Best known for its radically modern adaptations of classic plays from the canon, Lazarus Theatre company makes its #StageFaves debut as it turns to musicals. The company, under artistic director Ricky Dukes, will re-imagine THE BEGGAR'S OPERA, John Gay's ground-breaking 1728 musical satire of London, which went on to inspire Brecht's The Threepenny Opera and The Buskers Opera, both staged in London this year...
Lazarus Theatre, the award-winning young theatre company known for re-imagining and revitalising classic text for a contemporary audience, will follow recent play offerings including Tamburlaine, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and, just finished at Tristan Bates Theatre, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, with its second-ever musical in November.
It’s an all-new production of John Gay’s bawdy and raucous 1728 musical comedy The Beggar’s Opera, directed and adapted by Lazarus artistic director Ricky Dukes, will feature a new, original score by Chris Drohan. It runs at London’s Jack Studio Theatre from 8 November to 3 December 2016, with a press night on 10 November, and a post-show Q&A hosted by Stage Faves founder Terri Paddock on Tuesday 15 November.
Polly Peachum longs for her newly-married husband, the roguish highwayman, Macheath. Their whirlwind romance is derailed by her parents, his lover, the law and the noose.
John Gay’s renowned satire is set deep within London’s underbelly, a frantic, dangerous and lascivious world of highwaymen, hangmen and harlots. This uncompromising exposure of moral and financial corruption comes to the stage with an original score and contemporary staging.
The Beggar’s Opera marks Lazarus’ return to The Jack Studio after its sell-out production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle earlier this year. The company’s other recent acclaimed productions of re-interpreted classics include the just-finished ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, Tamburlaine (both at Tristan Bates Theatre), The Bacchae and an all-female Henry V. The Beggar’s Opera is the first musical the company has undertaken since The Hat Pin in 2012.
The Beggar’s Opera is designed by Sorcha Corcoran, with lighting by Stuart Glover, sound by Chris Drohan and musical direction by Sarah Morrison. Casting is still to be announced.
The press release comes with a parental warning: “The Beggar’s Opera is suitable for audience members of the age of 12 and upwards, contains strong language and scenes of very naughty sexual behaviour.”
