Program Guide 2012 Program Guide | Page 9

World Premiere Season
Theatre

Schaubühne Berlin (Germany)

An Enemy of
the People

One of modern theatre’s most
distinctive and audacious companies
makes a triumphant return to
Melbourne Festival, with a startling
take on Henrik Ibsen’s acerbic classic.
Last year Schaubühne Berlin stunned Melbourne
audiences with its sold-out, chilling and
ultra‑modern interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s
Hedda Gabler. This year we’re proud to present the
return of the celebrated German theatre ensemble,
as it unveils a bold new slant on Ibsen’s An Enemy
of the People – a world-premiere season that is
the result of a ground-breaking co‑commission
between Melbourne Festival and the prestigious
Avignon Festival.
A darkly satirical tale of greed and corruption,
An Enemy of the People is Ibsen’s most overtly
political work, an eerily recognisable vision
of a community that turns on a man speaking
uncomfortable truths.
Under the leadership of directorial prodigy
Thomas Ostermeier, Schaubühne Berlin has
built a reputation for propelling theatre’s most
hallowed texts forcibly into the modern age,
drawing out themes that resonate profoundly
with contemporary audiences. Against a global
backdrop of spreading immigration panics and

environmental crises, Ibsen’s wryly comedic
parable is an inspired choice for our times.
Masterfully directed, dripping with satire and
backed by the dramatic weight of one of the
world’s leading theatre companies, An Enemy of
the People is set to be one of the major theatrical
events of the year.
Performed in German with English surtitles
Director Thomas Ostermeier
Adaptation Florian Borchmeyer
Stage Design Jan Pappelbaum
Costumes Nina Wetzel
Music Malte Beckenbach
Dramaturgy Florian Borchmeyer
Lighting Erich Schneider
Performers Thomas Bading, Christoph Gawenda,
Moritz Gottwald, Ingo Hülsmann, Eva Meckbach,
David Ruland, Stefan Stern
Thomas Ostermeier presents a free talk as part
of Ringside: Artists in Conversation (see page 51).

Event Information
Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse
Sun 21 Oct at 5pm
Mon 22 Oct at 7.30pm
Tue 23 Oct at 11.30am, 7.30pm
Thu 25 – Sat 27 Oct at 7.30pm
2hr no interval
Premium $130
A Res. $100 / $75 / Grp $90 / Snr $85
B Res. $80 / $60 / Snr $68
Student (A & B Res.) $25
Transaction & booking fees may apply
Arts Centre Melbourne 1300 182 183
artscentremelbourne.com.au
Ticketmaster 136 100
melbournefestival.com.au

Photos © Arno Declair

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