Vijand van het volk

Olympique Dramatique / Toneelhuis

Vijand van het volk (Henrik Ibsen, 1882) describes a social crisis and a family crisis. The timeless, wry comedy evokes burning topical echoes of recent environmental scandals close to home and whistleblower affairs. It mercilessly shows the machinery of manipulation behind the scenes of decision-making and the scheming in the corridors.

Run time 120 minutes
Genre Theater
Language Dutch

In Gesprek Fri, February 10
Dutch opening night Fri, February 10

Vijand van het volk

A repertory piece could not be more topical: the environmental scandals close to home, the manipulative machinery of political decision-making, the struggles of whistleblowers. Ibsen describes it all. But his wry comedy also shows the personal consequences of fighting for your ideals.

Doctor Thomas Stockman discovers that the water at his town's spa is seriously polluted, causing visitors to become fatally ill. In the interests of public health, he wants to publish his findings. He turns to local politics to intervene. His brother, Peter Stockman, is the town's mayor. He has his reservations. Announcing the news has unforeseeable economic consequences for the city. More than that, it leaves the common man footing the bill.

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The clash between a fighting idealist and a pragmatic politician turns into an urban war between the rightness of one and the 'common sense' of the masses. Science versus politics. What is the value of truth? And how far will you go for your beliefs?

Beneath this conflict for the common good, brews competition and personal struggles between two brothers.

For this classic, Olympique Dramatique brings together a cast that spans three generations.

IN GESPREK

After the performance, come and think, listen and chat at In Gesprek. We invite a guest to further explore the themes of Vijand van het volk and to exchange experiences. If you have any questions, this is the perfect time to ask them. In Gesprek is free of charge and starts shortly after the performance in one of our foyers, is conducted in Dutch and lasts about half an hour.

REVIEWS

De Morgen

'A riveting adaptation of Ibsen's classic'

De Tijd

'A perfect character study of man'

Concertnews

'Superb theatre we see here from Olympique Dramatique once again'

De Standaard

'With its democratic deadlock and environmental issues, it speaks for itself why Olympique Dramatique wanted to stage this play'

CREDITS

text after Henrik Ibsen
adaptation Tom Dewispelaere, Joeri Happel, Lucie Plasschaert
by and with Sanne Samina Hanssen, Joeri Happel, Han Kerckhoffs, Lucie Plasschaert, Nico Sturm, Iris Van Cauwenbergh, Stijn Van Opstal / Jan Bijvoet / Koen De Sutter
sound design, vocal coach Wouter Deltour
scenography Stef Stessel-|-
light Frank Hardy
costume design Inge Büsscher
assistant costume design Louis Verlinde
production Toneelhuis, Olympique Dramatique
with the support of The Belgian Federal Government Tax Shelter, Casa Kafka Pictures Tax Shelter