The Busker's Opera (2004)

EX-MACHINA’S “The Busker’s opera”

Ex Machina’s production of “The Busker’s Opera” is an adaptation of John Gay’s satire “The Beggars Opera”. First performed in February 2004 at the Spectrum de Montréal and directed by Robert Leplage, “The Busker’s Opera” is performed by a group of musicians, singers and a DJ. The play has been reinvented for today’s audience but keeping the central characters such as Macheath, Peachum and Lockit. In Ex-Machina’s production however the characters do not belong to the criminal underworld of the 17th century but to the underworld of the modern music industry.

The Busker’s Opera begins in London before embarking on a trans-atlantic journey, landing in New York and then on to Atlantic City ending up in Huntsville Texas. Somewhere between road trip and rock show the show concerns itself with the artistic freedom in an environment as precarious as that of the music industry.


Posted by Kate Marshall and Katy Martin