The victim of an injustice that robbed him of his wife and child, Sweeney Todd exerts a terrible revenge on society ..disposing of his customers in a truly gruesome way, aided and abetted by his landlady, Mrs Lovett.
First seen in London in 1980 this dark, bitter, comic musical has been revived many times and always thrills the audiences
King Alfred's Academy Theatre,
Wantage
First seen in London in 1980 this dark, bitter, comic musical has been revived many times and always thrills the audiences
King Alfred's Academy Theatre,
Wantage
The Sweeney Todd 2017 Team -
Sweeney Todd Nick Coard
Mrs Lovett Lesley Phillips
Anthony Mark Smedley
Johanna Grace Anderson
Beggar Woman Lauren Anderson-Smedley
The Judge Stephen Rees
The Beadle Rob Thorpe
Pirelli Adrian Wells
The Company:
Deborah Bennett, Edmund Bennett, Sarah Carter, Elizabeth Dobson
Kazzie Fuchs, Hannah Harrison, Bill Jestico, Suzanne Parrot
Georgina Volkers, Cordelia Williams, Ann Winskill, Sam Winskill,
Tracy Winskill
Directed by Lesley Phillips
Theatre Manager (for KAs) - John Gale
Stage Manager - Sarah Carter
Wardrobe Manager - Lynda Hart
Musical Director : Chris Fletcher-Campbell
The Orchestra:
Violin - Genevieve Allen; Violin - Hamish Overend; Cello - Matilda Woodhill; Keyboards - Chris Fletcher-Campbell; Oboe - Shelly Mobbs; Clarinet - Sarah Collins; Bassoon - Luke Price; Flute - Robyn Volkers; Percussion - Huw Morgan; Percussion - Ben Collins
Rehearsal facilities kindly provided by King Alfred's Head, Wantage and The Ridgeway C E Primary School
Poster image and Cast photos by Mel Taylor Photography
What the audiences said ....
It was an excellent show, with superb performances all round! (FB, Facebook)
Congratulations to everyone in Sweeney Todd tonight - it was so imaginatively staged, sounded great and was blacker than black!! A tour de force by all the cast and the orchestra. Well done and enjoy the rest of your undoubtedly successful run! xx (JC, Grove)
Don't miss it!! Amazing, fantastic show! (HB, Faringdon)
My husband is not given to superlatives but I have heard a few since last night - he was amazed. Production and music were worthy of a far larger stage, they were so impressed. Well Done all of you, reviews this end were astounding (C I-S, Newbury)
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the show last night. I love Sondheim but it's not exactly easy! Everyone was excellent but Lesley and Nick were fantastic. Congratulations. Look forward to seeing the next production. Good luck for the rest of the run. (AL, Faringdon)
Fantastic opening night! Great show, absolutely loved it! Well done to everyone involved! (HH, Shrivenham)
Exceptional performances by Nick and Lesley in this difficult show, especially the song 'A Little Priest' (JW, Didcot)
That was a great show!! The opening scene gave me goosebumps, that could have easily been a scene at the National Theatre Lauren's first appearance had me in stitches and I was pretty gobsmacked by her first song/ditty My best musical moment had to be No one's gonna harm you-just beautiful!! But you are all insanely talented and really, really well done on a very professional looking show! Great costumes, great choreography, brilliant acting, the scenes with the whole cast on are very powerful. Don't want to describe too much so I don't spoil it for others but everyone coming is in for a treat! Fabulous!!! (KD, Faringdon)
Quite an experience! The music was quite hard to get into at the beginning but the story was gripping.At half time had no idea how things would pan out and there were lots of surprises! Some scenes were very memorable and have stayed with me....the asylum...horribly good......the freeze frame stuffing all the pies business...really clever and can't fancy the shepherds pie in my fridge..(honestly)...the mad 'Ophelia 'moment of Toby...so sadly bonkers. Loved the set too
Such a compelling story and the anguish of Todd was heartbreaking. (JR Wantage)
"That was a really really good show" Not a quote from me but overheard while walking back to the car park. But quite true of course, has to be one of your best! (DH, Faringdon)
Congrats to AmEgos on a fantastic opening night, I blame you for any nightmares tonight (particularly Elliott for making me jump) really good evening, you should all be very proud! (RP, Wantage)
What a fantastic show ~ so glad I 'attended' last night. It had pace and pathos, a splendid ensemble of characters, and I liked the simple but effective staging with its involving use of suggestion. The cunning, catchy music of course, and those wonderful lyrics, came over beautifully too.
