Ballad Opera is a 18th century English theatre form featuring popular tunes, folk songs, and spoken dialogue. It began with operas using existing ballads or folk songs with new words added. A key example is The Beggar's Opera from 1728, which combined lyrics with familiar tunes. Ballad Operas attracted middle to upper class audiences and allowed both women and men to perform, unlike Greek theatre which only featured male actors for women's roles. They also advanced from Greek musicals by having fully sung dialogue rather than sometimes spoken parts.

1. 4733925-514350<br />What is a Ballad Opera and from where did it come from?<br />Ballad Opera is a theatre entertainment from the 18th century which started in England consisting of popular tunes, folk songs and dialogue. The music was mainly spoken dialogue that was sung. Operas first used ballads or folk songs to which new words were added.<br />Ina ballad Opera you would expect a large number of lyrics combined with existing tunes.<br />2857515875Famous Ballad Opera<br />-19050001094740The Beggars Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written by John Gay in 1728, and is one of the first and most known ballad opera’s first to come out.<br />What was the audience like- who went to watch these?<br />The audience were between middle class and top class people, and during the performances you would only see the wealthier families seated.<br />How is it different to Greek Theatre- How had it developed?<br />In Greek Theatres men were only allowed to act and perform the women roles if a play had any, however Ballad Operas both women and men are allowed to take part.<br />Another main example of how musicals had developed was that Greek musicals spoke and sometimes sung their dialogue and when Ballad operas were introduced they sang all their lines.<br />