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. 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.

Cast/Performers

Thomas Randle (Macheath), Leah-Marian Jones (Polly Peachum), Jeremy White (Peachum), Susan Bickley (Mrs Peachum), Donald Maxwell (Lockit), Frances McCafferty (Diana Trapes), Robert Anthony Gardiner (Filtch)

Creatives/Company

Author: John Gay
Producer: Royal Opera
Conductor(s): Christian Curnyn, Richard Hickox
Director: Justin Way
Design(s): Kimm Kovac, Andrew Hays

The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera (Opera or Operetta) production archive for QTIX code T0381733985. Details of all The Beggar's Opera archived productions can be found under the QTIX code: S1876

Archive Listings

20 Jan 09
  to
31 Jan 09
Royal Opera House
West End, Greater London
Performance Details => Venue archive

Reviews

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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