Page 27 - Creative Arts 2019
P. 27
Sweeney Todd
titular Sweeney Todd as he reinvents himself backstage in set design, stage management
as a murderous barber in modern day London. and hair and makeup, where they learned
From lighting, stage design, dance, acting their craft during a specific Millfield MAP
or playing the soundtrack as part of the pit programmes run by Meyer Theatre Manager,
Drama
orchestra, almost 60 pupils were involved in the Paul Siequien, and parent Laura Zaky. Members
show in total. of the crew, including Barney French, Ollie
Leigh-Currill, Millie Roper, Sam Wardell and
Due to the high level of talent at audition stage, Ollie Whittingham were instrumental in helping
the production team decided to ‘double-cast’, co-ordinate set-changes so that the show ran
meaning that the show’s nine lead characters smoothly.
were played by two sets of actors who took on
roles in the chorus when it wasn’t their night The music for the show was performed by a
to perform. The lead of Sweeney was played 20-strong pit orchestra based below the stage,
by both Upper Sixth pupil Seb Berkeley and giving pupils the opportunity to learn what it
Millfield pupils from across Drama, Dance, Music Lower Sixth pupil Rowan Wilson, while Upper is like to play outside of a traditional concert
and Technical departments joined together to Sixth pupil Florence Lunnon and Year 10 Esmé hall. Sondheim’s score for this show is notably
present the school’s spring musical, Stephen Ellis respectively took on the role of Mrs Lovett, challenging, with changing time signatures and
Sondheim’s ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Sweeney Todd’s would-be wife. Each pair has difficult entries, meaning pupils (on stage and
of Fleet Street’, to an audience of family, friends brought their own distinct performance style to in the pit) had to follow Musical Director Kirsty
and members of the local community at the role and helped one another prepare during Barry’s conducting to maintain timing.
Millfield’s Meyer Theatre. the rehearsal process.
For many, the highlight of this production has
The production, which the pupils have been Many pupils, including pupils from St Dunstan’s been seeing audiences thrilled by the spectacle
rehearsing since September 2018, follows the School in Glastonbury, were also involved of the show itself.
