheactorsmovetoomuch,we’veactuallykeptthesamekindofground.

Howdoyoukeepthemomentumoftheplayitselfafteratransfer?Howdoyoukeepthecompanylightonitsfeet?Wedidtheplaytwomonthsago,andI’vebeenreallypleasantlysurprisedathowwelltheactorscomebackintotoit.Theyarestraightbackintothetextwithoutneedingascript,aswellasrememberingthechoreography.Theystillhaveareallystrongideaofwhatthey’redoing.

HowdoestheDirector/AssistantDirectorrelationshipnormallywork?Thereisnorule.I’veassistedsixshowsandeverysingletimemyroleandmyrelationshipwiththedirectorhavebeencompletelydifferent.Paulinvitedmeintocastingandhisdesignmeetings,whichisquiterare.Forme,stillatthebeginningofmydirectingcareer,itwasfantasticworkingwithsomeoneasexperiencedasPaul.He’sgotabrilliantsenseofintonationwithtext.Buteverydirectorhasaverydifferentstyleofworking,soyouhavetoknowhowtoadapttothem.

What’sthemostvaluablelessonyou’velearntfromworkingonDemocracy?WhenIwasworkingonanothershow(Company)attheSheffieldTheatresalightingdesignertoldme“Alex,youshouldalwaysknowexactlywheretheactorsneedtobeonstage”.SoforDemocracy,eventhoughit’susuallytheDeputyStageManagerwhodoesthis,Imadeanoteofallofthestaginginmyownscript.Ourtransferwasveryunexpected.Ididn’tfindoutuntilthefinalmatineeatSheffield.AndwhenIdidIwassorelievedI’dmadetheefforttowriteeverythingdown.HavingthatdetailtocomebacktohasbeensohelpfulwhenreturningtothescriptfortheshowatTheOldVic.

Offstage Talking to Assistant Director Alex Thorpe

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Themes

AsFraynsays,theplayisabout‘complexity’.Thereareawealthofthemesandmotifsrunningunderthesurfacethroughout,andthissectiononlyhighlightsafewofthem.

DivisionAcommontermusedintheplayis“sixtymillionGermanys”.ItisnotjustthatthereisEastandWest,orLeftandRight;butinfactitisalmostimpossibletodoanythingasasingleunit.Everyonehastheirownagenda,theirownallegiancesandideals.ThiscausesmanyinternaldivisionswithinGermanythatarevividlydepictedbythedifferentcharactersintheplay.

CorruptionKretschmanncallsGuillaumea“weevilinthewoodwork”oftheChancellery.Brandt’sadvisorsusebriberyandexhortationtokeepBrandtinpower;whilstsimultaneouslytryingtoleverthemselvesintoprominentpositions.Brandt’sadvisorsresenthisabilitytowashhishandscleanofanyresponsibilityfortheactionsoftheNazisduringtheSecondWorldWar.However,Brandthimselfisaheavydrinkerandserialwomaniser,showingthatheisnotquiteaswholesomeashewouldliketothink.

LoyaltyApartfromthesteadfastBauhaus,itisironicallythemostobviouslydisloyalcharacterintheplaywhocomesacrossasthemostloyal.AlthoughgiventheoptiontofleetotheEast,GuillaumestaysintheWestknowingthathewillbearrested.ThisispartlyoutofloveforhissonPierreandasenseofdutytohiswifeChristel.However,heseemstobemostconcernedforBrandt,theverypersonhehasbeensenttobetraytheconfidenceof.InthefinallineoftheplayGuillaumesaysofBrandt:“whereverhegoes,myshadowgoeswithhim.Togetherstill”.Thisseemsanalmostfraternal,lovingstatementofloyaltythatsurprisesaftertheactionsthathavegonebeforeit.

Role-PlayingManyofthecharactersassumedifferentpublicandprivatepersonas.Forexample,Brandtisengaging,charmingandwarminpublic.Butbehindcloseddoorsthereisastarkcontrast:heisoftendepressed,indecisiveandlacksauthority.Guillaume,asthespy,isthemostobviousrole-player.“Whichoneofme’sgoingtoanswer?”,heaskshimselfinarevealingcommentontheinternalstruggleofhavingtoconstantlykeepupanact.

StorytellingTheplayisonelongnarrativefromGuillaumetoKretschmann.Thiscanmakeitconfusingfortheaudienceaswejumpfromnarrativetoaction,butcanbeseenasanexplorationofstorytellingthroughtheatre.KretschmannasksGuillaume“What’sitlike?I’mblind,I’mdeaf.You’remyeyes,you’remyears”.Thisshowsusthat,inasense,Kretschmanntooisanaudiencemember.HereliesonGuillaumejustaswedotoactoutthestoryandmakeitrealonstage.

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Glossary

aideAnassistanttoanimportantperson,usuallyapoliticalleader.

Baader-MeinhofGangAlsoknownastheRedArmyFaction.Germany’smostprominentleft-wingmilitantgroup.Itdescribeditselfasacommunistandanti-imperialist‘urbanguerilla’groupagainstwhattheyperceivedtobeafasciststate.Foundedin1970,dissolvedin1998.

BasicTreatyAtreatysignedin1972whichnormalisedrelationsbetweenthetwoGermanstates.Bothsidesagreedtorespectoneanother’sindependenceandboundaries.ThiswasthefirsttimeWestGermanyrecognisedEastGermanyasastate.

