This production is a London School of Musical Theatre production designed to showcase the talents of their students which they certainly managed. It is no doubt that many of the cast are talented enough to become the next stars of the West End. It is easy to see why this school has such a high reputation when their shows are of this calibre. With Adrian Jeckells who is LSMT’s Principal of 16 years and Course Producer, this difficult production was sure to be in safe hands.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a dark and thrilling musical set in 19th-century London. The story revolves around the vengeful Sweeney Todd, who returns to London seeking retribution against those who wronged him. Alongside his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, Todd embarks on a murderous spree, using his barber shop as a front for his grisly crimes. The tale begins with Todd's dramatic return to London, accompanied by his newfound ally, Anthony Hope. As Todd reconnects with his past and plans his revenge, he forms a sinister partnership with Mrs. Lovett, a pie shop owner with a taste for human flesh. Together, they hatch a macabre plan to dispose of Todd's victims by baking them into meat pies. Meanwhile, Anthony falls in love with Johanna, Todd's daughter, and vows to rescue her from the clutches of the corrupt Judge Turpin. As Todd's murderous scheme unfolds, tensions rise, and secrets are revealed. Anthony attempts to rescue Johanna, while Todd and Mrs. Lovett descend deeper into madness. As the body count rises, the characters grapple with their own demons and face the consequences of their actions. In a climactic showdown, Todd's quest for vengeance reaches its bloody conclusion, leaving a trail of devastation.

Finn Tickel as the lead, Sweeney Todd, has an excellent voice and performs all of the complicated Sondheim lyrics so clearly that not a single word is missed. At the start of the show, the performance is slightly reserved and not truly believable that this man would be capable of murder. However, after the first couple of numbers, he settles into the performance, becoming more menacing and believable as Sweeney. A notable moment is when Tickel focuses on individual members of the audience and genuinely creates a sinister atmosphere for everyone. Emma Bate as Mrs Lovett is a standout performance for the night as she captures the unrequited love for Todd in ‘By the Sea’ as well as the macabre humour of ‘A Little Priest’ when making the murder victims into pies for her shop.

Myles Crossley and Cecilia Young bring polished performances to the roles of the young lovers Anthony and Johanna, with Young’s voice especially in the sky-high notes being crystal clear and Crossley portraying the role more believably and naturally than anyone else on stage. The biggest character journey is by Tobias played by Sam Trotman who goes from the light-hearted comedic relief in Act 1 to a scared boy and a twisted man in Act 2. Trotman portrays all aspects expertly throughout and really takes the audience with his development throughout. Despite a relatively small amount of stage time, the role is highly memorable after the show.

While the ensemble don’t have a huge role in this show, spending most of their time on the sides of the stage watching all the action, the moments that they are in enhance the sinister atmosphere and the horror feeling of the show. Also, the harmonies they create, particularly in the large numbers such as ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd’ highlight the talent everyone in the cast has. A reduced band provides background mood music to aid the action onstage and they accompany the performances of the songs perfectly.

A wonderful production of a difficult Sondheim musical with future talent of the West End showcasing their abilities and training.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Frances Tate

Sweeney Todd plays at the Bridewell Theatre until 3 May, with further info here.