By: Camille Berriman

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Irving Stage Company, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, Tuesday.

FORGET the Tim Burton film released earlier his year, the definitive version of Sweeney Todd is on stage this week in Bury St Edmunds.

If you like your musicals chilling and with a sizable dose of blood, gore and humour, you can’t go wrong with this tale of a murderous barber.

Mark Jenner attacked the demanding title role with passion, managing to convey the tragic tale of a barber separated from his beloved wife and child.

Sian Notley brought out the humour in the role of Sweeney’s human meat pie-making accomplice Mrs Lovett, a deluded yet cunning woman in love with the tortured murderer and dreaming of a new life running a guest house by the sea (where every once in a while Sweeney could ‘ do the guest in’)

Duncan Leech brought a sweet sincerity to the role of Anthony Hope, a sailor in love with Sweeney’s estranged daughter Johanna (Charlotte Couture). The lovebirds displayed fine voices in show- stopping performances of Green Finch and Linnet Bird and Johanna. There were a few minor technical issues on the opening night, one separately covered by the talented musical director Mark Jefferson and his orchestra, but on the whole director and choreographer Sian Couture has created a thrilling production. Catch it if you can.

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Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed your production of Sweeney Todd last night 17th, a very professional company, this is the first time we have seen one of your productions but will not be the last. All the best to the company.

kind regards Richard Davison (Make-up Artist) Theatre Royal Norwich