Set in Victorian London, the play focuses on Macheath, an amoral, anti-heroic criminal, who marries Polly Peachum. This displeases her father, who controls the beggars of London, and he endeavours to have Macheath hanged. His attempts are hindered by the fact that the Chief of Police, Tiger Brown, is Macheath's old army comrade.

Volume 2, part 2 of the Collected plays series.