Following a sell out smash hit run at Chichester Festival Theatre in the Autumn of 2011, Jonathan Kent’s revived production of Sweeney Todd transferred to the West End’s Adelphi Theatre. By popular demand, Sweeney Todd ran in the West End for 6 months, opening on the 10th March 2012 for previews and with press night on the 20th of March. The show closed on the 22nd September.
This page contains casting information, videos and reviews from the 2012 show.
Cast
SWEENEY TODD: MICHAEL BALL
Michael is a singer and entertainer whose career has spanned a wide range of styles and genres. Most recently he starred as Edna Turnblad in the Olivier Award winning London production of ‘Hairspray’, Count Fosco in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Woman in White’ and created the role of Caractacus Potts on stage in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ at the London Palladium. Previous work has included the original casts of ‘Passion’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Aspects of Love’ which helped him acheive a solid fan base, promoting his numerous albums and DVD concert recordings. He performs regularly on tour all over the world to sell out audiences.
MRS LOVETT: IMELDA STAUNTON
As a successful screen and stage actor Imelda Staunton has won a range of awards for portraying an ecclectic range of characters. Recent film work includes ‘The Pirates!’, ‘Arthur Christmas’, ‘Taking Woodstock’ and ‘The Harry Potter Series’ where she played Dolores Umbridge. She won a BAFTA award for the film ‘Vera Drake’ along with a Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. On stage her roles have included ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘A Chorus of Disapproval’ and ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ at the National Theatre along with ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with the RSC. She is no stranger to the work of Stephen Sondheim having won the Oliver Award in 1990 for her portrayal of The Baker’s Wife in ‘Into the Woods’ at the Phoenix Theatre.
JUDGE TURPIN: JOHN BOWE
John Bowe is most probably known for his role in Coronation Street where he played Duggie Ferguson for three years. Other TV appearances include ‘Cranford’, ‘Tipping the Velvet’ and ‘Prime Suspect’. On stage he has worked extensively with the RSC, Old Vic and Almeida theatre companies and was last in the West End playing Bob in ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ at the Palace Theatre.
BEADLE BAMFORD: PETER POLYCARPOU
Peter is an experienced musical theatre performer and has recently starred in his own West End concert at the Garrick Theatre called ‘The Songs of My Life’. Other West End experience includes ‘Love Story’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘The Secret Garden’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Miss Saigon’. He can be seen in the filmed production of the National Theatre’s 1998 revival of ‘Oklahoma!’ which also starred Hugh Jackman.
PIRELLI: ROBERT BURT
Robert studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has achieved worldwide success with various opera companies. He regularly appears at Glyndebourne, the ENO, Opera Holland Parkand in major European cities. He was a member of Trevor Nunn’s acting ensemble in 1999 and has worked with the RSC on productions of ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ as well as understudying Simon Callow in ‘Merry Wives the Musical’.
BEGGAR WOMAN: GILLIAN KIRKPATRICK
Gillian trained at the RSAMD and the Royal Academy of Music. Musical experience includes ‘Hairspray’ (UK Tour), ‘Billy Elliot’, ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘Blood Brothers’. She has played the role of the Beggar Woman on numerous occasions including last year at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
JOHANNA: LUCY MAY BARKER
Lucy made her West End debut at the age of 16 in the short lived London production of ‘Spring Awakening’. She has recently worked with the National Theatre on ‘Earthquakes in London’ as well as the film of ‘The Woman in Black’.
ANTHONY: LUKE BRADY
Luke trained at the Hurtwood House School. He has since played Matt in ‘The Fantasticks’ at the Duchess Theatre, along with Jesus in ‘Vernon God Little’ at the Young Vic.
TOBIAS: JAMES MCCONVILLE
James trained at the BRIT school and Bird College. Sweeney Todd marked his West End debut performance.
ENSEMBLE
Simeon Truby, Valda Aviks, Will Barratt, Josie Benson, Kimberly Blake, Emily Bull, Joan Caotes, Helen Colby, Matthew Gent, Daniel Graham, Robert Irons, Robine Landi, John McManus, Tim Morgan, Aoife Nally, Adam Pearce, Wendy Somerville, Robert Traynor, Adam Vaughan, Kerry Washington, Annabelle Williams.
Creative Team
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler
From an Adaption by: Christopher Bond
Originally Directed on Broadway by: Harold Prince
Director: Jonathan Kent
Design: Anthony Ward
Movement Director: Denni Sayers
Musical Director: Nicholas Skilbeck
Video
Reviews
you get a sense of it here. She gives the material a fresh perspective with a combination of matter of fact EastEnder-ness and brilliant comic timing. Also worthy of a mention is James McConville in the role of the boy Tobias who manages not only to sing very nicely but also pull off some difficult crowd scenes while singing Sondheim’s notoriously elaborate music…” PAUL IN LONDON read more
“…Anthony Ward’s set is a joy in itself to watch with its rotating stages and unexpected bursts of noise and steam constantly keeping the audience on edge. Todd’s barber shop is cleverly set on a raised platform allowing space for his hysteria to build and his victims to fall. It is of course, Sondheim’s operatic success that makes this musical what it is. From the dark and mysterious ‘My Friends’ to the hilarious ‘A Little Priest’ and the heart-warming Not While I’m Around, the audience has the pleasure to explore the wide range of the entire cast’s musical talent…” THE VOID.CO.UK read more
“Michaels balls looked amazeballs and almost unrecognisable as Sweeney Todd…If you like blood and guts then you’ll love this show, but there is so much more to enjoy. The amazing set design, good songs and a of course Mr Balls. If none of these things interest you then I highly recommend you see the show for nothing more than Imelda Staunton’s hilarious, and undoubtedly (soon to become) award winning performance.” WEST END WILMA read
