Revolt against capitalism, rejection of consumerism and the placing of blame for fiscal woes on financial
institutions and politicians may seem like very current issues, but as Bare Space Theatre Company’s
latest production The Threepenny Opera shows, these are ideas that have been around for a very long
time. The seedy underbelly of Victorian London is the backdrop for this black comedy, though with a
definite contemporary sensibility.



Bare Space Theatre Company is proud to present its third major production – Kurt Weill and Bertolt
Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera. This top-class production opens at the Franciscan Church, Henry
St, Limerick on Tuesday October 20th and runs until Saturday October 24th. As always, the
production team features some of the finest local talents: Michael Finneran (director and lighting
design), Paul Nash (musical director) and Jean McGlynn (musical staging).



The Threepenny Opera is based upon John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera written in 1728, a satire of
Italian opera which focused on themes of corruption at all levels. Like Gay’s political and social treatise,
Weill and Brecht hold up a mirror to society’s declining morals and take a Marxist look at modern
capitalist ideals. It tells the sinister tale of the outlaw MacHeath (AKA Mack the Knife) who marries the
daughter of a local crime boss against the father's wishes. Beggars, gangsters, prostitutes, constables and even royalty all have a role to play in this story, where the lines blur between good and bad, rich and poor.



As well as a very talented production team, Bare Space Theatre Company is also thrilled to have been
able to cast the production locally to promote local talent, working with well-established theatrical names
and also nurturing younger talent: Lisa Bresnan, John Finn, Mícheál Ó Dubhghaill, Darren Maher, Jean
McGlynn, Linda McGlynn, Brian McNamara, Clare McNelis, Zeb Moore, Conor O’Brien, Emer
O’Flaherty, Niall O’Halloran, Phil O’Neill, Louise Phelan, Eoin Sheedy & Jean Wallace.

Tickets €18/16 (conc.) and €15/12 (preview only)
available from Empire Music, O’Connell St, Limerick,
via our website www.barespacetheatre.com or at the door.