Birmingham Rep today announce the latest cast member to star in its highly anticipated upcoming production of Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street which opens at The Rep in the summer.
Three-time Olivier Award-winning actor David Bedella is confirmed to take on the role of Judge Turpin and joins previously announced Ramin Karimloo (Sweeney Todd) and Meow Meow (Mrs Lovett).
Acclaimed actor, David Bedella, has worked across theatre, television and film in an impressive career spanning over 40 years, which has seen him scoop the prestigious Olivier Award for his roles in & Juliet (Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical, 2020), In The Heights (Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical, 2016), and Jerry Springer: The Opera (Best Actor in a Musical, 2004).
David’s previous credits include: Love Beyond The Musical (Cadogan Hall); Daniel’s Husband (Marylebone Theatre); Little Piece Of You (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Lance Dubois in & Juliet (Broadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre and West End, Shaftesbury Theatre); Frank-N-Further in The Rocky Horror Show (50th Anniversary Production Australian Tour);Kevin in In The Heights (Kings Cross Theatre and Southwark Playhouse);Satan/Warm-up Manin Jerry Springer The Opera (Edinburgh Festival; Royal National Theatre & West End);Roger Debrisin The Producers (National Tour);Sweeney in Sweeney Todd (Twickenham Theatre); Putting It Together (St James Theatre); Arnold in Torch Song Trilogy; Wilson Misner in Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory); Billy Flynn in CHICAGO (West End); Molokov in Chess In Concert (Royal Albert Hall); Hedwig in Hedwig And The Angry Inch London; Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (National tour, West End and 2015 Live Broadcast from the Playhouse Theatre).
On joining the cast, David Bedella said: “What an exciting opportunity this is for me; not just revisiting Sweeney Todd twelve years after playing the role myself but taking on a new role alongside two of the greatest voices in live performance today. It’s absolutely thrilling.
I’ve admired the work of Meow Meow and Ramin for so long. To be exploring this genius musical theatre opera in the company of these two fantastic performers is quite simply an embarrassment of riches.
I am as grateful as I am fortunate and I’m chomping at the bit!”
Directed by The Rep’s Artistic Director Joe Murphy, and designed by award-winning designer Elin Steele, The Rep’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetcomes to Birmingham from Saturday 4 July – Sunday 9 August.
The Rep’s Artistic Director and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street director, Joe Murphy added: “We are thrilled to welcome three-time Olivier Award winner David Bedella to Sweeney Todd as Judge Turpin. David is certain to bring an extraordinary combination of vocal brilliance, dramatic authority, and delicious menace to the role, and to have him join forces with Ramin Karimloo and Meow Meow is tremendously exciting. Each of them is a singular artist in their own right; together, they promise a company that is bold and irresistibly entertaining.”
The Rep today also announce the production’s full creative team, which includes: Joe Murphy (Director), Elin Steele (Designer), Dr John Rigby (Music Supervisor & Orchestral Reduction), Rory Beaton (Lighting Designer), Kelsh Buckman-Drage (Sound Designer), Tinovimbanashe Sibanda (Movement Director), Abby Galvin CDG (Casting Director), Leo Munby (Musical Director), Christopher Mundy (Associate Conductor), David Gallagher (Orchestral Management).
First performed on Broadway in 1979, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler‘s
12-time Tony Award-winning masterpiece is considered one of the greatest musicals ever written.
Wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years, Benjamin Barker returns to Victorian London as the mysterious barber, Sweeney Todd.
Upon finding out he’s lost everything he ever loved, Sweeney swears revenge and so begins a chilling tale of murder, macabre and Mrs Lovett’s pies!
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street comes to The Rep from Saturday 4 July – Sunday 9 August and tickets are on-sale now.
To book simply visit Birmingham Rep at birmingham-rep.co.uk or call the Box Office on 0121 236 4455 (Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm. Saturdays 12pm to 6pm, or 4pm if there is no evening performance scheduled).