A new version of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, directed by Konstantinos Vasilakopoulos for the Experimental Stage for Emerging Artists, opens at the Rex Theatre’s Katina Paxinou Stage on 26 February. The production explores the role of the media as a mechanism for covering up the truth, why people turn a blind eye to corruption, what happens to those who dare to stand up to the majority, and how to fight for justice in an unjust world.

While preserving the psychological insight and sociopolitical critique of the original, Vasilakopoulos transposes the play to today’s Greece, re-examining fundamental questions about honesty, integrity, and political will; our belief in the rule of law; how much we as individuals are able to tolerate and endure; and our attitude as citizens when the truth is being manipulated.

Residents living near the S Oil waste management facility complain of an unbearable stench and pollution. Despite scientific tests clearly proving that the company is responsible, the authorities and the media downplay the issue, indirectly supporting their interests.

The mayor responds by attempting on the one hand to show that the legal system is transparent, while on the other, rallying local people to take action. However, both her own efforts and the repeated protests of the local community fall on deaf ears. Officials refuse to listen, and the prosecutor blatantly ignores the overwhelming evidence of S Oil’s guilt. The mayor is targeted by news organisations, which question her credibility.

The production raises questions about political impunity, the influence of vested interests, and the undermining of science by misinformation and political expediency, while also demonstrating what happens when institutions fail to uphold the law.

How can we maintain our faith in a system that seems to collapse in the face of unbridled power and the falsification of facts? How susceptible are we to manipulation? How do we choose where we get our information from? And if we ultimately lose confidence in the very notion of fairness and accountability, can we still allow ourselves to hope?