***** (5 stars)
“A Steampunk driven triumph!”
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is often sighted as Stephen Sondheim’s greatest work and has stood the test of time since its debut 46 years ago at the Uris Theatre on Broadway. Featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler based upon the earlier 1970 play by Christopher Bond. This is the Victoria penny opera that deals with redemption, revenge and truth in the most macabre of ways.
Captivate Theatre return to the show with a brand-new production housed at the also returning Famous Spiegeltent in St Andrews Square and my word the production is nothing less than a Steampunk driven triumph.
Sweeney is a timeless tale that still resonates and thanks to most accomplished company of performers to be found at the Fringe your drawn into a dark underworld that’s peppered with outstanding performances from Top to Bottom.
Leading this most extraordinary of casts is Robert Moyes in the role of Sweeney who delivers a dark and brooding interpretation soaked with blood lust in a performance that captures from the off. The immense talent of Hazel Beattie is brought to bear in the titular role of “Mrs. Lovett” she mines every moment of comic nuance in a true tour de force performance. Special mention must also go to Alex Fraser (who alternates with Seamus Cross) as “Toby” he creates a performance imbued with innocence and truth that makes his final moments all the more shocking. The twenty-one strong ensemble company are utterly faultless and perform with a raw intensity never before seen at the festivals.
Director Sally Lyall has delivered the goods in spectacular style and her understanding of the source material is clearly faultless and she makes the most of the Victorian splendor of the Spiegeltent to enhance a cleverly stripped back staging of the show. This is boosted by Charlotte Nicholson’s cleverly steampunk infused wardrobe design. The icing on the cake is musical director Colum Findlay’s 9 strong pit orchestra who clearly revel in the most intricate of scores.
Captivates Sweeney Todd was a spectacular grand finale to the 2025 festival season and truly showcased the depth and quality of talent with in the company it was joy to attend the tale let us all hope the invite goes out again for the 2026 Festival as this is a Sweeney Todd that needs to be seen to be believed.
Sweeney Todd, Spiegeltent at the Famous Spiegeltent Venue 333, RUN ENDED for info go to: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sweeney-todd
ScotsGay Arts 