STEPHEN Sondheim’s iconic musical, Sweeney Todd, opens at the Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town on February 19 following a hugely successful run in Johannesburg.

Presented by Pieter Toerien and KickstArt Theatre Company, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street until April 9.

With music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, the show stars Jonathan Roxmouth in the title role and Charon Williams-Ros as Mrs Lovett and features sublime theatrics, a thrilling, chilling story, suspense, passion, deliciously dark humour.

Joining them on stage are Michael Richard, Candice von Litsenborgh, Jaco van Rensburg, Anne Marie Clulow, Adam Pelkowitz, Luciano Zuppa, Wesley Swain Lauder, Germandt Geldenhuys, Cameron Botha, Pauline du Plessis, Sanli Jooste, Claire Simonis, Megan Rigby, Schoeman Smit and Earl Gregory.

Directed by Steven Stead, the show features a set designed by Greg King. The musical director is Rowan Bakker. Costume designs are by Neil Stuart Harris and the lighting is by Tina le Roux.

The musical thriller by American theatrical genius, Stephen Sondheim, features one of the greatest musical theatre scores ever written.

It tells the outlandish tale of urban legend, Sweeney Todd, who famously murdered his clients in his barber chair, whereafter his whacky neighbour and partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett, turned them into much sought after meat pies.

Set in 19th century England, Sweeney Todd looks at what drives a man to this sort of extreme obsession, and considers what tragedy lies in his dark and mysterious past.

This gripping musical features the classic songs Pretty Women; Johanna; Not While I’m Around; By the Sea; A Little Priest, and The Ballad of Sweeney Todd.

Sweeney Todd won both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical when it was first produced in 1979, and became a major motion picture by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen. Cameron Mackintosh has called Sondheim “possibly the greatest lyricist ever”.

Tickets range from R125 to R350 via www.computicket.com, or 021 4383100. Performances run at 8 pm from Mondays to Thursdays and at 8.15 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.