BY HENRIK IBSEN
DIRECTED BY THOMAS OSTERMEIER
DRAMATURGY FLORIAN BORCHMEYER
WITH THOMAS BADING, CHRISTOPH GAWENDA, MORITZ GOTTWALD, INGO HÜLSMANN, EVA MECKBACH, DAVID RULAND, ANDREAS SCHRÖDERS
SET DESIGN JAN PAPPELBAUM
COSTUME DESIGN NINA WETZEL
MUSIC MALTE BECKENBACH, DANIEL FREITAG
LIGHT DESIGN ERICH SCHNEIDER
WALL PAINTINGS KATHARINA ZIEMKE
PRODUCTION SCHAUBÜHNE BERLIN
DATES 12 JUNE (H. 21.00), 13 JUNE (H. 20.00)
VENUE TEATRO POLITEAMA
RUNNING TIME 2H 15MIN
LANGUAGE GERMAN WITH ITALIAN SUBTITLES
Thomas Ostermeier is one of the most interesting directors in the international theatre scenario. His performances – produced by Schaubühne in Berlin where he is also director – are characterised by a choice of texts which are never taken for granted, filled with a piercing psychological realism but at the same time, intimate and violent. Ostermeier brings to the Festival stage An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen. Although written in 1882, the text is still very contemporary and tells a story of hypocrisy, dishonesty and economic interests. Following a scientific appraisal, Doctor Stockmann discovers that the water in the thermal springs – a source of prosperity, employment and tourism for the town where he lives – has been contaminated by waste from a local industry. Stockmann is decided to publish the scandalous results of these tests, counting on the support of the illustrious citizens as well as his brother, the mayor of the town. But little by little, he is abandoned by the influential people who previously appeared to support him, considering him an enemy of the people. Ibsen’s drama describes that fine line that exists between honesty and fanaticism. What value this transparency have in a society dominated by commerce?
