Sweeney Todd: Musical Theatre Students in Dark Comedy
The musical theatre students at the Academy of Music and Drama present a new interpretation of the musical Sweeney Todd, running until 20 May. Over the course of ten performances, audiences are invited to an intense theatrical experience centred on revenge, morality and the darkness of the human soul. The production also serves as the crowning achievement for the students graduating this spring.
The setting is London, the 19th century. In the grimy backstreets around Fleet Street, the audience meets Benjamin Barker. He is the barber returning from exile with a single goal: revenge. He takes the name Sweeney Todd, and together with Mrs Lovett, he turns his quest for revenge into a macabre business venture.
A challenge for the audience and the cast
The music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, one of the 20th century’s undisputed giants of the genre – here in a musical that challenges both the audience and the cast.
"Sweeney Todd is complex and challenging, and the students really get to put their skills to the test in singing, acting and physical performance. It is also a dark ‘comedy’ and allows for grand and heightened expressions, which is excellent training for a musical theatre performer", says Nina Norblad, a teacher on the musical theatre programme. As a singing teacher, she is also part of a large production team comprising everyone from stage technicians and costume designers to choreographers and musicians, who together will ensure that 10 performances run smoothly on the Triörgatan stage during April and May.
"Another advantage of Sweeney Todd in particular is that all nine third-year students are given substantial roles to work on", says Nina Norblad.
Enjoying every moment
One of the third year students is Ingrid Heckmann Hagen. She plays Mrs Lovett, who owns the pie shop beneath the barber’s shop: a fixer who is rather smitten by Sweeney Todd.
"This musical is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, both in terms of character and musically! But I’m enjoying every moment of it, and it’s wonderful to really immerse myself in a truly dark comedy like this", says Ingrid Hagen.
Sweeney Todd himself is played in the first act by Samuel Rörström. He agrees:
"It’s always educational to work with Sondheim’s music... And it’s been great fun to play a vengeful serial killer".
Terrified and ready
The premiere is fast approaching, and Samuel says he’s been looking forward to meeting the audience. At the same time, the end of their three-year training program is drawing near, and it’s sad to think the group will be splitting up then.
"It’s an intensive program and you become incredibly close to one another. Apart from that, it feels exciting to see what comes next", says Samuel Rörström. Ingrid agrees.
"It is sad to say farewell to my class, but at the same time I am excited to finally spread my wings as a musical theatre artist. I feel terrified and ready at the same time!
Sweeney Todd premiered on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980. It won a Tony Award for Best Musical and an Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It has been staged in countless productions and adapted for the screen.
