Celebrated stars of London’s West End and cast of young actors from all over Ireland to perform in Sweeney Todd in Concert with the National Symphony Orchestra and Irish Youth Musical Theatre at the National Concert Hall

Presented in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy of Music

The National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI) is pleased to announce the full cast and creative team for its concert presentation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, at the National Concert Hall on Friday 25 July.  

Celebrated star of London’s West End, Rob Houchen renews his association with Sondheim as the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd. Noted for his Marius in Les Misérables, he was seen in the acclaimed gala celebration Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends alongside Judi Dench, Michael Ball and Broadway royalty Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. 

Versatile West End veteran Anna-Jane Casey plays his demented accomplice, pie-shop owner Mrs Lovett. She was previously seen in admired revivals of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Company (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield). She played Fraulein Kost in the multi-Olivier Award-winning Cabaret (Kit Kat Club/Playhouse Theatre) and won a British Pantomime Award alongside Sir Ian McKellen’s Mother Goose (Theatre Royal Brighton). 

Following open auditions for young actors in training and recent graduates, a company of over 60 young actors from all over Ireland will join the Company in named roles, Featured Ensemble and Chorus.  

The roles of Johanna Barker, Anthony Hope, Tobias Ragg, Judge Turpin, The Beadle, Beggar Woman and Adolfo Pirelli will be played by actors from counties Belfast, Donegal, Dublin, Fermanagh, Meath and Waterford:  

Rachel Reid (20), from Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, plays Johanna. 

Anthony Andy Armitage (21), from Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, plays Anthony Hope. 

John Cathcart (22,) from Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, plays Tobias Ragg. 

Eoin Daly (22), from Knocklyon, Dublin, plays Judge Turpin. 

Isaac Casey (22), from Waterford City, plays Beadle Bamford. 

Meg Kathleen Hardy (20), from Ratoath, Co. Meath, plays Beggar Woman. 

Ciarán McKenna (23), from Belfast, plays Signor Pirelli. 

Sweeney Todd in Concert will be led by an exciting West End creative team of Irish director, Séimí Campbell; Music Supervisor, Sarah Travis, who returns to Sweeney Todd twenty years on from winning a Tony-Award for the show on Broadway in 2005; Movement Director, James Cousins, and Lighting Designer, Lee Curran, with Sound Design by One Louder Sound Ltd. Anthony Gabriele, renowned for his work as a Musical Director on London’s West End, conducts. 

Sweeney Todd in Concert takes place in partnership with Irish Youth Musical Theatre (IYMT) and the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) and by arrangement with Music Theatre International. 

Media Queries 
Assumpta Lawless, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Symphony Orchestra. 
Email: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie 
Mobile: 087 290 4168  

Notes to Editors 

Sweeney Todd in Concert follows on from the hugely successful concert performance of Evita with IYMT in 2022. As with Evita in Concert, this unique model is designed to offer performance, mentorship and training opportunities in a professional environment for young actors aged 16 to 25 years from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Rob Houchen Sweeney Todd 

Rob Houchen is a celebrated British stage performer known for his dynamic vocal talent and versatility across musical theatre. His impressive theatre career spans major West End productions, international tours, and concert performances.  

Most recently, Rob starred in the Olivier Award-winning parody musical Titanique at the Criterion Theatre and appeared alongside Alfie Boe in Alfie Boe & Friends at Tokyo Theatre Orb. He also featured in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Sondheim Theatre in London, a project that aligned with Rob’s long-standing admiration for Stephen Sondheim’s work. 

His extensive credits include a starring role in South Pacific, which toured from Chichester Festival Theatre to Sadler’s Wells and across the UK, as well as the two-hander Marry Me A Little at The Barn Theatre. He delivered a standout turn in The Light in the Piazza, performing at the Royal Festival Hall, Los Angeles’ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and Chicago’s Lyric Opera. 

Rob has been closely associated with Les Misérables, appearing in the iconic role of Marius in the all-star Les Misérables: The Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre, the show’s 30th Anniversary in Japan, and in the original production at the Queen’s Theatre. 

