An Enemy of the People in Oslo

An Enemy of the People could not be more relevant. A play about an individual who stands against his own people, Rimini Protokoll turns it into a study of the city today asking: Do you agree that in matters of right and wrong the individual should take precedence over the multitude? Is "the strongest man in the world (…) the man who stands most alone?"

The Ibsen Festival has become an influential voice in world theatre and is not scared of controversy. Ibsen was a controversial playwright who changed theatre in Europe dramatically. The festival reflects this by showcasing truly original versions of Ibsen's own plays and performances by influential international playwrights and directors.

The International Ibsen Award is the world's biggest theatre award. This year, the award goes to German composer and director Heiner Goebbels. Two guest performances by Goebbels, Eraritjaritjaka and Stifters Dinge are included in the festival programme and the award ceremony and reception take place Saturday 8^th September.

It is extraordinary that a little country in the far north has produced such worldclass playwrights; Ibsen is one of the wold's most famous playwrights, contemporary Jon Fosse is being performed all over the world and now Arne Lygre is set to follow in Fosse's footsteps. Arne Lygre'sI disappear will be performed during the festival.

The International Ibsen Festival is hosted by the National Theatre in Oslo 23^rd August-9^thSeptember 2012.

Notes to editors:

Festival press passes and invites to the award ceremony for the International Ibsen Award are available. For more information, please visit nationaltheatret.no and http://www.internationalibsenaward.com or contact publicity manager Stine Strachan on [email protected].