An adaptation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People created in collaboration with thirty teenage girls and non-binary folk at Wellington Girls’ College in Wellington, New Zealand.

In Ibsen’s 1882 play Dr. Thomas Stockmann discovers the town’s baths are poisoned. The baths are an important part of the town’s economy and initially Stockmann is hailed as a hero for his work by all but his brother, the Mayor of the town. The Mayor sows seeds of doubt among the people and as the reality of what this discovery would mean for the town’s economy and reputation sets in, Dr Stockmann goes from hero to scapegoat.

The adaptation was developed through workshop and rehearsal with the young cast to respond to questions of rebellion, authority, generational change, the climate crisis and ‘cancel culture’. The infamous Act IV town hall meeting was deconstructed to allow space for the ensemble to speak on issues of importance.

CREATIVE

by Henrik Ibsen
Adapted and Directed by Eleanor Bishop
Associate director: Katie Howes
Movement direction: Sarah Holswich
Musical arrangements: Grace Wellik & Ella Dowswett-Farmer