His other notable credits include roles in Eugenius! (The Other Palace), Broken Wings (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Titanic (Charing Cross Theatre), and international touring work with The 12 Tenors. Concert performances include Godspell in Concert (Lyric Theatre) and Candide in Concert (Cadogan Hall).  
 
On screen, Rob portrayed Tony in the BBC’s West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic and appeared in the filmed version of Les Misérables: The Staged Concert. 
 
His music is available to listen to across all major music platforms. 

Anna-Jane Casey Mrs Lovett 

Anna-Jane Casey is a versatile performer with over 40 years of experience in TV, theatre, and music. Hailing from Lancashire, she moved to London at just 16 to star as Rumpleteazer in Cats. From there, she became a fixture in London’s West End, appearing in the original casts of Children of Eden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Out of the Blue, and Grease. She’s performed iconic roles in Starlight Express (Buffy, Dinah, and Pearl), West Side Story (Anita), and Chicago (Velma Kelly), among others. 

Anna-Jane’s stage credits include the title role in Sweet Charity at the Sheffield Crucible, where she received a Best Actress nomination at the 2003 TMA Awards. She later reprised this success at the Crucible in Piaf. Other standout roles include Dot in Sunday in the Park with George (Menier Chocolate Factory), Maggie in Hobson’s Choice at the Watermill Theatre, and the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre. 

In recent years, Anna-Jane has showcased her talents in new productions like Flowers for Mrs Harris (2016) and the West End revival of Girl from the North Country (2019). She originated the role of Fraulein Kost in the award-winning Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club/Playhouse Theatre and played Cilla Quack in Mother Goose alongside Sir Ian McKellen, winning the 2023 British Pantomime Award for Best Supporting Artist. 

Her extensive TV and film credits include roles in Family Guy, The Royal, Doctors, and EastEnders. Anna-Jane has also performed with prestigious orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestra. A frequent guest soloist on Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2), she continues to captivate audiences with her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence.

Irish Youth Musical Theatre  

Irish Youth Musical Theatre is Ireland’s National Musical Theatre Training Company for actors aged 14 to 25 years across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Established in January 2020 under the patronage of Colm Wilkinson and the Artistic Direction of Séimí Campbell, and run in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, it strives to find, nourish, train and showcase the next generation of Irish actors, and launch their careers in the musical theatre industry at home and abroad. 

About the National Concert Hall 

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving the Irish public since it opened in 1981 through live music performances and significant educational and cultural programmes. Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, next door to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is proud home to our National Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Chorus, Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg, as well as providing residence for a range of other music organisations including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. It is currently planning for a major redevelopment of all its facilities as part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. 

 

 

Preasráiteas 

Dáta eisiúna: Dé Céadaoin, 28 Bealtaine 2025 
 

Réaltaí ceiliúrtha West End London agus foireann aisteoirí óga as gach cearn d’Éirinn le bheith ar an ardán i Sweeney Todd in Concert leis an gCeolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann agus Ceolamharclannaíocht Óige na hÉireann ag an gCeoláras Náisiúnta 

Arna chur i láthair i gcomhpháirtíocht le Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann 

Tá áthas ar an gCeolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta Éireann (NSOI) an fhoireann iomlán agus an fhoireann chruthaitheach a fhógairt dá léiriú ceolchoirme ar Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, le ceol agus liricí le Stephen Sondheim agus leabhar le Hugh Wheeler, ag an gCeoláras Náisiúnta Dé hAoine 25 Iúil.  

Réalta chomórtha West End Londan, Rob Houchen ag athnuachan a cheangail le Sondheim mar an Bearbóir díoltasach Sweeney Todd. Tá clú air as Marius a léiriú in Les Misérables, chonacthas é sa cheiliúradh mór ar Stephen Sondheim's Old Friend's in éineacht le Judi Dench, Michael Ball agus duine mór le rá de chuid Broadway Bernadette Peters agus Lea Salonga. 

