Sweeney Todd

Barber of Horrors by Fleet Street. Musical thriller by Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and Hugh Wheeler (book). In German with German and English surtitles.

Barber Sweeney Todd returns to Victorian London after years of exile. He seeks revenge on Judge Turpin, who once unjustly condemned him, abused his wife and kidnapped his daughter. Sweeney finds the perfect business partner in the chronically unsuccessful pâtissier Mrs Lovett, through whose shop he opens a barber's shop. His insatiable thirst for blood provides her with such flavoursome fillings for her meat pies that people are soon queuing up in Fleet Street. Mrs Lovett is happy, while Sweeney's business success and Lovett's affection leave him cold - he is interested in nothing other than completing his revenge plan.

The world premiere of Sweeney Todd won eight Tony Awards (including Best Musical) in 1979. Since then, the thrilling and hilarious musical thriller has achieved classic status and has been the most successful play by Stephen Sondheim, who died in 2021, at the latest since Tim Burton's film adaptation with Johnny Depp.