Hugh Maynard and Sophie-Louise Dann are to take the lead roles in the Derby Theatre and Mercury Theatre Colchester co-production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.
Maynard will be the first black actor to play the demon barber in the UK. He 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.
The cast of Sweeney Todd also includes Christina Bennington, David Durham, Jack Wilcox, Julian Hoult, Simon Shorten, Kara Lane, Daniel Buckley and Ryan Heenan.
It will be directed by Daniel Buckroyd, artistic director of Mercury Theatre Colchester. He said, “we've assembled an incredibly talented cast for this production, a company of ten performers with an extraordinary wealth of West End experience between them. I can't wait to start rehearsals!”
Sweeney Todd is at Derby Theatre from Friday 30 September until Saturday 22 October before transferring to the Mercury Theatre from Wednesday 26 October until Saturday 12 November.
Meanwhile, Derby Theatre will be holding auditions for performers aged 18 and above who will be involved in various scenes and musical numbers, playing a range of different character roles in Sweeney Todd.
Four hour-long audition workshops will be held on Wednesday 24 August between 6 and 10PM at the theatre’s rehearsal space on Green Lane. Anyone who wants to book a slot should call the theatre’s box office on 01332 593939.