Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Birmingham Rep

Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has arrived at the Birmingham Rep in a cinematic and bold new production which is directed by the Rep's Artistic Director, Joe Murphy.  

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street tells the tragic tale of Benjamin Barker, a barber who returns home after years of wrongful imprisonment. Now under the guise of Sweeney Todd, he discovers that his wife is gone and his daughter has been taken under the wing of the megalomaniac Judge Turpin. Consumed by the idea of revenge, Sweeney Todd begins to murder customers in his barber shop, which is situated above Mrs Lovett's pie shop. When the opportunistic and manipulative Mrs Lovett sees this as a business opportunity to turn the victims into meat pies, the pair join forces to make pies that are the talk of London. Ultimately, behind the dark humour and gothic horror, there lies a powerful exploration of justice, obsession, corruption to the system and society. 

Murphy’s direction embraces the operatic scale of the story without losing sight of its emotional core. Rather than relying on excessive realism, he creates a world driven by symbolism and atmosphere, allowing the audience to focus on the characters’ psychological journeys.

Aided by Eline Steele's stripped back yet monumental set design and Rory Beaton's evocative lighting design, the tension and psychological state swells throughout the musical. The flickering of lights during moments of psychological distress as well as the clever use of shadowing on the back wall, in particular, is effective in creating the sense of a 'demonic' figure in Sweeney Todd. Steele's inventive yet minimalist staging utilises a huge monochrome stone environment, with two large staircases which frame either side of the stairs with a hydraulic rising section that transports the plot to different locations. A huge stone figure of Lady Justice looms above the stage as a symbolic reminder of the themes of justice and vengeance, metaphorically reminding us of the bleak atmosphere.

Featuring an acclaimed cast which is led by Ramin Karimloo as the infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Meow Meow as the eccentric Mrs Lovell, this revival focuses on an intimate casting size which more than delivers. 

Karimloo brings immense emotional depth to the role of Sweeney Todd, perfectly balancing moments of complete menace with deeply earnest intentions; creating a multi dimensional character. Karimloo expertly shows the terrifying descent from quiet grief into a menacing rage in his performance, which makes the show all the more haunting. Meow Meow perfectly balances the eccentric tone of her character with subtle vulnerability, portraying her character's desperate desires and needs. One highlight in Meow Meow's performance in particular is in the subtle moments where she becomes transfixed in the background, capturing a mischievous unpredictability and unsettling edge.

David Bedella also deserves recognition as the sinister Judge Turpin, bringing authority and menace to every appearance; his rich deep voice perfectly compliments his performance. Shem Omari James and Jo Stephenson as Anthony and Johanna provide moments of hope and light as the young, romantic couple; both impressing vocally. Julius D'Silva is delightfully pompous, providing some great moments of comedic relief and Jack Gibson is consistently compelling as Tobias Ragg, initially innocent and endearing to then becoming harrowingly moving as he falls victim to the descent of Sweeney Todd's vengeance.

The ensemble, which is completed by Florence Andrews, Silas Wyatt-Barke, Emily Ivana Hawkins and Hadrian Delacey, all perfectly compliment the musical as they step into supporting characters and straight back into the ensemble with ease, working tirelessly as storytellers to push the narrative forward. The powerful group vocals instantly bring a sense of unease, setting the tone of the musical.

Birmingham Rep's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a deeply unsettling, yet captivating musical. Sondheim's cinematic score and the creative team have created a vision which is dark, witty and emotionally devastating; and there is a remarkable depth to the performances of the entire cast.

Birmingham Rep's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street plays at the Birmingham Rep until 15th August - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Manuel Harlan