BundestagTheLowerHouseofParliamentinGermany.

BNDAbbreviationofBundesnachrichtendienst,or‘FederalIntelligenceService’.TheforeignintelligenceagencyoftheFDR.

ControllerAsuperiormemberoftheStasiwhosupervisesandgathersinformationfromindividualinformersandagents.

ChristianDemocraticUnionTheCDUdominatedWestGermanpoliticsfrom1949to1969.ThisrightofcentrepartyisthesecondlargestinGermanytoday.ThefirstChancellorofWestGermany,KonradAdenauer(1949–1963)andBrandt’simmediatepredecessor,KurtKiesinger(1966–1969),werebothmembersoftheCDU.

FreeDemocraticParty(FDP)Alsoknownas‘TheLiberals’.Amoderatelyleft-wingpartywithwhichtheSocialDemocraticPartyformedacoalitionunderWillyBrandt.

FederalGermanRepublicTheofficialtitleofWestGermany,whichexistedfromMay1949–October1990.Democracyissethere.

GermanDemocraticRepublicTheofficialtitleofEastGermany.AsocialiststateestablishedbytheUSSRintheSovietZoneofoccupiedGermany.UntiltheBasicTreaty,theGDRwasofficiallyknownintheWestas‘TheSovietZone’,duetotheirrefusaltorecogniseitasalegitimatestate.

KaiserAnyoftheemperorsoftheHolyRomanEmpire(962–1806),ofAustria(1806–1918),orofGermany(1871–1918).

TheLeftAgeneraltermforanyofleft-wingGermanparties.Intheplay,theyareportrayedasfractured,disparateandinaconstantstateofinternalconflict.

TheNewLeftAtermassociatedwiththeradicallyleft-wingmovementsthattookplacespreadthroughtheUSA,UK,FranceandWestGermanyinthe1960sand1970s.

OstpolitikorEasternPolicyWestGermanforeignpolicystartedinthelate1960sbyBrandt’sGovernment.ThestrategywastoimproverelationsbetweenWestandEastGermangovernments,aswellaswithotherSoviet-bloccountries.

sleeperAspy(inthiscaseaStasiagent)whoisplacedinatargetcountrywithoutanimmediatemissionbutwithalong-termgoalofinfiltratinganorganisationinordertogatherinformationonitoveramatterofyearsorevendecades.

VoteofnoconfidenceAllowsaparliamentto

removesupportfromitsheadofgovernment,butonlyiftheycanagreeonasuccessor.

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Democracy – Teaching resources

Bibliography

WorksbythePlaywrightMichaelFrayn(Methuen),Democracy,2003MichaelFrayn(GermanHistoricalInstituteBulletin,No36),Dramatizing German History: Michael Frayn on Democracy,(Spring2005)

www.ghi-dc.org/publications/ghipubs/bu/036/36.47.pdf

StudyGuidesTarragonTheatre,Democracy: Study Guide

www.tarragontheatre.com/pdfs/outreach/study-guides/2007-2008/SG-Democracy.pdf

Reviews&ArticlesBroadway World,‘MichaelFrayn’sDemocracytransferstoOldVicfromJune’,16April2012

http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/Michael-Frayns-DEMOCRACY-Transfers-to-Old-Vic-from-June-20120426##ixzz1wLkB0IgD

InterviewsBBCThree,‘TheJohnTusaInterviews’

www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/johntusainterview/frayn_transcript.shtmlBritishLibraryTheatreArchiveProject,‘InterviewwithMichaelFrayn’,27February2004

www.bl.uk/projects/theatrearchive/frayn.htmlThe Guardian,‘Writethesamethingoverandover.MichaelFrayntellsClaireArmisteadthesecretofliterarysuccess’,31January2002

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/jan/31/artsfeatures.whitbreadbookawards2002The Guardian,‘OnWriting:authorsrevealthesecretsoftheircraft’

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/26/authors-secrets-writingThe Guardian,‘MichaelFrayn:thesnowballeffect’,6March2012

www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/mar/06/michael-frayn?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487National Theatre Platform Papers,‘MichaelFraynonDemocracy’,19September2003.

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/Michael%20Frayn%20on%20Democracy+7664.twlThe New Yorker,‘MeandMyShadow:MichaelFraynonthebetrayalofWillyBrandt’,29September2003

www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/09/29/030929crth_theatre#ixzz1wLqdX1CWThe Observer,‘TheInterview:MichaelFrayn’,16August2009

www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/aug/16/michael-frayn-interviewThe Paris Review,‘MichaelFrayn,TheArtofTheaterNo15’,Winter2003No168

www.theparisreview.org/interviews/80/the-art-of-theater-no-15-michael-frayn

GermanHistory&PoliticsFrayn’spostscripttoDemocracyisanexcellentsourceofhistoricalandpoliticalcontext.However,thefollowingresourceshavealsobeenextremelyuseful:NeilAscherson,‘TheRoadtoDemocracy’,writtenfortheDemocracyprogrammeatTheOldVicAnnaFunder,‘UnderSurveillance’,writtenfortheDemocracyprogrammeatTheOldVic

OtherresourcesGermanHistoryinDocumentsandImages

http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/index.cfm