Hugh Maynard says he is looking forward to the challenge of being the first black performer from the UK to play the lead role in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd—The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Maynard is breaking new ground but he is simply delighted to have the opportunity to tackle Sondheim’s classic in this Derby Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester co-production.
“Stephen Sondheim is a living genius,” says Maynard. “To be in this show is a dream. It’s not a role that I ever thought I would have the honour of playing. It was never on my wish list.
“Being the first black person to play Sweeney Todd in the UK is an honour but with that comes a lot of fear and a lot of responsibility.
“I want to make audiences in Derby and Colchester happy and I want to fulfil what Stephen Sondheim has put down in ink. I’m aware that, historically, the people of Derby love musical theatre and I want this show to go down as a winner in their eyes.
“I also want to make a mark with this character—that’s my challenge. If I do that, who knows what the future may hold.”
Maynard has some high-profile West End musical theatre roles to his name including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, We Will Rock You, Dancing in the Streets, Sister Act and Miss Saigon.
Sophie-Louise Dann will play Sweeney Todd’s accomplice Mrs Lovett. She played Paula in the original cast of Bend It Like Beckham at the Phoenix Theatre in 2015, Barbara Castle in the original cast of Made in Dagenham at the Adelphi Theatre in 2014 and appeared in the Curve, Leicester musical Hairspray, also in 2014.
She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for best performance in a supporting role in a musical for her performance in Lend Me a Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre in 2011.
She has performed twice before in Derby, in the world première of Lucy Gannon’s Broken Hearted for Derby LIVE in 2010 and in Richard Harris’s Stepping Out at the old Derby Playhouse in 2007.
The cast of Sweeney Todd also includes Christina Bennington, David Durham, Jack Wilcox, Julian Hoult, Simon Shorten, Kara Lane, Daniel Buckley and Ryan Heenan.
Sweeney Todd—The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is directed by Daniel Buckroyd, artistic director of the Mercury Theatre Colchester. It runs at Derby Theatre from Friday 30 September until Saturday 22 October. Press night is Tuesday 4 October. It then transfers to the Mercury Theatre from Wednesday 26 October until Saturday 12 November.