Three date changes, two years in the making, and Sondheim’s personal blessing mean that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is finally coming to Oxford Playhouse.
“It is an immensely ambitious production and has really pushed the whole team technically and mentally”
Yes, Sondheim’s masterful thriller and intensely gripping musical, fuelled by obsession, love, and growing insanity, will have you on the edge of your seats thanks to University of Oxford‘s student company 00Productions.
Set against the backdrop of gloomy Victorian London and the Industrial Revolution, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street follows the infamous tale of the razor-swinging barber and his pie shop-owning partner-in-crime, Mrs Lovett.
With a spoonful of murder, a dash of cannibalism and a sprinkle of young, sweet love, Sondheim’s musical beautifully blends psychological drama and shocking plot twists to create the ultimate musical thriller.
So why Sweeney Todd and why now? Director Imogen Albert said: “Sweeney Todd is a show that I have wanted to do for years.
“The fundamental journey of these characters is incredibly moving and I’m keen to display them in a way that I haven’t seen before.
“We’re all itching to get on stage and show everyone what we have been working so hard on for the past few months”
“So this is a particularly special project for us, marking both the return to theatre after the Covid-19 pandemic and the final production for some of us as students.
“It is an immensely ambitious production and has really pushed the whole team technically and mentally, while being an incredible learning experience for all involved.
“We’re all itching to get on stage and show everyone what we have been working so hard on for the past few months! The Playhouse provides such a unique opportunity for us, and we are all really humbled to be given this experience,” Imogen adds.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street runs from Wednesday February 2-Saturday February 5. Tickets start at £10. Book on 01865 305305, or at www.oxfordplayhouse.com
