Jerry Springer Extends Run at London’s National Theatre

By Paul Webb
30 May 2003

Jerry Springer — The Opera has extended its run at the National Theatre, where it is playing to packed houses in the Lyttleton auditorium.

The opera's combination of soaring music and four-letter lyrics has proved an enormous hit at the National, where it moved from its original home at the BAC. Not entirely unconnected with the opera's success is today's announcement that Tom Morris (BAC's Artistic Director since 1995) is to join the National in January 2004 as Associate Director, with responsibility for developing theatre projects for the National's program.

Jerry Springer — The Opera is a pastiche of the hugely successful television program. Act I ends with Springer being shot by a former employee, while Act II sees him trapped in Hell — unless he can successfully adjudicate between God and the Devil. There is, however, a happy ending — or, rather — several happy endings: Just when you think the show is over there's another (tap-dancing) finale.

Jerry Springer — The Opera is now playing through Sept. 30.