THEY say “if you can – do, but if you can’t – teach”. David Tatnall has undoubtedly proved he can do both, this being the second production where he has promoted teenage talent to direct.
Katherine Evans is the latest recipient of the opportunity and she acquitted herself very well.
Annie Tatnall was predictably superb as Mrs Lovett, desperate to add somebody to love to the bodies she loved to cook. Matthew Sturgeon was razorsharp as demon-barber Sweeney and Shaun Dodimead (Judge Turpin) was great-value and just short of over-the-top.
Alison Bradley impressed as the maniacal Beggar Woman and youngsters George Lambourne (Tobias) and Andy Morgan (Anthony Hope) added another show to their list of recent successes.
The set was effective and the talented cast made fulluse of the wide variety of quality props, the costumes were appropriate to the period and Martin Paterson provided Steven Sondheim’s atmospheric Hammer-horror style accompaniment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here