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Mesmerising Sweeney Todd got me by the throat

Sweeney and Mrs Lovett (image with him sat on chair)

Lots to love about Nick Bagnall’s stripped-back Sweeney Todd in Liverpool, including the cast, acting, and absorbing scenes between Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett and the decision to set it in a time of Brexhaustion. Everything seems fresh minted. 

Bagnall’s wickedly heartfelt production with just four musicians and nine actors is something very special indeed. The marriage of humour and horror is expertly done and never gimmicky. 

Liam Tobin is a grounded Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who “shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again.” His ghoulish demeanour is always striking.  

‘Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,’ observes young street orphan Tobias, here played brilliantly by Shiv Rabheru, in ‘Not While I’m Around’. This sequence shines through the prism of social poverty, environmental apocalypse and Brexit Britain. 

It’s a lot more earnest, prescient as well.

You can see why Everyman programmed Sondheim’s musical thriller: it’s a genuinely political piece about austerity, the underdog and the lengths that desperate people will go to for survival. 

The thing that’s really been obsessing me though, is everything about the muted design and brilliant cast who prove truly inventive – interacting with the audience with verve and wrapping their brains around Sondheim’s complex score with a knowing wink.

Michael Vale’s design envelopes the stage with simple effects and minimal props – the staging is in the round and the action takes place on a metallic disc that is often lit from below in tones of blood red and spooky green. 

There is real invention: the cast take turns to rotate the central action manually using their hands or a stick. 

The most surprising thing about this Sweeney Todd, however, is Kacey Ainsworth as nonchalant Mrs Lovett – the criminal mastermind behind all this human pie-making; dressed in a white vest and wearing trainers Ainsworth has the audience in the palm of her hands from the start and this Mrs Lovett is a creation of true genius.

Ainsworth is very good throughout, especially in extended dream sequence ‘By The Sea’, which may be the happiest few minutes of regional theatre that you will see all year. 

In short, this is the food of love: get on a train and play on.

Sweeney Todd is at Everyman, Liverpool, until 18 May.

Everyman announce further casting for major production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd

Cast of Sweeney Todd
Cast of Sweeney Todd

Cast of Sweeney Todd

The Everyman & Playhouse have announced further casting for associate director Nick Bagnall’s anarchic production of the musical Sweeney Todd.

Actors announced to join Liam Tobin who plays Sweeney in Nick Bagnall’s production

  • Production runs from 12 April to 18 May
  • Tickets are available now
  • Two more actors still to be revealed

Former EastEnders star Kacey Ainsworth will play the role of Mrs Lovett. Known for her performance as Little Mo in the soap, Kacey is currently in her fourth series of the ITV detective drama Grantchester. This will be Kacey’s first production at the Everyman.

Also announced is returning Everyman Company 2017 member Dean Nolan. He played the roles of Motel, Mercutio and Sluplianek in the 2017 productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Romeo & Juliet and Conquest of the South Pole. Dean returns to the Everyman to play rival barber Pirelli.

Paul Duckworth will play Judge Turpin, following his performances in Everyman Company 2018 shows Paint Your Wagon and Othello. Paul returns to the Everyman after his recent role in the Royal Court’s production of Scouse Cinderella over Christmas.

Playing The Beadle is Mark Rice-Oxley. The Merseyside actor is back at the Everyman for the first time since performing in the 2014 production of Bright Phoenix 

Keziah Joseph is cast in the role of Johanna Barker. Keziah recently visited the Playhouse in 2017, playing Mowgli in a major UK touring production of The Jungle Book.

The role of Tobias will be played by Shiv Rabheru and North-Wales actor Bryan Parry completes the current group of casting in the role of Anthony.

The new cast members join the already announced Liam Tobin, who plays Sweeney Todd in the production, with one more actor still to be announced.

Nick Bagnall, associate director at Everyman & Playhouse, said: “I’m really excited to be working with this group of actors for Sweeney Todd. It will be great to see old Company members, as well as some new faces, on the Everyman stage.

“It’s a show that packs a real political punch and the music is incredible, but also the story’s so fascinating – it’s gruesome, dangerous, dark and funny.

“Most productions of Sweeney Todd have around 25 to 30 cast members, but our ensemble will include just nine talented actors who can sing for this production. Adding to the fact that we will be performing it in the round, this will be a stripped-back, rough, hard-edged, soulful and a show tailor-made for Everyman audiences.”

Sweeney Todd will be performed at the Everyman from 12 April to 18 May. Tickets are on sale now and available at: https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/whats-on/sweeney-todd  or by calling Box Office on 0151 709 4776.