United Kingdom The world premiere of the play was held from February to March 1974 at
Ashcroft Theatre, in Croydon by Triumph Theatre Productions. It was directed by Roger Redfarn. It starred Carole Turner as Brenda, Tim Barrett as Claude,
Colin Jeavons as Heinz,
Anna Dawson as Helga,
Richard Marner as Karak,
Lynda Baron as Simone and
Terry Scott as Stanley. A transfer to the
Bournemouth Pavilion, set for the second week of March, was cancelled due to Terry Scott succumbing to illness. A subsequent UK production of the play, again directed by Redfarn toured in October/November 1976, with performances at
Princess Theatre, Torquay,
Theatre Royal, Brighton,
Richmond Theatre, London,
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham and
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne. It starred
Jean Fergusson as Brenda, Dennis Ramsden as Claude, as Heinz,
June Whitfield as Helga, Morgan Sheppard as Karak and
Colin Jeavons,
Lynda Baron and
Terry Scott reprised their roles. Redfarn directed two further shows at
Victoria Palace Theatre, London in 1976 and
Duke of York's Theatre, London in 1977. From August to September 1980, a production of the play was directed by Colin Mcintyre at Chesterfield Civic Theatre. In November and December 1982, the Windsor Theatre Company staged a production at
Theatre Royal, Windsor, which was directed by Miklejon Reece. It was then staged by the Bonington Players in May 1985, at Bonington Theatre in Arnold, Nottingham. In 1990, the play was performed at
The Mill at Sonning in Reading. In March 2005, the Temple Bar Dramatic Society staged a production at Adrian Mann Theatre, Surrey. In 2006, it was staged at
Customs House, in South Shields, followed by a touring production.
Europe Greece The play was taged in
Athens and
Thessaloniki by
Vassilis Tsivilikas (Βασίλης Τσιβιλίκας) on October 1999 under the title
"Fireworks in my pocket"
Austria Vienna's English Theatre in Austria staged a production of the play in April 1998.
Africa The play has also been presented in Africa. A 1975 production was first staged at the
Johannesburg Civic Theatre in South Africa by
Pieter Toerien, with English actors
Terry Scott and
June Whitfield. In January/February 1977, a production was staged at 7 Arts Theatre in Salisbury,
Rhodesia and Bulawayo Theatre,
Zimbabwe. In April 2021, the play was presented again in Zimbabwe, this time at Charles Austin Theatre, with most of the actors hailing from Zimbabwe and
Malawi.
Australia A number of iterations of the play have been produced in Australia. In February and March 1981, Peter Williams Productions staged the play at
Marian Street Theatre in Sydney. The cast included
Abigail as Simone, Diane Chamberlain as Brenda,
Willie Fennell as Karak, Mark Hashfield as Claude,
Ric Hutton as Heinz, Tom McCarthy as Stanley and
Diana McLean as Helga. In 1982, the production moved to
Her Majesty's Theatre in Brisbane (with
Willie Fennell,
Judy Nunn and
Peter Rowley joining the cast), and Bankstown Town Hall in Sydney. In 1986, Canberra Comedy Theatre Company presented a show at The Playhouse in Civic Square, again directed by Peter Williams. It starred Judy Burnett, Eryl Evans, Denis McKay, Hec McMillan, Charles Oliver, Bernadette Vincent and Christine Walters. From 1993 to 1994, Gary Down directed a Les Currie Productions iteration of the play starring
Liz Burch,
Alyssa-Jane Cook,
Grant Dodwell,
Maria Mercedes, Doug Scroope,
Christopher Truswell and
Peter Whitford. It played at West End Rialto in Brisbane,
Seymour Centre in Sydney and
The Playhouse in Adelaide.
Liddy Clark, Christopher Dibb, Garry Scale and Emily Weare joined the production for the
Newcastle Civic Theatre and
Canberra Theatre leg of its run. In 2014, Holly Holliday directed a production at Tea Tree Players Theatre, in South Australia. It starred Terry Boswell, Frank Cwiertniak, Chris Galipo, Nick Hargreaves and Georgia Stockham, with Charlotte Potter as Simone and Andrew Dowling as Stanley.
New Zealand Robert Logan directed a production at Hutt Repertory Theatre, in
Lower Hutt, New Zealand, from November to December in 1984. Murray Nicholson then directed the play at Kapiti Playhouse in
Paraparaumu in 1985. The show was performed at Porirua Little Theatre in 1988. In 1993, Colin Tarr directed a production at the Dolphin Theatre,
Onehunga,
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki. In April 1999, South Otago Theatrical Society staged the play at George Street Theatre in
Balclutha.
Asia In November 2006, a production was presented in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, by the
British Theatre Playhouse.
United States The play has also been performed in the United States. In 1986, it was staged by
Joseph Ruskin at the West End Playhouse in Los Angeles. In October and November 1991, Riverview Productions presented the play at St Andrew's Dinner Theater in
Albany, New York, directed by Bob Couture. In 2016, Kathy Capelle directed a production at Stage West Community Playhouse in
Spring Hill, Florida. In May 2017, the Pasture Prime Players staged a production at The Charlton Arts & Activities Center, in
Charlton, Massachusetts. In August 2022, The Stage Door presented a production at The Electric Theater in
St. George, Utah.
Canada Throughout June 2000, a production was held at Harbourside Playhouse, in
Toronto. The Chilliwack Arts Centre in
Chilliwack,
British Columbia staged the play in October 2006. From September to October 2009, The Players' Guild of Hamilton, in
Hamilton, Ontario presented the play. In 2011, the Royal Canadian Theatre Company staged a production at Coast Capital Playhouse in
White Rock, British Columbia and
Coquitlam’s Evergreen Arts Centre. In March 2019, the company also presented the play at Surrey Arts Centre and Anvil Centre Theatre,
New Westminster. In October 2013, Exit 22 staged the play at the North Shore Credit Union Centre at
Capilano University in
North Vancouver. It was directed by Dr. Nicholas Harrison. Innisfail Town Theatre presented a production at the Ol' Moose Hall in
Innisfail, Alberta from November to December 2017. ==Film version==