Polly (The Heartbreak Opera) at The Barnfield, Exeter Northcott Theatre

A riotous, radical adaptation of Polly, John Gay’s banned sequel to The Beggar’s Opera, 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 Mac the Knife as well, this is a viciously satirical, unashamedly sexy, fierce and very funny musical. It is a wild, joyous battlecry, an unashamed expression of female rage, of love, loss, and revenge. With songs inspired by Peaches, Britney and Nina Simone.

Polly is a collaboration between Marie Hamilton (Madonna On The Rocks) and Sharp Teeth Theatre (Sherlock In Homes, Streaming Beauty) directed by Fringe First award winning director of Breathless Stephanie Kempson (NY Times Critics Pick) and The Good The Bad and The Coyote Ugly. It was devised by the company, with a score by Cameron Macintosh award winner Ben Osborn, Madeline Shann and Ellie Showering (Insane Root).

“Horror amid the hilarity: Marie Hamilton and Stephanie Kempson’s musical John Gay adaptation hits all the right notes… Overwhelming fun.”
Exeunt

“Gritty, in-your-face, intelligent exploration of feminism, power and control… bang on for political timing and satirical commentary.”
Weston-Super-Mum

“A triumphant melding of satire, stagecraft, and more than a hint of the sinister… laugh-a-minute stuff of the highest order… Theatre needs ingenuity like this.”
The Greenwich Visitor