The Beggar’s Opera is set in the bustling city of London in the early 18th century. This was a period of massive growth and transformation in the English capital. Already the largest city in Great Britain, London came to rival and then even surpass the size of Paris, which had long been the largest city in Europe. Much of the growth of the city stemmed from Britain’s increasingly prominent role in international trade and European colonization of overseas territories. As money flowed into London from around the world, the city also attracted a large criminal underclass, which sought to profit from this newfound prosperity and abundance.
This criminal underclass is the primary focus of The Beggar’s Opera, and the play is primarily set in those parts of London associated at the time with criminals, the working class, and the poor. Many scenes are set in slums and taverns frequented by thieves, prostitutes, struggling writers, and other colorful characters who live in the shadows of the city’s opulent palaces and courts. First performed in London, the play makes many references to real locations in the city, including Newgate prison, where criminals are held, and the lower class neighborhood of St. Giles, infamous in the 18th century for its poverty and criminal activity.
