By Grace Hatchell with pies. Lots of pies.
Sweeney Todd Birmingham Rep 2026 cast announced – Ramin Karimloo, Meow Meow and David Bedella lead Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical at The Rep from 4 July to 9 August. Full casting and creative team revealed for Joe Murphy’s new production.
Right then… this one came sliding straight into my satchel with a bit of menace and a whiff of pie crust, and I’ll tell you now, Birmingham Rep aren’t playing about.
They’ve announced the full cast for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and it’s shaping up to be one of those productions where you just know the barber’s chair is going to get a proper workout.
Leading the charge is West End and Broadway favourite Ramin Karimloo as Sweeney Todd himself — and if you’ve ever seen that man brood on stage, you’ll know he’s not here to give us a gentle trim. Alongside him, the wonderfully unpredictable Meow Meow takes on Mrs. Lovett, which feels like inspired casting if you ask me — chaotic, sharp, and probably hiding a grin behind every pie. And then there’s David Bedella as Judge Turpin, which… well, that’s a casting choice that already feels like it comes with a shiver.
But it doesn’t stop there. The wider company is stacked with talent: Shem Omari James as Anthony Hope, Jo Stephenson as Johanna, Julius D’Silva as Beadle, Jack Gibson as Tobias Ragg, Florence Andrews as Beggar Woman, Silas Wyatt-Barke as Adolfo Pirelli, with Emily Ivana Hawkins and Hadrian Delacey completing the ensemble.
Behind the scenes, it’s just as strong. The production is directed by Birmingham Rep’s Artistic Director Joe Murphy, with design by award-winning Elin Steele. The creative team includes Dr John Rigby (Musical Supervisor and 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) and David Gallagher (Orchestral Management).
Joe Murphy himself said he’s “thrilled” with the company assembled — and you can kind of see why. It’s one of those line-ups where everyone looks like they’ve wandered in from slightly different worlds, but you just know it’s all going to click together in that deliciously dark Sondheim way.
Now, if you’ve somehow avoided Sweeney Todd up to now (where have you been hiding?), it follows Benjamin Barker, wrongfully imprisoned and returning to Victorian London as the mysterious barber Sweeney Todd. What starts as revenge very quickly spirals into something far more… unsettling. There’s vengeance, there’s madness, and yes — there are pies. Questionable ones.
It’s been slicing its way through audiences since 1979, picking up a frankly ridiculous number of awards along the way, and it still manages to feel fresh every time someone new gets their hands on it.
And this version? With that cast and creative team? I’ve got a feeling it’s going to lean right into the dark humour and the grit of it all.
It’ll be playing at Birmingham Rep from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 9 August 2026, and tickets are already on sale — which, if you fancy a night of glorious musical chaos, might be worth sorting sooner rather than later.
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).
About the Author
