The first performance of The Philanthropist was given at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 3 August 1970. The cast was as follows:
Philip Alec McCowen
Donald Dinsdale Landen
John David Ashton
Celia Jane Asher
Braham Charles Gray
Elizabeth Tamara Ustinov
Araminta Penelope Wilton
Directed Robert Kidd
Designed John Gunter
The play was set in the near future and its characters are aged between 23 and 35.