Déanann an seanfhondúir West End Anna-Jane Casey an pháirt dá chomhpháirtí craiceáilte, úinéir siopa píog Mrs Lovett. Chonacthas í roimhe seo in athléirithe a bhfuil meas orthu ar Sunday in the Park with George de chuid Sondheim (Menier Chocolate Factory) agus Company (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield). Rinne sí an pháirt de Fraulein Kost sa Cabaret a bhuaigh roinnt Gradam il-Olivier  (Kit Kat Club/Playhouse Theatre) agus bhuaigh sí Gradam Pantomime na Breataine in éineacht le Mother Goose de chuid Sir Ian McKellen (Theatre Royal Brighton). 

Tar éis trialacha aisteoireachta d’aisteoirí óga i mbun traenála agus céimithe le déanaí, rachaidh cuideachta de bhreis agus 60 aisteoir óg as gach cearn d’Éirinn isteach sa Chomhlacht i róil ainmnithe, Ensemble Iomlán agus Curfá.  

Déanfaidh aisteoirí ó chontaetha Bhéal Feirste, Dhún na nGall, Bhaile Átha Cliath, Fhear Manach, na Mí agus Phort Láirge róil Johanna Barker, Anthony Hope, Tobias Ragg, Judge Turpin, The Beadle, Beggar Woman agus Adolfo Pirelli.  

 

Déanann Rachel Reid (20) as Baile Dhún na nGall, Co. Dhún na nGall ról Johanna. 
Déanann Anthony Andy Armitage (21) as Stigh Lorgan, Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath, ról Anthony Hope. 
Déanann John Cathcart (22), as Inis Ceithleann, Co. Fhear Manach, ról Tobias Ragg. 
Déanann Eoin Daly (22), as Cnoc Lín, Baile Átha Cliath, ról Judge Turpin. 
Déanann Isaac Casey (22), as Cathair Phort Láirge, ról Beadle Bamford.
Déanann Meg Kathleen Hardy (20), as Ráth Tó, Co. na Mí, ról Beggar Woman. 
Déanann Ciarán McKenna (23), as Béal Feirste, ról Signor Pirelli. 

 

Beidh Sweeney Todd in Concert á stiúradh ag foireann chruthaitheach spreagúil ón West End de stiúrthóirí Éireannacha, Séimí Campbell; Maoirseoir Ceoil, Sarah Travis, a fhilleann ar Sweeney Todd fiche bliain ar aghaidh tar éis di Duais Tony a bhuachan don seó ar Broadway in 2005; Stiúrthóir Gluaiseachta, James Cousins, agus Dearthóir Soilsithe, Lee Curran, le Dearadh Fuaime le One Louder Sound Ltd. Stiúrann Anthony Gabriele, a bhfuil cáil air as a chuid oibre mar Stiúrthóir Ceoil ar West End Londan. 

Bíonn Sweeney Todd in Concert ar siúli gcomhpháirtíocht le Ceolamharclannaíocht Óige na hÉireann (IYMT) agus Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann (RIAM) agus trí shocrú le Music Theatre International. 

Ceisteanna ó na Meáin 

Assumpta Lawless, Bainisteoir Margaíochta & Cumarsáide, Ceolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta. 
Ríomhphost: assumpta.lawless@nch.ie 
Uimhir fóin: 087 290 4168   

Nótaí d’Eagarthóirí

Leanann Sweeney Todd in Concert ar aghaidh ó thaibhiú ceolchoirme an-rathúil Evita le IYMT in 2022. Cosúil le Evita in Concert, tá an tsamhail uathúil seo deartha chun deiseanna léirithe, meantóireachta agus oiliúna a thairiscint i dtimpeallacht ghairmiúil d’aisteoirí óga idir 16 agus 25 bliain d’aois ó Phoblacht na hÉireann agus ó Thuaisceart Éireann araon.  

Rob Houchen Sweeney Todd 

Is taibheoir stáitse clúiteach é Rob Houchen a bhfuil aithne air as a bhua gutha dinimiciúil agus a ilghnéitheacht trasna na hamharclainne ceoil. Cuimsíonn a ghairm bheatha amharclainne léiriúcháin mhóra sa West End, camchúirteanna idirnáisiúnta, agus léirithe ceolchoirme.  

