Birmingham Rep announces extended run for Sweeney Todd

Birmingham Rep has announced a week-long extension to the run of its new production of Sondheim’s classic musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

The production will run from Saturday 4 July until Saturday 15 August.

To celebrate the extended run, The Rep has released a video of Ramin Karimloo and Meow Meow, who play Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett, singing a snippet from A Little Priest, one of the musical’s most iconic numbers. 

A Little Priest marks a key turning point in the show, when Todd and Mrs Lovett agree to murder Todd’s customers and bake them into pies.

The video also features Dr John Rigby, the production’s Musical Supervisor, who has adapted the original orchestrations for the Rep; and, at piano, Leo Munby, Musical Director.

The production is directed by The Rep’s artistic director, Joe Murphy, who said: “I am delighted that we are extending the run of Sweeney Todd by another week.

“The show features one of the greatest scores ever written, and with the release of this video taken from our first few days of rehearsal, I’m pleased to give audiences a taste of what’s to come.

“The energy and richness of this darkly comic story is as powerful today as it was when it first premiered in 1979.

“It’s wonderful that excitement and interest in the show is so high, and I can’t wait for audiences to see it.”

Dr John Rigby, musical supervisor, added: “It’s such a thrill to be able to explore the genius of Sondheim’s score with this amazing company of actors.

The level of detail, precision and musicianship that they are bringing to the rehearsal room, to say nothing of their vocal presence, is quite astounding. I can’t wait for us to share it with the audiences here at The Rep.”