When Dr Stockmann makes a disturbing discovery about the healing waters in his local baths, he holds the future of the whole town in his hands. But doubt spreads faster than disease, and those with everything to lose refuse to accept his word. Soon, a battle is raging – and it goes far beyond contaminated water…
Ibsen's provocative play about truth in a society driven by power and money is given a startling contemporary spin in Thomas Ostermeier and Florian Borchmeyer's acclaimed version, which premiered at the Avignon Festival followed by the Schaubühne in Berlin in 2012. It has since toured to more than thirty cities around the world.
This edition of An Enemy of the People was published alongside the first English-language production, in a version by Duncan Macmillan. It opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End in 2024, starring Matt Smith and Jessica Brown Findlay.
Thomas Ostermeier is a German theatre director, acclaimed for his innovative and often iconoclastic productions of classic and contemporary plays. He is the Artistic Director of the Schaubühne.
'Thrilling… Ibsen's drama scales new heights of excitement and fascination' Guardian
'Ostermeier is the most important theater director of his generation' New Republic
'A rock'n'roll reimagining of Ibsen's timeless corruption drama... showcases Ibsen's timelessness and also adapts the play's moral arguments excellently for our times'
— Guardian
'Electrifying... an impassioned examination of society and the powerlessness of democracy to check an abuse of power... Ostermeier is using theatre as a political rallying place, somewhere to ask what we really think'
— WhatsOnStage
'Surreal, provocative and very funny... deliciously spikey... fascinating and bracingly direct... Ostermeier blows the themes of the play up in the most thrilling way'
— Time Out
'Blistering... full of contemporary resonances'
— Financial Times
'Inspired and absolutely terrifying'
— Radio Times
'Thrilling... smashes the fourth wall and gives us some revolutionary theatre'
— Theatre Weekly
'Shockingly audacious... Ibsen goes punk... Explosive, anarchic and swaggeringly rock'n'roll'
— London Theatre
About the Author :
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. His plays include: Brand, Peer Gynt, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, Hedda Gabler, Rosmersholm, The Master Builder, Little Eyolf, John Gabriel Borkman and When We Dead Awaken.
Thomas Ostermeier is a German theatre director, acclaimed for his innovative and often iconoclastic productions of classic and contemporary plays. He is the Artistic Director of the Schaubühne in Berlin.
Florian Borchmeyer is a German filmmaker and literary critic, and curates the international programme at Munich Filmfest. He was head of dramaturgy at the Schaubühne in Berlin from 2013 to 2019.
Review :
'A rock'n'roll reimagining of Ibsen's timeless corruption drama... showcases Ibsen's timelessness and also adapts the play's moral arguments excellently for our times'
'Electrifying... an impassioned examination of society and the powerlessness of democracy to check an abuse of power... Ostermeier is using theatre as a political rallying place, somewhere to ask what we really think'
'Surreal, provocative and very funny... deliciously spikey... fascinating and bracingly direct... Ostermeier blows the themes of the play up in the most thrilling way'
'Blistering... full of contemporary resonances'
'Inspired and absolutely terrifying'
'Thrilling... smashes the fourth wall and gives us some revolutionary theatre'
'Shockingly audacious... Ibsen goes punk... Explosive, anarchic and swaggeringly rock'n'roll'
'Scorchingly relevant... ominous and thought-provoking'
