Frome Amateur Operatic Society presents Sweeney Todd…

With the FAOS production of ‘Sweeney Todd’ now less than a month away, the principal line up took time out of rehearsals recently to attend a photo shoot to promote the show. 

Playing the title role as Sweeney Todd is Davey Evans. He came to Frome in 2008 and since that time has played Will Parker in ‘Oklahoma’, Seymour in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, Jerry in ‘The Full Monty’ and most recently the Beast in ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

Playing opposite Davey in her first major principal role with the society is Teresa Bray. Teresa joined the group last year to play the Wardrobe in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and earlier this year appeared as Sister Bertha in ‘The Sound of Music’, but this will be her first major role.

The show really rises or falls on the quality of these two performers, and if rehearsals are anything to go by, the society is in good hands.

Supporting Davey and Teresa, and fresh from their very successful appearances in ‘Singing in the Rain’ at the Merlin Theatre last month, will be Ellis Dackombe as Anthony and Jasmine Shillabeer as Johanna. These characters provide the ‘romance’ in what otherwise is a very dark and sinister musical thriller that does also contain many moments of black humour.

Completing a ‘Singing in the Rain’ cast trio will be Dillon Berry, the son of director Claudia Pepler Berry, playing the part of Tobias. Society chairman, Andrew Carpenter is taking on the role of the evil and lecherous Judge Turpin to add to his many major roles with the group over a 40 year plus history.

All in all a good combination of young and not so young, new and old faces to bring this story to life and add to an ever increasing line up of musical theatre productions performed by FAOS.

‘Sweeney Todd’ runs from Wednesday 2nd – Saturday 5th October. All performances commence at 7.30pm and tickets are now on sale at the Memorial Theatre box office on 462795, by visiting www. fromememorialtheatre.org.uk or in person, 9.30am and 1pm from Monday – Saturday inclusive.

The production is recommended for 16 years and over as it contains scenes of a dark and adult nature.