Matt Smith is set to return to the West End early next year, starring in the first English-language production of German director, Thomas Ostermeier’s version of An Enemy of the People.

The 1882 play, written by Henrik Ibsen, is about Dr Thomas Stockmann (Smith) discovering that the public baths are contaminated, making the town’s citizens ill; when he tries to bring attention to this, the council declare the titular enemy of the people, trying to bury the truth.

Smith said:

“Thomas Ostermeier pushes the form and boundaries of theatre; I have been a fan for quite some time. Seeing his Richard III with Lars Erdinger was electric.

“When I heard he was interested in coming to the British stage for the first time, with Ibsen’s classic An Enemy of the People I was delighted to say the least. It is an honour to be able to work with him on this great play and become part of this unique project.”

Matt, of course, played the Eleventh Doctor regularly between 2010 and 2013, but then cameoed in Peter Capaldi’s debut story, Deep Breath, in 2014 too. An Enemy of the People is the first time he’s been at the West End since 2020.

Ostermeier said:

“As we face the immediate impact of climate change and global warming, and our seeming incapacity to change these burning threats, Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People is unfortunately more relevant than ever.

“This is an urgent reason to create an English version of the production for London, and I look forward to collaborating with Matt Smith, an actor whose body of work I greatly admire.”

An Enemy of the People will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre for two months from 6th February 2024.