Let’s laugh at humans’ stupidity and unending desires!
A knockabout musical comedy of life in this chaotic society.

One of the most influential modern plays, “The Threepenny Opera” by the German playwright Bertolt BRECHT (1898–1956), is among the most frequently staged works worldwide. Set in a slum where the anti-hero, a violent criminal named Macheath, is trying to get married to the daughter of a crooked merchant, Mr. Peachum, the play shows the men repeatedly cheating each other until, in a reversal of fortunes, the drama arrives at an unexpected happy ending.
In the literature department at SPAC, OOKA Jun translated the play using a mix of the traditional Japanese seven-and-five-syllable poetry style and occasional rap to refashion the original 1928 German play-with-music into this exciting contemporary Japanese-language drama.
In addition, the great Italian theatre and opera director Giorgio Barberio CORSETTI superbly added comedy elements to help create what is now a truly remarkable and unforgettable entertainment work — even though its standout musical ingredient remains the familiar “Mac the Knife” tune by Kurt WEIL.
The production had its world premiere — with actors selected by open audition — at the Tokyo Festival 2018 in Ikebukuro outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. This time it will be performed — as the “2021 Shizuoka version” — on a special open-air stage in Sumpujo Park in Shizuoka City.
Just don’t be too surprised if you find all kinds of absurdities from contemporary life here, too — including humans’ insatiable desire, hunger for power and social divisions.

The play is set in a slum in London from where Mr. Peachum, the shady owner of a shop called the Beggar’s Friend, controls all the city’s beggars and other scoundrels to get them to earn money for him. Meanwhile his daughter Polly falls in love with the lady-killer criminal Macheath and they get married. Then Mr. Peachum sends a spy to their home, threatens to get the police onto them, and tries every way he can to break them up. Finally, Macheath is arrested and is being sent to the gallows …

Direction: Giorgio Barberio CORSETTI
Text: Bertolt BRECHT
Music: Kurt WEILL
Translation: OOKA Jun
Music Director: HARADA Keiko
Costume Design: SAWATAISHI Kazuhiro

Casts: AYADA Shoichi, KATSURA Takakiyo, GOTO Hideki, KIKUZAWA Masanori, KONOGAYA Katsuhiko, SAKAKIBARA Yuumi, SHINOHARA Kazumi, SUZUKI Mariko, NUMATA Seima, HIROKAWA Mitsunori, MIYASHITA Yasuyuki, MORIYAMA Fuyuko, YANAI Yusuke, YAMAZAKI Koji
Musicians: MEGURI Yumiko, ABE Daiki, TANAKA Ichiyu, HARADA Keiko

Premiere: Tokyo Festival 2018

*Admission to auditorium is restricted to children of school age and over.
*Seats with no backrest
*Performances will be held even if it rains. As the use of umbrellas is not permitted during a performance, please ensure you have suitable rainwear. You are also advised to bring warm clothes for night performances at this time of year.