If you’re after a passionate, rollicking night in the theatre then look further than ‘The Convict’s Opera’, currently playing at the Sydney Theatre.

‘The Convict’s Opera’, based on John Gay’s classic play, ‘The Beggar’s Opera’, is a co-production of the Sydney Theatre Company and Britain’s Out Of Joint Theatre. The production is directed by Max Stafford Clark, the Company’s Artistic Director.

Clark and playwright Stephen Jeffreys have set their piece on board a creaking convict ship where Second Fleet convicts stage their own version of Gay’s work. The play tells the story of ladies MacHeath and sweet Polly Peacham juggling love and deceipt in the underbelly of 18th Century London. The production featured the songs of ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ as well as incorporating plenty of contemporary songs.

How to describe ‘The Convict’s Opera’ experience? The production genuinely conveyed the boisterousness of the convicts spirits as they spent their time on their long trip to Australia put together their Opera, much to the chagrin of their cynical Captain.

The two leads were tremendous-Juan Jackson and Ali McGregor. Thesupprting cast which comprised actors from both countries, gave fantastic performances. An added joy was that plenty of the actors played instruments on stage. Part of the set design was small opera boxes on the sides of the stage comprising audience members, looking and laughing on at the performance.

Once the Sydney part of the production is completed the play will be going on to tour through-out the United KIngdom.

The cast in full voice in ‘The Convict’s Opera’