Poster
2003 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This typographic poster advertising the premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera at the National Theatre tells little about the content of the show, but the flames behind the title reveal something of its incendiary nature. Written by the stand-up comedian Stewart Lee, and composed and scored by musician Richard Thomas, in 2004 the show won Best New Musical at the Laurence Olivier, Critics' Circle, Evening Standard and Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice awards, the only show ever to win all four major 'Best Musical' awards.
Jerry Springer, host of the world's most notorious TV chat show, is shot by a guest at the climax of one particularly seedy edition of his show. The Devil seizes the opportunity to solve his problems by forcing Jerry to present his show in Hell, in order to reunite Heaven and Hell, with guests including Jesus, Mary, Adam and Eve, and God himself. The musical is entirely sung, with the exception of Jerry, who has a speaking role.
Despite the controversial nature of the show, the National Theatre production sold out entirely between April and September, before moving to the Cambridge Theatre where it ran for more than 600 performances. Nevertheless, on being broadcast on BBC2 it attracted over 55,000 complaints, the most the BBC has ever received for a single broadcast, due to its profanity and irreverent treatment of Judeo-Christian themes.
Jerry Springer, host of the world's most notorious TV chat show, is shot by a guest at the climax of one particularly seedy edition of his show. The Devil seizes the opportunity to solve his problems by forcing Jerry to present his show in Hell, in order to reunite Heaven and Hell, with guests including Jesus, Mary, Adam and Eve, and God himself. The musical is entirely sung, with the exception of Jerry, who has a speaking role.
Despite the controversial nature of the show, the National Theatre production sold out entirely between April and September, before moving to the Cambridge Theatre where it ran for more than 600 performances. Nevertheless, on being broadcast on BBC2 it attracted over 55,000 complaints, the most the BBC has ever received for a single broadcast, due to its profanity and irreverent treatment of Judeo-Christian themes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Offset lithography on paper |
| Brief description | Poster advertising the World Premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera, music by Richard Thomas, book and lyrics by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas, Royal National Theatre, previews from 9 April 2003, opening on 29 April 2003. |
| Physical description | Poster advertising the world premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera at the Royal National Theatre, featuring the words 'Jerry Springer' in gold and orange lettering and 'the opera' in white lettering, against a ball of licking flames. The background of the poster is black. Along the bottom of the poster is the National Theatre logo, web-site information, the logo of the Arts Council of England, and details about the authors and the opening from 9 April, when previews began. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Typographic posters
These posters use type, design and colour to suggest the style and content of the shows they are promoting.
The Royal Court was known for its challenging productions. In 1957–8 it used this distinctive format for all its posters and programme covers.
The vivid design of the Move poster conveys modernity and movement, while the Jerry Springer poster suggests the controversial nature of the show and the hellish situation Jerry finds himself in.
[75 words]
Look Back in Anger
1957
Play by John Osborne, 1956
Royal Court Theatre, London
Offset litho and letterpress
Given by Mrs Gabrielle Enthoven
Museum no. S.24-1983
The Move
1966
Marquee Club, London
Screen print
Designed by Michael English (born 1942)
Given by Michae lEnglish
Museum no. S.21-1978
Jerry Springer the Opera
2003
Musical by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas, 2003
National Theatre, London
Offset litho
Given by Avalon PR
Museum no. S.40-2003 |
| Credit line | Given by Avalon PR |
| Object history | Jerry Springer the Opera previewed at the Royal National Theatre from 9 April 2003 and opened on 29 April 2003. Earlier versions of it had been seen at the Edinburgh Festival and the Battersea Arts centre in 2002. The music is by Richard Thomas, with the book and lyrics by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This typographic poster advertising the premiere of Jerry Springer the Opera at the National Theatre tells little about the content of the show, but the flames behind the title reveal something of its incendiary nature. Written by the stand-up comedian Stewart Lee, and composed and scored by musician Richard Thomas, in 2004 the show won Best New Musical at the Laurence Olivier, Critics' Circle, Evening Standard and Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice awards, the only show ever to win all four major 'Best Musical' awards. Jerry Springer, host of the world's most notorious TV chat show, is shot by a guest at the climax of one particularly seedy edition of his show. The Devil seizes the opportunity to solve his problems by forcing Jerry to present his show in Hell, in order to reunite Heaven and Hell, with guests including Jesus, Mary, Adam and Eve, and God himself. The musical is entirely sung, with the exception of Jerry, who has a speaking role. Despite the controversial nature of the show, the National Theatre production sold out entirely between April and September, before moving to the Cambridge Theatre where it ran for more than 600 performances. Nevertheless, on being broadcast on BBC2 it attracted over 55,000 complaints, the most the BBC has ever received for a single broadcast, due to its profanity and irreverent treatment of Judeo-Christian themes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.40-2003 |
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| Record created | July 25, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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