Having played rehearsal / pit keyboard for a production in Abingdon 10-odd years ago, I was really pleased to be able to watch & follow the whole familiar ~ yet still ghastly ~ story unfold with its unflinching yet always just-about tasteful warmth. If I weren't engaged to play in a concert tonight, I'd be sorely tempted to come again, but all else being well I hope you'll be sold out for your final performance. Bravo to all concerned on the outcome of what, I know, must have been 'a show quite unlike any other' to work on. You have a triumph on your hands ~ writ in blood / gravy or otherwise! (IM, Abingdon)
Big Congrats to all the cast, orchestra and back stage crew. A real tour de force! A great evening's entertainment. (JJ, Shrivenham)
Loved it -. Fabulously dramatic and chilling. Fantastic singing. The orchestra were amazing. Goosebumps during ensemble pieces!! Can't wait to see it all again on Saturday! Break legs tonight! X (LH, Wantage)
The best thing I've seen in years! (BW, Didcot)
Congratulations to everyone in Sweeney Todd tonight - it was so imaginatively staged, sounded great and was blacker than black!! A tour de force by all the cast and the orchestra. Well done and enjoy the rest of your undoubtedly successful run! xx (JC, Grove)
Don't miss it!! Amazing, fantastic show! (HB, Faringdon)
My husband is not given to superlatives but I have heard a few since last night - he was amazed. Production and music were worthy of a far larger stage, they were so impressed. Well Done all of you, reviews this end were astounding (C I-S, Newbury)
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the show last night. I love Sondheim but it's not exactly easy! Everyone was excellent but Lesley and Nick were fantastic. Congratulations. Look forward to seeing the next production. Good luck for the rest of the run. (AL, Faringdon)
Fantastic opening night! Great show, absolutely loved it! Well done to everyone involved! (HH, Shrivenham)
Exceptional performances by Nick and Lesley in this difficult show, especially the song 'A Little Priest' (JW, Didcot)
That was a great show!! The opening scene gave me goosebumps, that could have easily been a scene at the National Theatre Lauren's first appearance had me in stitches and I was pretty gobsmacked by her first song/ditty My best musical moment had to be No one's gonna harm you-just beautiful!! But you are all insanely talented and really, really well done on a very professional looking show! Great costumes, great choreography, brilliant acting, the scenes with the whole cast on are very powerful. Don't want to describe too much so I don't spoil it for others but everyone coming is in for a treat! Fabulous!!! (KD, Faringdon)
Quite an experience! The music was quite hard to get into at the beginning but the story was gripping.At half time had no idea how things would pan out and there were lots of surprises! Some scenes were very memorable and have stayed with me....the asylum...horribly good......the freeze frame stuffing all the pies business...really clever and can't fancy the shepherds pie in my fridge..(honestly)...the mad 'Ophelia 'moment of Toby...so sadly bonkers. Loved the set too
Such a compelling story and the anguish of Todd was heartbreaking. (JR Wantage)
"That was a really really good show" Not a quote from me but overheard while walking back to the car park. But quite true of course, has to be one of your best! (DH, Faringdon)
Congrats to AmEgos on a fantastic opening night, I blame you for any nightmares tonight (particularly Elliott for making me jump) really good evening, you should all be very proud! (RP, Wantage)
What a fantastic show ~ so glad I 'attended' last night. It had pace and pathos, a splendid ensemble of characters, and I liked the simple but effective staging with its involving use of suggestion. The cunning, catchy music of course, and those wonderful lyrics, came over beautifully too.
Having played rehearsal / pit keyboard for a production in Abingdon 10-odd years ago, I was really pleased to be able to watch & follow the whole familiar ~ yet still ghastly ~ story unfold with its unflinching yet always just-about tasteful warmth. If I weren't engaged to play in a concert tonight, I'd be sorely tempted to come again, but all else being well I hope you'll be sold out for your final performance. Bravo to all concerned on the outcome of what, I know, must have been 'a show quite unlike any other' to work on. You have a triumph on your hands ~ writ in blood / gravy or otherwise! (IM, Abingdon)
Big Congrats to all the cast, orchestra and back stage crew. A real tour de force! A great evening's entertainment. (JJ, Shrivenham)
Loved it -. Fabulously dramatic and chilling. Fantastic singing. The orchestra were amazing. Goosebumps during ensemble pieces!! Can't wait to see it all again on Saturday! Break legs tonight! X (LH, Wantage)
The best thing I've seen in years! (BW, Didcot)
Meet the cast ... (well .. most of them!)
Some images from the show...
The Publicity ...
