A conflict develops in a small health resort. The water, the pride and joy of the town, as well as its principle source of income, is polluted. Doctor Stockmann expects the full support of his townspeople when he reveals the contamination of the spa. Instead, and to his amazement, his words are bitterly criticized and a compact majority is uninterested in the truth.

Schaubühne Berlin’s clever revision of Ibsen’s dark satire is loaded with contemporary references. With the audience’s help, whistle-blower Stockmann is placed in the eye of the hurricane. How are truth and lies valued in our political present time? Is the definition of democracy – rule by and for the people – still applicable? This production has been on tour since 2012, but its relevance skyrocketed this past year, when overheated political rhetorics reached new levels and we have a US president in office who calls the media the enemy of the people.

Performed in German with English surtitles

An Enemy of the People is presented through a collaboration with the Gothenburg City Theatre, with support from Göteborg & Co. and Goethe Institut.

By Henrik Ibsen
In a version by Florian Borchmeyer

Cast
Dr. Stockmann: Christoph Gawenda
Member of City Council: Konrad Singer
Mrs. Stockmann: Eva Meckbach
Hovstad: Renato Schuch
Aslaksen: David Ruland
Billing: Moritz Gottwald
Morten Kiil: Markus Gertken

Direction: Thomas Ostermeier
Stage Design: Jan Pappelbaum
Costume Design: Nina Wetzel
Music: Malte Beckenbach, Daniel Freitag
Dramaturgy: Florian Borchmeyer
Light Design: Erich Schneider
Wall Paintings: Katharina Ziemke