Gay’s work consisted of dialogue interspersed with 69 songs, mainly popular ballads of the British Isles and France, and well-known opera arias by Handel and Purcell, among others. Original German text based on Elisabeth Hauptmann’s German Translation of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera.The source for the work was John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera (1728), a humorous “ballad opera” with no generic precedent. Including well-known songs such as Mack the Knife and Pirate Jenny, expect a riotous musical comedy you will be begging to see!Įnglish translation of the dialogue by Robert David MacDonaldĮnglish translation of the lyrics by Jeremy Sams The New Wolsey Theatre’s Peter Rowe and Graeae’s Jenny Sealey have joined forces once again to bring you their anarchic version of Weill and Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera – adapted from John Gay’s The Beggars Opera.Ī motley cast of characters reinvents this classic from the writer of The Caucasian Chalk Circle and Mother Courage, with Kurt Weill’s iconic music played live on stage by the actors themselves. Conceived with magnificence such as only beggars could imagine, and an economy such as only beggars could afford Will he hang or will society offer him an escape?Īn opera for beggars. Through a deceitful web of blackmail, bribery and brothels, Macheath is eventually caught and taken to the gallows. Peachum is so displeased that he concocts a plan to have his new son-in-law hanged. London’s most notorious criminal, Macheath, has recently married Polly, the daughter of Jonathan Peachum, leader of the beggars. Imagine a world where evil goes unpunished, money is corrupt, the law is fickle and lowly souls remain on the poverty line. The Limping Chicken 'The coffee bill for this show must be through the roof, but, fortunately, so is the energy and the talent.' Read more.Reviews Gate 'Brecht would have loved it.' Read more.Theatre World Internet Magazine 'A no holds barred production.'.

Socialist Worker 'Fast and funny with strong acting and singing performances.' Read more.

Musical Theatre Review 'This no-holds-barred event has everything Brecht must have wanted: aggro, cheek, biting irony, vengefulness, hypocrisy – and flair.' Read more.

Ceasefire Magazine 'There is one hell of a theatrical collaboration going on here – but then, in many respects, this is one hell of a theatrical production.' Read more.

The Big Issue 'It truly is a show conceived with magnificence.' Read more.

Exeunt Magazine 'The company unleash a charged, hysterical, non-stop onslaught of political commentary combined with riotous entertainment.' Read more.

The Sunday Times 'An exhilarating show.'.

The Stage 'Watching this production is like being carried along in a protest march, banners in your face.'.

The threepenny opera by bertolt brecht