Thursday 11 April 2013

Manchester Royal Exchange: 'Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE AND WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

MANCHESTER’s Royal Exchange Theatre today (Thursday 11 April) announced it will be joining forces with West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds to present a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical theatre classic SWEENEY TODD – The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street as part of its new Autumn Winter Season.

This project marks the beginning of a creative partnership between the two organisations. The show will open in Leeds from Thursday 26 September to Saturday 26 October before being re-worked for the Royal Exchange from Friday 1 November to Saturday 30 November.

It will be directed by the WYP’s newly appointed artistic director James Brining and marks his first production for West Yorkshire Playhouse since joining the theatre in September 2012. Originally staged in Dundee in 2010, Brining will revisit his TMA Award-Winning production for two very different and iconic theatre stages.

In this spine-chilling contemporary version of a musical-theatre classic, Brining explores obsession and revenge set against the backdrop of a world where the poor and powerless are increasingly disenfranchised by the power-wielding rich.

Packed with Sondheim’s characteristic wit and dark humour, SWEENEY TODD is a heart-poundingly entertaining musical thriller about a man driven mad by injustice. Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece, SWEENEY TODD is a razor sharp tale of vengeance and true love - featuring some of the finest music ever written for the theatre.

Royal Exchange Theatre Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom said:
'SWEENEY TODD is the start of a collaborative relationship that will bring fantastic work to our space for our audiences to experience. The partnership will also allow our work to cross the Pennines and reach new audiences in 2014.'

James Brining said: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating for the first time with the Royal Exchange. In what is an exciting time of change for both theatres this new partnership provides a whole range of opportunities for working together in the future. The chance to restage Sweeney Todd for such an iconic and exciting theatre space is one I’m particularly looking forward to.

Further details of the Royal Exchange Theatre’s new Autumn /Winter 2013 – 14 Season will be announced later this month and public booking will open at the beginning of May.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE AND WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE PRESENT: 
SWEENEY TODD
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
A Musical Thriller

Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Book by HUGH WHEELER
From an Adaptation by CHRISTOPER BOND
Directed by James Brining 
Originally Directed by HAROLD PRINCE
Original orchestrations by JONATHAN TUNICK 

Originally produced by on Broadway by Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, Martin Richards and in association with Dean and Judy Manos.

Presented by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL of New York 

West Yorkshire Playhouse
Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds
Thursday 26 September – Saturday 26 October 

The Royal Exchange Theatre,
St Ann’s Square, Manchester
Friday 1 November – Saturday 30 November
Press Night: Tuesday 5 November

For further information please contact:
JOHN GOODFELLOW (Press & Communications Manager, Royal Exchange Theatre) on 0161 615 6783 / john.goodfellow@royalexchange.co.uk.
OR
PAULA RABBITT (Head of Press, West Yorkshire Playhouse) on 0113 213 7273 / paula.rabbitt@wyp.org.uk

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