Sweeney escaped from prison after being wrongfully accused and jailed for fifteen years. Formerly a proud
barber, a loving husband and a happy father, Sweeney is now consumed by loss and revenge. He has returned to
London to right the wrongs committed against him, his wife, and his daughter. Sweeney is charming but
hot-tempered, ferocious yet vulnerable. Strong baritone/bass who can whistle. Speaks with an Estuary or
London dialect.

A youthful sailor who helps Sweeney return to London and unexpectedly falls in love with Johanna. He is
idealistic, romantic and a little reckless. His passions sometimes get the better of his reason and his enthusiasm
sometimes makes him unintentionally comedic. Over the course of the show he awakens to the horrors around
him and becomes disillusioned with London. Tenor. Speaks with a standard British accent (RP).

An eerie, poor soul living on the streets of London. She supports herself by begging and prostituting herself to
sailors. The Beggar Woman is Sweeney’s wife, Lucy, who lost her mind after being assaulted by Turpin and
taking poison. She has occasional flashes of lucidity and distrusts Mrs. Lovett. Like the oracle Cassandra, She is
the only one who sees what’s happening but no one will listen to her. Mezzo. Speaks with a Cockney or Estuary
accent.

An entrepreneurial meat pie shop owner who will do whatever it takes to survive. She is in love with Todd and
hopes that he’ll forget the past and build a new life with her. At first shocked by Sweeney’s bursts of violence,
Lovett turns his desire for revenge into a profitable business venture. She is resourceful, ambitious, charismatic,
and has great comedic timing. Mezzo with belt. Speaks with a Cockney accent.

A lecherous public official who portrays himself as a sanctimonious authoritarian. He takes advantage of his
position to imprison Todd, assault Lucy, and take Johanna in as his ward. He is aware that what he wants and
what he’s done is wrong, yet chooses to ignore or push against his conscience. Embodies Puritanitcal hypocrisy:
he lusts after Johanna, even as he professes to keep her innocent. Bass/baritone. Speaks with a standard British
accent (RP).

A pompous public official who is responsible for the health and safety of London. He possesses a dry, deadpan
sense of humor and enjoys wielding his power. He is not a snivelling civil servant. He is deeply loyal to Turpin,
though in his heart of hearts he believes he’s better than the judge. The Beadle loves singing children’s nursery
rhymes, which remind him of his youth. Tenor with a strong falsetto. Speaks with a standard British accent
(RP).

Todd’s long-lost daughter and Judge Turpin’s young ward. Homeschooled and largely homebound. She has a
rebellious, subversive and romantic streak and longs to escape her confinement. Johanna is aware that Judge
Turpin isn’t her real father and suspects that he might be a predator. Like her father, she has experienced trauma
and possesses a buried capacity for violence. Although described as “pale” and “yellow haired,” we are not taking
this literally. Soprano. Speaks with a standard British accent (RP).

A poor youngster apprenticed first to Pirelli and then to Mrs Lovett. He is industrious and eager to please, with
a good sense of humor. Uneducated, but innately clever and observant, Tobias responds quickly to the kindness
of Lovett but grows increasingly suspicious of Sweeney. After a betrayal, Toby experiences the violence and
terror of this world and snaps. Or maybe he just becomes like everyone else. Tenor. Speaks with a Cockney
accent.

An Irish former employee of Sweeney’s who has since developed a public persona as a flamboyant and flashy
world-famous Italian barber. A charlatan who sells fake medicine and challenges other barbers to shaving
contests. Pirelli is charming, calculating, and over-the-top comedic. Possess some anti-English sentiments and does not take lightly to being publicly embarrassed by Sweeney. High tenor. Speaks in both an Italian and Irish
accent.

The owner of Fogg’s Asylum. Fogg sells the hair of inmates to wigmakers. Considers the inmates “children” and
takes pleasure in showing them off to visitors. Chooses to ignore the human rights of his patients in the name of
scientific progress. An authoritarian who is really a coward at heart. Speaks with an Estuary dialect.

The ensemble acts as a Greek Chorus, commenting on the action and participating in the tale. They are the
show’s chief storytellers, taking on the roles of customers, townspeople, police, inmates at the insane asylum,
Sweeney’s thoughts, and Sweeney’s victims. They stand in for us and there is a feeling of them always being
nearby, watching. The ensemble gets ample opportunities for vocal challenges and is showcased with solos and
harmonies throughout the show.