Jerry Springer The Opera at National April 2003

"Jerry Springer - The Opera at National April 2003

Jerry Springer - The Opera, the concert version of which was the hit of this year's Edinburgh Fringe, has been chosen by incoming National Theatre Director, Nicholas Hytner to premiere as the first production at the Lyttelton Theatre in his opening season.

It will open in April 2003. Tickets will be on sale early in the New Year.

The creative team responsible for the development of the opera, which includes first time Director and Co-writer, Stewart Lee and Shockheaded Peter Designer, Julian Crouch are to be retained for this first full theatrical production.

It is both Creator/Composer Richard Thomas's and the National Theatre's first new opera.

The opera began its development as a public 'scratch night' at The Battersea Arts Centre in 2001, funded by Composer, Richard Thomas. It was developed through a subsequent series of public workshops which were seen by Nicholas Hytner, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh and various Broadway producers and went on to be performed in concert at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

In this production the National Theatre team, led by Nicholas Hytner, will collaborate with Allan McKeown (original producer of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet) and Comedy Producer Avalon (The Frank Skinner Show, Fantasy Football, The All New Harry Hill Show).

Jerry Springer - The Opera, is a new opera based on America's most lurid talk show and the US host who brought worldwide television audiences programmes entitled "Pregnant by a Transsexual", "Here Come the Hookers" and "I Refuse to Wear Clothes."

Director Designate of the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner said: "I've followed the development of Jerry Springer - The Opera since I saw it in a workshop production 18 months ago at Battersea Arts Centre. It's exactly the kind of work the National should be doing: bold, scabrous, funny and beautiful. I'm delighted to be working with Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee on their groundbreaking new opera."