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Victorian London has been a popular location for many sources of literature, both in novels and on stage. Charles Dickens practically reimagined the way we think of the city in the nineteenth century, with detailed depictions of the London streets and quirky, local characters in novels such as Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, and, of course, Oliver Twist. London’s population exploded in the 19th century, from a million people in 1800 to over five million in 1900. As the capital city of the largest empire in the world at that time, London was a city of contrasts. New buildings and affluent urban areas went hand-in-hand with filth and poverty. As such, Victorian London has remained a popular setting for many plays and musicals and this guide will look at how they portray elements of the city environment and its society. We will also explore how Victorians presented their own city on stage through the works of Oscar Wilde and Arthur Wing Pinero.

Terminology

• Workhouse: A British public institution in which the destitute of a parish received board and lodging in return for work.
• Insane (mental) asylum: A hospital for people with mental illness.
• Brothel: A building in which people visit prostitutes.
• Hard labor: Heavy manual work as punishment.
• Kidsman: An adult who recruited and trained children as pickpockets and provided free food and lodging in exchange.

Key Dates & Events

• 1829 - The Metropolitan Police Force is founded in London.
• 1834 - The Poor Law cuts the amount of poor relief available and reduces access to assistance outside of the workhouse.
• 1839 - The Metropolitan Police Act gives the new police force greater authority, but law and order remain a problem.
• 1859 - London experiences the so-called “Great Stinkâ€� during one of its hottest summers.
• 1861 - 35,000 children under 12 live and work in workhouses in Britain.
• 1888 - A string of brutal murders of prostitutes in London’s East End begins. They are attributed to the mysterious “Jack the Ripperâ€�, an anonymous serial killer who is never caught.
• 1889 - The Cleveland Street Scandal sparked a wave of animosity against male homosexuality among the upper classes.
• 1895 - Oscar Wilde is tried and convicted of gross indecency with men and sentenced to two years hard labor in prison.