On February 13, the UK premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Marx in London! takes place at Theatre Royal Glasgow, before transferring to Edinburgh. The kinetic new production is directed by Stephen Barlow (who last worked with the Company on Dove’s Flight), with a libretto by Charles Hart (best known for his Tony and Oscar-nominated lyrics for The Phantom of the Opera musical and film), after an original scenario by Jürgen Weber. Set and costume designs are by Yannis Thavoris.

David Parry conducts Roland Wood (Il trittico 2023) as Karl Marx, alongside Rebecca Bottone (The Mikado 2016) as his eager younger daughter, Tussi, and William Morgan (Candide 2022) as her hapless suitor, Freddy. They are joined by Orla Boylan (Breaking the Waves 2020) as Jenny Marx, Lucy Schaufer (The Diary of One Who Disappeared 2020) as Helene, Alasdair Elliot (The Miserly Knight 2022) as Friedrich Engels, Jamie MacDougall (Il trittico 2023) as the Spy and John Molloy (The Barber of Seville 2023) as the Pawnbroker.

Originally written for the 200th Anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth, Marx in London! had its world premiere (indeed its only previous presentation) at Theatre Bonn in 2018, in a production created and directed by Jürgen Weber. Future presentations could not go ahead because of the COVID-19 lockdown, so post-pandemic, Scottish Opera asked Stephen Barlow to give the eccentric comedy a fresh take.

Set in 1871 over the course of a single summer’s day, it is an examination of the philosopher’s more human side. The spectre of communism might be haunting Europe, but Marx’s demons are far more mundane and closer to home, and his personal life is in chaos. Watched by a spy, chased by debt collectors, harried by his family (legitimate and not), and rescued repeatedly from financial ruin by Friedrich Engels, audiences can expect a madcap production.

Marx in London! takes the great thinker off his pedestal, interweaving zany humour with moments of pathos and poignancy, plumbing the frivolity and profundity of one man’s existence.

Composer Jonathan Dove said:

When Jürgen Weber suggested writing a comedy about Karl Marx, I found it irresistible that such a great thinker should have such a chaotic and even farcical private life. Marx in London! was premiered in Bonn, so I expected it to be sung in German — but Charles Hart’s libretto was so deliciously witty that they decided to keep it in English. It will be much easier for the audience at the UK premiere to understand! I’m looking forward to discovering if they find it as funny as I do.

Those who wish to discover more about how Marx in London! was created can attend Pre-show Talks, which delve into the detail of the opera. Tickets are free but should be booked in advance. Audience members with a visual impairment can enjoy the full opera experience at Audio-described performances, which have a live commentary describing the action on stage without compromising the music. There are also free Touch Tours of the set, and a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.

Director Stephen Barlow said:

‘Marx in London! — notice that exclamation mark? That’s the clue that this is no highfalutin opera about the infamous nineteenth century political philosopher. Rather it’s a romp through a madcap day when he is beset by bailiffs, illegitimate issues, British police, Prussian spies, Italian agitators, and extremely uncomfortable carbuncles on his bottom! Careering musically and dramatically from the noisy streets and pubs of Soho to bucolic Hampstead Heath, via the tranquillity of the Reading Room of the British Museum, Jonathan and Charles shine a comic, at times irreverent, but also poignant light onto this complicated, contradictory man, and his despairing but devoted family and friends. So, an opera about Karl with the farcical fun of a Marx Brothers’ film!

Performance diary

Theatre Royal Glasgow

13,15 & 17 February 2024, 7.15pm
Pre-show talk,15 February 6pm
Audio described performance, 17 February 7.15pm  (Touch Tour at 6pm)

Festival Theatre Edinburgh
22 & 24 February 2024, 7.15pm
Pre-show talk, 24 February 6pm
Audio-described performance, 24 February 7.15pm (Touch Tour at 6pm)