A Trial:  After an Enemy of the People — Lyceum Theatre

Brazilian director Christiane Jatahy performs an open-surgery adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 classic, An Enemy of the People. Performed in Portuguese with English subtitles, the production combines pre-filmed inserts, video conferencing, and live video to create an unusual and immersive theatrical experience.

The entire play is presented in a courtroom setting, where a jury of 12 members selected from the audience must decide whether Dr Thomas Stockmann is an “Enemy of the People” or not. The central conflict begins when Dr Stockmann discovers that the water supplying the town’s spa is dangerously polluted. Although he believes exposing the problem is the morally right thing to do, his decision threatens the town’s economy, creating a difficult conflict between public health and financial survival.

The play focuses strongly on the relationship and conflict between the Stockmann brothers. At first, Dr Thomas Stockmann and his brother, Peter Stockmann, appear to be close and share excitement about the success of the spa. However, their relationship changes dramatically after Thomas discovers that the water is contaminated and could cause serious health problems for visitors.

Thomas proposes bringing clean water from a distant lake, but this would be extremely expensive. More importantly, the spa would need to close for two years, meaning fewer visitors and significant financial losses for the town. Many local people could lose their jobs as a result. Thomas is therefore primarily concerned with protecting people’s health, while his brother is more focused on protecting the town’s economy.

The production also effectively shows the personal consequences of Thomas’s decision. His commitment to what he believes is right affects not only the wider community but also his family, forcing them to deal with the social and emotional consequences of his actions. The courtroom format makes these questions even more engaging, as the audience is not simply watching the conflict but is given a role in judging it.

Wagner Moura and the rest of the cast do an excellent job of keeping the audience engaged throughout the two-and-a-half-hour performance, which has no interval. The combination of live performance and video adds another interesting dimension to the production and makes it feel very contemporary despite being based on a play written more than 140 years ago.

There was a little lag in the technology at times, which slightly disrupted the flow, but apart from that, A Trial – After an Enemy of the People is a thought-provoking and engaging production that raises important questions about health, money, responsibility and the difficult choices communities face. Overall, it is a show well worth watching.

Reviewer: Saira Kunjuvalappil (Saira Ks)

Reviewed: 10th August 2026

North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: