Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera" is one of the most famous works of modern musical theater. With sharp wit, social criticism, and Kurt Weill's unforgettable songs, the Saarländisches Staatstheater presents a classic that has lost none of its relevance today.

London, Soho: In the city's underworld, Jonathan Peachum, the beggar king, has built up a thriving business model. He organizes begging in the metropolis and ensures that misery is exploited as profitably as possible. However, when his daughter Polly secretly marries the notorious gangster Macheath—better known as Mackie Messer—Peachum's order begins to falter.

The ruthless Peachum does everything in his power to get rid of his rival. Intrigue, betrayal, and power games take their course, while Mackie Messer navigates between the underworld, the police, and his numerous relationships. Peachum is supported in this by his wife Celia and police chief Tiger Brown, whose loyalty to Mackie is increasingly put to the test.

With biting irony and musical brilliance, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill expose a society in "The Threepenny Opera" in which morality and criminality are often just two sides of the same coin. Between gangsters, beggars, and seemingly respectable citizens, the boundaries between right and wrong become blurred—and this is precisely where the timeless explosive power of this theater classic lies.
Premiere March 28,
Further performances: April 6, 10, and 25, May 10 and 14, June 4, 10, 14, 20, and 24, 2026