The Beggar's Opera

T629986965
The Beggar's Opera was originally produced on 29 January 1728 by the Theatre Manager John Rich at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre and was the first musical show to mix dialogue with songs. A story of thieves and highwaymen, it was intended to mirror the moral degradation of society and, more particularly, to caricature the then Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. It ran for 62 performances, the longest run then known, and the success of the production enabled John Rich to build a new theatre in Covent Garden, the forerunner of the Royal Opera House. The Beggar's Opera was first heard of Covent Garden in 1732.

Author

John Gay

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Archive :: production:T629986965, opera or operetta:S1876, venue:V153

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Production details

A new version created by Vanishing Point. John Gay’s 17th century play, The Beggar’s Opera has been reconfigured in to our not too distant future: A dark, seedy, absurd, visually rich and cruelly comic co-production from the Lyceum, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, and Vanishing Point. Featuring brand new live music from Alasdair Macrae and A Band Called Quinn, cutting edge production design and a large cast of leading performers, this promises to be one of the most entertaining theatre events of 2009.