Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Principal Roles

Principal Roles

Character Voice Type Description
Sweeney Todd/Benjamin Barker Bass-Baritone or Baritone Morose and brooding, a barber by profession who returned to London (after fifteen years of unjust incarceration in an Australian penal colony) to seek revenge first on the corrupt judge who sent him there, and then simply on whoever proves unfortunate enough to end up in his shop.
Mrs. Nellie Lovett Contralto or Mezzo-soprano A cheery and chatty but wholly amoral restaurateur whose business has become run down due to a scarcity of meat and who would like to be more than a landlady to Mr. Todd.
Anthony Hope Baritone/Tenor A young, naïve sailor who has rescued Todd and falls in love with Johanna Barker.
Johanna Barker Soprano Todd's beautiful young daughter, claimed by Judge Turpin as his own ward.
Judge Turpin Bass or Bass-Baritone A corrupt and depraved judiciary official who twists the system to serve his own ends and who has become infatuated by Johanna as she has matured.
Tobias Ragg Tenor A simple young lad who works first for Pirelli, and then for Mrs. Lovett, but does not trust Todd.
Beadle Bamford Tenor/Countertenor Turpin's right-hand man and accomplice to his dirty deeds.
Beggar Woman/Lucy Barker Mezzo-soprano A mad crone with a filthy tongue whose interjections go unheeded, but who is eventually revealed to be Lucy Barker, the wife of Benjamin Barker.
Adolfo Pirelli/Danny O'Higgins Tenor An Irish charlatan and former employee of Benjamin Barker's who has since developed a public persona as a flashy, Italian barber; he attempts to blackmail Todd whom he ultimately recognizes from his youth. (In some productions, Pirelli has been played by a woman but still portrayed as a male character.)

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