Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd is a fictional character in a numer of literary and dramatic works.

The original text

Sweeney Todd first appeared as the main protagonist of the Victorian story The String of Pearls (1846–47),

Translations and adaptations

The story and the character have been the basis of many dramatic works stage plays and musicals, dance, opera and film.

Stage versions include:

1847: The String of Pearls a melodramatic adaptation by George Dibden Pitt for the Britannia Theatre in Hoxton, England.

1865: Sweeney Todd, the Barber of Fleet Street: or the String of Pearls, adapted by Frederick Hazleton and later published as Vol 102 of Lacy's Acting Edition of Plays (1875)

1973 Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond.

1979: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, an adaptation of Bond's play by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, subtitled a "Musical Thriller".

1982: George Dibden Pitt's 'Sweeney Todd' [1], adapted by Robert Whitehead.

Performance history in South Africa

1982: Performed as Sweeney Todd by The Company in the Laager at the Market Theatre 31 May, adapted and directed by Robert Whitehead with Richard Haines, Grethe Fox, James Whyle, Terrick Fitzhugh, Ross Kettle, Hilary Jones and Beverley Melnick, Charles Comyn, Vanessa Cooke.

1983: The Company production repeated Upstairs at the Market in August 1983.

1989: Performed in the Sondheim/Wheeler musical version as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by NAPAC at The Drama, Natal Playhouse, Durban, from 7 July - 20 August, as part of a season of musicals called The Trilogy (alongside Candide and Sweet Charity). Directed by Geoffrey Sutherland, with Drummond Marais.

1989: The Sondheim/Wheeler musical version (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) performed by CAPAB Opera. (?*)

199*: The Sondheim/Wheeler musical version (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) performed in the H.B. Thom Theatre by the Drama Department, University of of Stellenbosch, directed by Mark Graham.

2014:

2015:

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeney_Todd

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeney_Todd:_The_Demon_Barber_of_Fleet_Street

http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=38788

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

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