An Enemy of the People (NHB Modern Plays)

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

'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