“The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.”
― HENRIK IBSEN, An Enemy of the People

Post-war Prishtina, then administered by the UN, was threatened by powerful, illegal construction magnates who brutally built in every nook and cranny of the city, disregarding all rules of urbanism. In the name of neoliberalist market policies, the UN tolerated it and created a favorable environment for this destruction. This process also involved many producers of construction materials from other European countries, who had a vested interest in this “quick reconstruction.”

Architect and urban planner Rexhep Luci was attempting to bring the city under urbanist control. To the construction and manufacturing companies, corrupt political castes, opportunist media, wartime commanders, UN officials, and many others, he was “the enemy.” Rexhep Luci received several death threats and was later killed outside his apartment in Prishtina.

Winning the war but losing the peace, Prishtina today has the most polluted air in Europe. Construction companies continue abusing tens of thousands of workers employed in the construction sector by paying them low wages, making them work in extremely dangerous conditions, and not offering them health insurance. In a time span of one year, hundreds of workers of this sector are injured or die at the workplace. Their families are never recompensed.

IN FIVE SEASONS: AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE talks about “the hero compromised by the majority” and about “the responsibility of the majority as an enemy of truth and freedom” (Ibsen, via Stockman). Moreover, this play also talks about the hypocrisy of the UN’s peace missions who, in the name of political stability, peace, development, and reconstruction, turn a blind eye to Dr. Stockmanns, consequently becoming complicit in their murder.

1 November 2019, 20:00
National Theater of Kosovo
In Albanian, with English subtitles

By: Jeton Neziraj // Directed by: Blerta Neziraj // Actors: Armend Smajli, Shpetim Selmani, Egzona Ademi, Kushtrim Qerimi, Afrim Muçaj, Verona Koxha // Musicians: Drin Tashi, Tomor Kuçi, Arbër Salihu. Stage and costumes: M. Nurullah Tuncer // Music: Irena Popovic- Dragovic // Choreography: Gjergj Prevazi .

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Director of International outreach: Maud Dinand // Ass. director: Ermal Sadiku // Stage manager: Lendita Idrizi // Video: Ilir Gjocaj // Technical director: Fatlum Idrizi // Lightning design: Mursel Bekteshi // Translation: Sara Sulejmani // Tailor: Shemsi Avdiu // Executive producer: Bernard Berisha

Produced by Qendra Multimedia, Prishtina // www.qendra.org / [email protected]

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With the generous support from: The Olof Palme International Center, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.