Details

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.

Creatives/Company

Author: John Gay

Archive listings for The Beggar's Opera

Work type: Opera or Operetta.

T605284961

Adapted by Paul Jepson. Director Paul Jepson.
13 Oct 21 to 16 Oct 21Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple :: V883
listing details L0393121824

T01065849883

Director Lucy Bailey. Design William Dudley. Music Roddy Skeaping (original music arrangement). Director Maxine Doyle (movement). Lighting Oliver Fenwick. Sound Mike Walker. Director Terry King (fight). Director Guy Unsworth (assistant). Performer Phil Daniels (Mr Lockit). Performer David Caves (Macheath). Performer Beverly Rudd (Lucy Lockit). Performer Tim Frances (Mr Peachum). Performer Janet Fullerlove (Mrs Peachum). Performer Flora Spencer-Longhurst (Polly Peachum). Performer Akiya Henry (Suky Tawdry). Performer Lucie Skeaping (Jenny Diver). Performer Karen Anderson (Mrs Traipes' Assistant). Performer Jack Bannell (Ben Budge). Performer Keith Dunphy (Matt of the Mint). Performer Oliver Hoare (Filch). Performer Rob McNeil (Gang). Performer Fernanda Prata (Woman of the Town). Performer Vinicius Salles (Gang). Performer Frank Scantori (Jailer / Mrs Traipes).
23 Jun 11 to 23 Jul 11Open Air Theatre, West End :: V403
listing details L01990734348

T1125337823

John Gay’s 17th century play, The Beggar’s Opera has been reconfigured to the not-so-distant future. A dark, seedy, absurd, visually rich and cruelly comic co- production from Vanishing Point, Royal Lyceum and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.Company Vanishing Point. Director Matthew Lenton. Design Kai Fischer. Lighting Kai Fischer. Music Alasdair Macrae. Music Quinn. Sound Mark Melville. Design Finn Ross (projection - for mesmer). Costume Eve Lambert. Other Sandy Grierson (creative associate). Performer Sandy Grierson. Performer James Bryce. Performer Pauline Goldsmith. Performer Damir Todorovic. Performer Elspeth Brodie. Performer Victoria Bavister. Performer Rosalind Sydney.
28 Oct 09 to 31 Oct 09The Tramway, Glasgow :: V621
listing details L0675647722
15 Sep 09 to 3 Oct 09Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh :: V604
listing details L209804975

T629986965

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.Producer Belgrade Theatre Coventry. Producer Vanishing Point. Producer Royal Lyceum Theatre (in association with Tramway Glasgow). Director Matthew Lenton.
9 Oct 09 to 24 Oct 09Belgrade Theatre, Coventry :: V153
listing details L2067251556

T0381733985

New Production generously supported by The Friends of Covent Garden. John's Gay's The Beggar's Opera is heard for the first time at Covent Garden in an arrangement written by [Benjamin Britten] in 1948. This arrangement was first performed in 1948 in Cambridge, directed by Tyrone Guthrie and conducted by the composer, with Peter Pears in the role of Macheath.Producer Royal Opera. Conductor Christian Curnyn. Director Justin Way. Design Kimm Kovac. Design Andrew Hays. Conductor Richard Hickox. Performer Thomas Randle (Macheath). Performer Leah-Marian Jones (Polly Peachum). Performer Jeremy White (Peachum). Performer Susan Bickley (Mrs Peachum). Performer Donald Maxwell (Lockit). Performer Frances McCafferty (Diana Trapes). Performer Robert Anthony Gardiner (Filtch).
20 Jan 09 to 31 Jan 09Royal Opera House, West End :: V377
listing details L02072890666

T01918626948

Company Keyhole Production (for DCT).
10 Jun 08 to 14 Jun 08Unity Theatre, Liverpool :: V539
listing details L1594904903

T1583531928

Company Crypt School.
16 Nov 04 to 17 Nov 04General, General :: V1271
listing details L1482695507

T0642794769

Company Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society.
28 Jul 04 to 7 Aug 04Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond :: V944
listing details L90454374

T01840368856

Company Chelmsford Opera.
1 Jul 04 to 3 Jul 04Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford :: V32
listing details L01470003421

T01709486451

Company Ramsgate Operatic Society.
4 May 04 to 8 May 04Theatre Royal, Margate :: V685
listing details L0422556612

T0315598596

Company Chaos Theatre Company. Director Jeffrey Mayhew. Design Jeffrey Mayhew.
22 May 03 to 23 May 03Christ's Hospital Theatre, Horsham :: V724
listing details L2096496433

T01447117168

This production is supported by 95.5FM BBC Radio Bristol.Producer Bristol Old Vic. Director Gareth Machin. Design Mick Bearwish. Director John O'Hara (music). Performer Emily Pithon. Performer Lisa Shingler. Performer Kevin Walton. Performer Richard Frame. Performer Bill Ward. Performer Cornelius Booth. Performer Jules Davison. Performer Martyn Ellis. Performer John Kane. Performer Joanne Redman. Performer Nicola Sloane. Performer Marcello Walton. Performer Joanne Zorian.
18 Apr 02 to 8 Jun 02Bristol Old Vic, Bristol :: V857
listing details L697469227

T01798835118

Company Cygnet Training Theatre.
27 Jun 01 to 30 Jun 01Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth :: V895
listing details L0508649163

T02130946418

Company Opera Theatre Company.
23 Feb 01 to 24 Feb 01Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen :: V555
listing details L1260441057

T1015119510

Company Queen's Hornchurch. Design Rodney Ford. Lighting Chris Jaeger. Sound Whizz. Choreographer Liz Marsh. Director Carol Sloman (music). Performer John Ashby. Performer Diana Croft. Performer Richard Emerson. Performer Allison Harding. Performer Dougal Lee. Performer Paul Leonard. Performer Nina Lucking. Performer Anthony Hunt. Performer Liz Marsh. Performer Wendy Parkin. Performer Phil Reed. Performer Carol Sloman. Performer Joe Young.
17 Apr 00 to 13 May 00Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Hornchurch :: V41
listing details L1859019529

T0896159780

Company Brecknock Little Theatre. Director Tim Davenport.
2 Mar 00 to 4 Mar 00Theatr Brycheiniog (Brecon Theatre), Brecon :: V1067
listing details L043549913

T0779729977

Company Broomhill Opera. Adapted by Jonathan Miller. Music Jonathan Lloyd. Director Jonathan Miller.
22 Nov 99 to 18 Dec 99Wilton's Music Hall, Inner London :: V1165
listing details L1250788510

T0200301671

Company Brecknock Little Theatre. Director Tim Davenport.
1 Dec 99 to 4 Dec 99Theatr Brycheiniog (Brecon Theatre), Brecon :: V1067
listing details L01698412296

T0733324068

Company Rose Bruford College. Director David Sulkin. Design Grace Brook. Design Karen Charles. Lighting Paul Hornsby.
to 7 Mar 98ICA, Inner London :: V205
listing details L1493845447

T01842845983

Company National Youth Music Theatre. Director Jeremy James Taylor. Director Frank Whately. Design Christopher Richardson.
2 Sep 97 to 6 Sep 97Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Outer London :: V315
listing details L0202375030

Other listings

7 Aug 96 to 10 Aug 96Northbrook Theatre, Worthing :: V727
listing details L1327880
1 Aug 96 to 6 Aug 96Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal :: V6
listing details L01290612483

Reviews

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CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

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