The Villain's Opera

(, Main)

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Description

Under cover of his south London pub, Peachum plies a successful trade in small-time scams. But his world is shattered when the charismatic villain Macheath plans not only to marry his daughter Polly, but to move into a more dangerous level of activity.In his dynamic new piece, Nick Dear has updated John Gay's groundbreaking work to a contemporary London teeming with petty theives, gangland hoods, homeless runaways and bent coppers.

Author Bio

Nick Dear's plays include Dedication (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, 2016) The Dark Earth and the Light Sky (Almeida Theatre, 2012), Frankenstein (National Theatre, 2011), Lunch in Venice (National Theatre Connections, 2005), Power (NT, 2003), The Villains' Opera (NT, 2000), Zenobia (RSC, 1995), In the Ruins (Bristol Old Vic, 1990), Food of Love (Theatre de Complicite, Almeida, 1988), The Art of Success (RSC, 1986), Pure Science (RSC, 1986) and Temptation (RSC, 1984). He also collaborated with Peter Brook on the development of Qui est l (Bouffes du Nord, 1996). His adaptations include The Promise (after Arbuzov, Tricycle, 2002), Summerfolk (after Gorky, NT, 1999), Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (after Molire, NT, 1992), The Last Days of Don Juan (after Tirso de Molina, RSC, 1990) and A Family Affair (after Ostrovsky, Cheek by Jowl, 1988). His screenplays include Persuasion, The Turn of the Screw, Cinderella, The Gambler, Byron, Eroica and Agatha Christie's Poirot. Opera libretti include The Palace in the Sky (ENO/Hackney Empire, 2001) and Siren Song (Almeida Opera Festival, 1994). He has also written extensively for BBC Radio, beginning with his first play, Matter Permitted (1980).