Sweeney Todd

Matthew Gregory

Matthew trained at the Royal Academy of Music. Operatic roles include: Banquo, Macbeth; Escamillo, Carmen; Doctor, La Traviata; Death, Savitri; Lockitt, Beggars Opera; Faffner, Das Rheingold. In recent years he has performed a number of roles for Watford and Cassio Operatic Societies at the Palace Theatre and is looking forward to singing the role of Emile de Becque in St Albans Operatic Society’s production of South Pacific at the Alban Arena from 29 April.

Mrs Lovett

Emma Southorn

Emma is delighted to be involved with PITP and especially playing one of her favourite characters! A Mountview Academy postgraduate, Emma has performed in/choreographed many amateur & professional productions, picked up a few awards along the way, and currently tours with the ‘The Wandering Minstrels’. Favourite roles include: Peggy/Maggie 42nd Street; Sally, Cabaret: Eve/Mama Noah, Children Of Eden; Mama Rose, Gypsy; Lucy, Snoopy; Andy, Stepping Out; Mary, Merrily; Anita, West Side; Nancy, Oliver; Emily, Hired Man; and most of the young mezzo roles in the G&S canon.

Tobias

Matthew Fowler

Matt first took to the stage as a member of the children's chours in Cassio's production of Hans Andersen in 1989. 20 years later, Matt has performed in over 50 productions. Favourites among those include; 42nd Street (Director/Choreographer), Elegies (Director), Tony, West Side Story (Choreographer), Snoopy, Snoopy (Choreographer), Bill, Me and My Girl; Zangara, Assassins; Daddy Bruebeck, Sweet Charity (Choreographer), Once on This Island (Director/Choreographer)

Johanna

Alison Langer

Alison has recently gained a place at Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the Vocal Studies course, and hopes to go on to a career in opera. She’s a member of Harpenden Light Operatic Society and Green Room Productions. Favourite roles include: Eliza, My Fair Lady; Magnolia, ShowBoat; Laurey, Oklahoma. Alison has also sung as a soloist in the Royal Albert Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. A singing teacher at Harpenden Musicale, she has also worked at Stage Door, a local dancewear and costume shop where Alison likes to think it helped her mould her craft! She is very excited to be playing Joanna in this amazing and challenging performance.

Anthony Hope

Mathew Collyer

Mathew started acting and singing at 10 years old with ‘Inside Out’ am-dram group. He stayed with them until he was 17 and started teaching as well as performing. Mathew took a break for two years then joined the Panda Players who he has been with for three performances (Jack the Ripper, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Pippin). Mathew is now a fire-fighter and performing got sidelined, but he was happy to perform in Sweeney Todd and hopes you enjoy the show!

Judge Turpin

Andy Taylor

Andy is well known as a performer in and around the Watford area, although for the last few years he has concentrated on directing shows rather than being in them. However, he can occasionally be persuaded to tread the boards now and again, and the chance of revisiting Sondheim’s masterpiece (he played the title role a few years ago), in particular the opportunity to play one of Sondheim’s darkest characters was just too tempting!

Pirelli

Russell Stratton

Though not formally trained, Russell has enjoyed a national NODA scholarship and award winning shows at both Waterford and Buxton. Roles include Tony/Krupke, West Side Story; Judas, Jesus Christ Superstar; Guiteau/Balladeer, Assassins; God, Children of Eden; Brian, Elegies; The Observer, Putting it Together; John, The Hired Man; Bardolph, Falstaff; Turridu, Cavalleria Rusticana. After receiving a Best Male voice nomination at Buxton he returns in August to reprise The Mikado and will appear next in the UK premiere of The Sting. Russell is thrilled to be performing tonight for an MD to whom he owes so much.

Beadle Bamford

Simon Curtis

Simon Curtis was born in Hertfordshire. Since turning professional in 1997 Simon has appeared with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company; English Touring Opera; Glyndebourne and currently Welsh National Opera. He is also an experienced conductor of musicals (including Chess, 42nd Street and Sweeney Todd), a vocal coach for Sing Live UK and is currently Music Director of City Voices Cardiff. Simon appears with kind permission of the Welsh National Opera Company.

Beggar Woman

Trish Lewis

Trish has performed a variety of roles from the soprano and mezzo roles in G&S through among others, Leading Player in Pippin to Charity, Dolly and also Anna in Merry Widow. She also has dabbled in directing Die Fledermaus, Pippin, Jack the Ripper and Pinafore on a cruise ship in the 1920’s. In May, Trish is taking the part of Sally in Follies which is also by Sondheim. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and is a trustee of a charity which raises money for subsistence farmers and their families in East Uganda.