This adaptation was originally commissioned in 1996 by The Mercators Drama Club in Edinburgh. I had always wanted to try my hand at adapting “Sweeney Todd” and this was my opportunity to do so. I went back to the original text of the play by George Dibdin Pitt – who himself had based the play on a popular “Penny Dreadful” by Thomas Prest, first staged at the Britannia Theatre in Hoxton, London – and updated the action from the Georgian period to the time of “Jack the Ripper”, rearranged the Scenes, cut some of the minor characters and added some dialogue and stage directions of my own invention.

The Mercators’ production was staged as “A Penny Gaff” – a rollicking, in-your-face, brash and noisy extravaganza. The Audience were actively encouraged to join in the action and to sing all songs. The settings, the costumes and the make-up were over-the-top; however the horror of the play was never toned down, but played completely straight, with no holds barred. This was followed almost immediately by a song or a comedy scene, just to lighten the atmosphere.

“Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” can be described as one of the greatest villains in the history of British Drama, in films and in Musical Theatre. In this version I do not attempt to explain his evil deeds, nor to give a reason for them. So, step back in time to Victorian London, when Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of the Capital and where Sweeney Todd plied his murderous trade in an extravaganza of High Camp, Low Comedy and the all the horrors of Grand Guignol… Oh, and a few songs too!

Act One

Scene 1: Fleet Street

Scene 2: The Interior of Todd’s Shop

Scene 3: Jasper Oakley’s House in Bloomsbury

Scene 4: Mrs Lovett’s Pie Shop, Bell Yard

Scene 5: Todd’s Shop

Scene 6: Temple Stairs

Scene 7: The Secret Cellar

Act Two

Scene 1: Temple Stairs

Scene 2: Todd’s Shop

`Scene 3: Fogg’s Private Madhouse, Hoxton

Scene 4: The Old Bailey

Scene 5: Newgate Prison

Scene 6: Temple Stairs

This is the denouement of the play. Sweeney Todd has escaped from Newgate Prison and heads back to the scene of his various ghastly deeds…

Scene 7: The Secret Cellar & Todd’s Shop

The music is played discordantly. There are cries of a howling mob, police whistles and dogs, off. The Oven is flickering, its embers glowing red. Todd comes down the steps from “Mrs Lovett’s”. He is pale and distraught, like a wounded animal.

Todd I think I have given them the slip now. I am weary and would fain rest awhile. What happened? The mob were crying after me down Ludgate Hill. Yes, I remember now. I ran! Straight and swift I ran, and no-one dared to stop me! On I bounded, through alleyways and sewers, over fence and wall! I heard a shout... A shout? No, a scream. (Giggles madly) The scream of Jezebel Fogg, her throat cut with her own knife. Silenced forever! Her scream was taken up on every side, and swelled till it pierced the very air! I was borne upon the arms of demons, which swept along like the wind and swung me round and round with a speed that made my head swim. They threw me from them with a violent shock, and I fell heavily upon the earth! (He staggers about, slowly going insane) And then I woke and crawled back here. What was it I came for? My head aches... I mix up reality and dreams... I remember now! It was money. And some jewels. Yes, the money was here. No, the jewels! The jewels are here. I... Oh, my poor head! Have I forgotten where I hid them? Was it in me shop?

Police whistles and banging from “upstairs”.

Todd You can’t come down these stairs! Only Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett know of these stairs! And Ezekiel Smith... but he’s dead. Go away! You can’t come down... Hush! ‘Twas only the wind…

He laughs, insanely, goes over the Oven and whispers at its door.

Todd Where are you, Mrs Lovett? Where are you, my love? What did you say, my sweet Lucrezia? Somebody’s killed you? Tell me who did it. Tell Sweeney. He’ll cut their throats. He’ll revenge you. He’ll polish ‘em off! Are you burning down there in Hell? Never mind, cry-baby. Never mind, Mrs L! You shall have your share alright. To the last farthing. Look, dear. I shall count out all our riches...

He scrambles about, counting out imaginary money. Mark steps out of the shadows.

Mark (Quietly determined) Todd!

Todd (Dismissively) Go away. You’re dead… (To himself) He’s dead, he is…

He continues counting the imaginary money. Mark advances on him.

Mark Now, Mr Sweeney Todd, ‘tis your turn! Foulest Demon Barber! With my own hands I’ll drag thee to the gallows... And the end you so richly deserve!

Mark He’s down here!

Todd Dead... dead! And, Mr Sailor, you’re in my prison yet! (Singing, he drags Mark to the Oven!)

This shall be thy knell, be thy knell!

This shall be thy knell, be thy knell!

Yes, this shall be thy knell...

As I sends yer down to Hell...

And I hopes yer sizzles well,

Damn yer eyes!!

Todd My money... My jewels! Thieves, robbers...!

Todd Was it here I hid them? Or there? No, lost. Forgotten. Oh, my head! My head! (Howls) Such Demons fill my brain!

Jeffrey Dear God… What horror is this?

Jeffrey (Looking down at her) Poor, poor woman. May God forgive me…?

Tobias St George for England!

Todd Trapped! (He leaps on them both)

Jeffrey Hang on to him, Toby! One foot apiece! Hang on, for dear life! Hang on! I fear me madness has given him the strength of ten men…

Jeffrey To the Chair with him! As Shakespeare says, we’ll hoist him with his own petard!

Jeffrey The lever, Toby…! The lever!

Tobias No, Captain Jeffrey! ‘Twould be murder! We’d be no better than him!

Jeffrey Then, dam’me, I’ll do it myself...

Johanna The Demon Barber of Fleet Street!

Omnes Mark Ingestrie... Alive?!

Mark Yes! Mark Ingestrie who, preserved from death by a higher power, returns to confound the guilty and protect the innocent!