The Beggar's Opera

Swarming with highwaymen, thieves, jailors, pimps and prostitutes, John Gay’s savagely satirical and wildly entertaining ‘ballad opera’ invites you into a world of greed, crime, poverty, inequality – and outrageous comedy. Where politicians and officials are just as corrupt as the lowlife below them. And where, if you want to get ahead, all you can do is join them.

Devious gangmaster Peachum is a scammer: he shops criminals to the law, while pocketing the proceeds of their crimes himself. When he discovers that his daughter Polly has secretly married notorious highwayman Macheath, Peachum conspires with his prostitute wife to have Macheath hanged – and make off with his ill-gotten money himself. But they reckoned without Lucy Lockit, daughter of Newgate Prison’s corrupt jailor – herself jilted by Macheath and out for revenge.

This brand new production from Paris’s Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, resident company at the 2018 International Festival, has been created by two commanding figures across international stages.

Director Robert Carsen has worked in many of the world’s most prestigious opera houses and theatres. The production’s original music direction is by William Christie, a pioneering figure in early music and founder of virtuosic Baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants.

With an eminent international cast of actor-singers, plus period musicians from Les Arts Florissants, this brand new, contemporary take on Gay’s work delves deeply into the opera’s pungent world of dark wit and double standards – a Beggar’s Opera very much for our own turbulent times. The Beggar's Opera is part of the residency of the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord at the 2018 International Festival.

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Robert Carsen Stage direction
William Christie Musical direction
James Brandily Set designer
Petra Reinhardt Costume designer
Rebecca Howell Choreographer 
Robert Carsen, Peter Van Praet Lighting designers
Ian Burton Dramaturg

Musicians from Les Arts Florissants
Florian Carré Director and harpsichord

Cast includes Robert Burt, Beverley Klein, Kate Batter, Benjamin Purkiss, Kraig Thornber, Olivia Brereton, Emma Kate Nelson, Sean Lopeman, Gavin Wilkinson, Taite-Elliot Drew, Wayne Fitzsimmons, Dominic Owen, Natasha Leaver, Emily Dunn, Louise Dalton, Jocelyn Prah

Ballad opera by John Gay and Johann Christoph Pepusch
In a new version by Ian Burton and Robert Carsen

A co-production between Edinburgh International Festival, Les Arts Florissants with the help of CA-CIB, Angers Nantes Opéra, Opéra de Rennes, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Opéra Royal / Château de Versailles Spectacles, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Théâtre de Caen, Festival di Spoleto, Centre Lyrique Clermont-Auvergne, Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, Opéra de Reims / La Comédie de Reims CDN, Teatro Coccia, Teatro Verdi, Attiki Cultural Society, Cercle des Partenaires des Bouffes du Nord. With the generous support of KT Wong Fondation. Set Construction Angers Nantes Opéra.

Production C.I.C.T. – Theatre des Bouffes du Nord

More information about some of the artists:

Les Arts Florissants
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Robert Carsen
Website

William Christie
Website