Ibsen's Play in Chennai

Goethe-Institut Chennai /Max Mueller Bhavan

in association with Prakriti Foundation & Vivanta by Taj Connemara

presents

GERMAN THEATRE from SCHAUBÜHNE, BERLIN

An Enemy of the People 

by Henrik Ibsen

Version by: Florian Borchmeyer

Direction: Thomas Ostermeier 24 February 2015 | 7.00 p.m.

Venue: Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, 

13/1 Shenstone Park, Harrington Road, Chennai 600 031

With Schaubühne Berlin the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan brings one of the most reclaimed and innovative places for contemporary German theatre to Chennai.

About the Production: Dr. Stockmann discovers that the source of drinking and spa water is riddled with pathogenic micro-organisms caused by industrial effluence. Stockmann wants to publish the findings in the newspaper and demands that the city council re-route the water pipes. Influential citizens and local journalists promise their support. However, his

brother Peter, the councillor of the city, raises some serious concerns: The economic prosperity of the spa town will be threatened and the citizens will have to bear the brunt of the high repair costs. Suddenly the support for Stockman from the town's policymakers begins to wane. They spread seeds of doubt about his plans and try to cover up the fact of the contaminated water. But Stockmann insists on transparency and intends to go public on the matter. In an all important speech, he hopes to win the town over to his way of thinking. Although he realises that this will cause a permanent rift between himself and his brother and that he also runs the risk of being ostracised by the community, for him the affair has long since ceased to be about the polluted health spa, his target is society as a whole Ibsen's drama wavers on a fine line between honesty and fanaticism. What is the potential for transparency in a commercialised society? Incidentally, Ganashatru, a Bengali Film (1990) by Satyajit Ray is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play An Enemy of the People.

The Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz was founded in 1962 and is one of the most successful and innovative places for contemporary theatre. Schaubühne premieres a minimum of 10 shows per season alongside a repertoire of over 30 existing productions in addition to showcasing it abroad in over 100 performances every year - ranging from big international theatre festivals like the ‘Festival d’Avignon’, ‘Salzburg Festival’, and ‘Territorija Festival’- Moscow’ to guest performances at theatres around the world.

Thomas Ostermeier: Since September 1999 Thomas Ostermeier is resident director and member of the Artistic Direction of the Schaubühne. Born in 1968 he studied Directing in the 1990ies at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Busch, Berlin. His productions have been awarded with renowned international and national prizes.

Free Entry Passes: All are welcome and complimentary entry passes are available at Goethe-Institut Chennai, 4 Rutland Gate 5th Street, Chennai 600 006 or can be downloaded from www.eventjini.com, or contact me for ten free tickets to the show.