L-R per row: Back row: Anna Marsh (Orange top) – Dawn Richmond-Gordon – Aaliyah Hemming – Lily Leatherland – Elliott Brake – Susie Gripton – Tabitha Graham – Poppy Keeble – Lucy Prichard-Tyre (Black Jumper). 3rd row: Jessica Healey (Waitress top) Michelle Prusaczyk – Holly Cooke – Elspeth White – Chloe Banfroft – Ariella Smith – Rebecca Harris – Esmee Khadim – Elliot Briffa – Shelby Cheeseman – Millie Huthwaite – Jasmine Warder – Anais Hunter (White tshirt). 2nd row: Vanessa Gripton – Grace Fynn – Amelie Frost – Holly Williamson – Lewis Hallam – Joss Brikett – Lois Gripton – Rob Cattanach – Holly Goddard (Black tshirt). 1st row: Megan McKie – Jessica Croft
Nottingham Playhouse’s annual Summer School will be staging a daring production of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
The play tells the tale of Fleet Street’s infamous barber and murderer Sweeney Todd, the evil Judge Turpin, and grotesque pie-maker Mrs Lovett. Full of black humour, the production will be performed by a cast of young Nottinghamshire actors, led by a creatives from Nottingham Playhouse’s professional creative team.
Dawn Richmond-Gordon, Participation Specialist for Nottingham Playhouse said: “At Nottingham Playhouse, we’ve developed a strong tradition of fantastic summer productions performed by young people… Without a doubt, Sweeney Todd will be the biggest, boldest and bloodiest yet. I’m really enjoying directing our cast and seeing the play develop.”
Chloe Anne Bancroft, aged 18, is a part of the Sweeney Todd cast. She was also in Blood Brothers – another Summer School production – in 2018.
She added: “I’ve loved being a part of the Nottingham Playhouse summer schools. I really enjoy acting, but to step away from college and work with different directors, actors and techniques is great. At the summer school you get a say in how the play shapes up; you’re not just told what to do. I’ve especially enjoyed learning about the story of Sweeney Todd; it’s good to work on a play that’s a little bit different!”
Summer School is just one of the many ways that Nottingham Playhouse works with children and young adults, with several other programmes still recruiting. Its Young Company allows children from various age groups to make theatre with the guidance of theatre professionals. Young Critics, led by professional Nottingham writer Sara Bodinar, gives people aged 14 – 25 the chance to watch Nottingham Playhouse productions and review them afterwards. Amplify is the Playhouse’s artist development programme, designed for professional theatre makers at any stage of their career.
To book tickets for Sweeney Todd go to: www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on.
Or, to find out more about Nottingham Playhouse’s participation work visit: www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/participation.
