Credit: Chelsey Cliff
A collaboration between Marie Hamilton and Sharp Teeth Theatre, Polly (The Heartbreak Opera)
brings a gritty and wild energy to John Gay’s scandalous follow up to The Beggar’s Opera, with
original music inspired by Peaches, Britney and Nina Simone. This fierce adaptation renews
Polly, Gay’s near forgotten gender-bending, anti-colonialist and proto-feminist ballad opera,
originally written in 1729 but banned for the outrage it sparked.
Now in the 21st Century, Polly’s arguments about gender, colonialism and women’s rights rage
on. Polly (The Heartbreak Opera) hilariously rips the text apart, re-writing Gay’s original satire
to reflect the all too similar societal inequalities of the present day. Devised by the company
and directed by Stephanie Kempson (Fringe First award winner, Breathless; director, The Good
The Bad and The Coyote Ugly), this show brings new life to the 18th Century rom-com, with
techno, tracksuits and palm trees.
In a tacky beach resort on a storm hit island we meet jilted brides, drag king politicians, a
pregnant murderess, and a pirate boyband called Blazin’ Squid. Telling not just the story of
Purest Polly Peachum but of the other wives of Mack the Knife as well, it is a joyous battle cry
and unashamed expression of female rage, of love, loss, and revenge.
This viciously satirical, unashamedly sexy and very funny musical features 18 original songs. The
score is brought together by Cameron Macintosh award-winner Ben Osborn, Madeline Shann
and Ellie Showering (Breach Theatre).
Co-writer and performer Marie Hamilton comments, Our Polly is wild, riotous and empowering.
It’s a dark and absolutely hilarious night out. We started making this show in Berlin 5 years ago,
with a big tour that was unfortunately booked for March, April, May and June of 2020… well we
all know what happened then! Post-pandemic, with the war-on-woke raging and domestic
violence against women spiking the situation has only got graver. In the intervening time trying
to get the play back up and running we’ve had company births, marriages, I have a one-year-old
and I’ll be 7 months pregnant which will certainly add to the drama… Will there be a birth
onstage… who knows!? Luckily one of my characters (Lucy Lockitt) is pregnant in the play so
we’ll save some costume budget. Another character I play is Macheath: Mack the Knife- the
father of Lucy’s child. Not sure this classic literary lothario has ever been played pregnant with
his own child but we’ll put a snail trail up the bump and it will just make it even more punk. It’s
been a long time coming, and we’re so ready to bring this brave and beautiful show back out,
our joyous retaliation to all the right-wing rhetoric around: a dirty, angry, and most importantly,
very funny call to arms.
Following a sold-out work-in-progress run, Polly (The Heartbreak Opera) is set to inspire and
empower new audiences across the UK. The show was also finalists for both the LET and
Untapped Awards.
Show Polly (The Heartbreak Opera)
Presented by Marie Hamilton
Sharp Teeth Theatre
Director Stephanie Kempson
Composer Ben Osborn
Score by Ben Osborn
Madeline Shann
Ellie Showering
Cast:
Marie Hamilton Captain Macheath/Lucy Lockitt/Mrs. Trapes/Mrs. Ducat
Madeleine Shann The Poet
Genevieve Sabherwal Polly Peachum
Sedona Rose Jenny Diver/Mayor Ducat/Mrs. Peachum
Ages Recommended for ages 14+
Running time 2 hours 5 minutes (including a 15 minute interval)
Dates
12th – 20th April The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol
25 West Street, Bristol, BS2 0DF
https://thewardrobetheatre.com/livetheatre/polly-the-heartbreakopera/
2nd – 3rd May The Lowry, Salford
Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
https://thelowry.com/whats-on/polly/
8th – 11th May The Pleasance, London
5 Carpenters Mews, North Road, N7 9EF
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/polly-heartbreak-opera
15th – 16th May The Barnfield, Exeter Northcott Theatre
Barnfield Road, Exeter, EX1 1SN
https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/polly-the-heartbreak-opera/
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