SWEENEY Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, seems an unlikely subject for a musical, but critics say Stephen Sondheim's score is one of his most powerful.

In celebration of the composer's 75th birthday this year, Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society is staging the show at Malvern Theatres from Tuesday, October 18, to Saturday, October 22.

It will fulfil a long-held ambition for director, Phil Beeson, who has been longing for an opportunity to tackle a Sondheim production.

"It's probably true to say that I've travelled the length and breadth of the country to see Sondheim shows over the years," he said. But the one that stands out in his mind as the ultimate Sondheim is the final performance of the first British production of Sweeney, which he saw at Drury Lane 25 years ago.

The tale of Sweeney Todd is based on a 19th Century legend of a half-mad homicidal London barber, driven to crime when a malevolent judge takes his wife and child from him.

His plan for revenge includes a cut-throat partnership with Mrs Lovett, an enterprising barmaid. Together they wreak havoc on anyone who passes, whether for a shave or one of Mrs Lovett's famous 'meat' pies. "Sweeney is recognised as being almost a modern opera, rather than a musical and one that has been staged all over the world, from the New York Met to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the National Theatre," said Phil. "It is full of gothic horror with moments of high comedy. One minute you are laughing your head off and the next you're in the middle of a very dark melodrama."

Since directing his first production 30 years ago in his home town of Derby, he has directed everything from Gilbert and Sullivan to Shakespeare, but so far, Sondheim has eluded him.

So he is doubly delighted to be fulfilling his ambition with a team he knows he can trust, having previously worked with WODS as both a performer and a director.

"I'm delighted to be working with a really talented cast," he said. "Mrs Lovett is played by Jacque Cook, who has played leading roles with the society before and is well known in Worcester and Malvern.

"We had a bit of difficulty casting the role of Sweeney, because it's very challenging, vocally. It calls for a big vocal range. We're very lucky to have got John Brennan."

The cast are looking forward to their first full dress rehearsal, when they will get to use specially-hired 'blood-letting' cut-throat razors for the first time.

This is definitely not a show for all the family - or nervous adults. KATHY DON