Le déanaí, bhí Rob ina réalta sa cheoldráma scigaithrise Titanique a bhuaigh Gradam Olivier ag an Criterion Theatre agus bhí sé le feiceáil taobh le Alfie Boe in Alfie Boe & Friends ag Tokyo Theatre Orb. Bhí sé le feiceáil freisin in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends ag an Sondheim Theatre i Londain, tionscadal a tháinig ar chomhréim leis an meas atá ag Rob le fada ar shaothar Stephen Sondheim. 

I measc a chuid creidiúintí fairsinge tá ról lárnach in South Pacific, a chuaigh ar camchuairt ó Chichester Festival Theatre go Sadler’s Wells agus ar fud na Ríochta Aontaithe, chomh maith leis an dráma beirte Marry Me A Little ag an Barn Theatre. Rinne sé léiriú iontach in The Light in the Piazza, ag seinnt ag an Royal Festival Hall, Los Angeles’ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, agus ag an Lyric Opera i Chicago. 

Bhí dlúthbhaint ag Rob le Les Misérables, agus é ag láithriú i ról íocónach Marius sna scannáin uile-réalta Les Misérables: The Staged Concert ag an Gielgud Theatre, Comóradh 30 Bliain an tseó sa tSeapáin, agus sa bhunléiriú ag Queen's Theatre. 

I measc a chuid creidiúintí suntasacha eile tá róil in Eugenius! (The Other Palace), Broken Wings (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Titanic (Charing Cross Theatre), agus obair chamchuairte idirnáisiúnta leis The 12 Tenors. I measc na dtaibhithe ceolchoirme tá Godspell in Concert (Lyric Theatre) agus Candide in Concert (Cadogan Hall).  
 
Ar an scáileán, léirigh Rob Tony i West Side Stories de chuid an BBC: The Making of a Classic agus bhí sé le feiceáil sa leagan scannánaithe de Les Misérables: The Staged Concert. 
 
Tá a chuid ceoil ar fáil lena éisteacht ar gach ardán mór ceoil. 

Anna-Jane Casey Mrs Lovett 

Is taibheoir ildánach í Anna-Jane Casey le breis is 40 bliain de thaithí sa teilifís, san amharclannaíocht agus sa cheol. Ó Lancashire, bhog sí go Londain agus í díreach 16 bliana d'aois le bheith ina réalta mar Rumpleteazer in Cats. As sin, tá aithne mhór uirthi sa West End i Londain, le feiceáil sna foirne bunaidh Children of Eden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Out of the Blue, agus Grease. Rinne sí róil íocónacha i Starlight Express (Buffy, Dinah, and Pearl), West Side Story (Anita), agus Chicago (Velma Kelly), i measc rudaí eile. 

Áirítear le creidiúintí stáitse Anna-Jane an ról teidil in Sweet Charity ag an Sheffield Crucible, áit a bhfuair sí ainmniúchán don Aisteoir is Fearr ag Gradaim TMA 2003. D'éirigh léi arís níos déanaí ag an Crucible in Piaf. I measc na ról suntasach eile bhí Dot in Sunday in the Park le George (Menier Chocolate Factory), Maggie in Hobson’s Choice in Watermill Theatre, agus Lady of the Lake in Spamalot ag an Playhouse Theatre. 

Le blianta beaga anuas, tá a buanna léirithe ag Anna-Jane i léiriúcháin nua cosúil le Flowers for Mrs Harris (2016) agus athbheochan an West End ar Girl from the North Country (2019). Thosaigh sí ról Fraulein Kost sa Cabareta bhuaigh duaiseanna ag an Kit Kat Club/ Playhouse Theatre agus rinne sí an pháirt de Cilla Quack inMother Goosetaobh le Sir Ian McKellen, agus bhain sí Gradam Pantaimíme na Breataine 2023 don Ealaíontóir Tacaíochta is Fearr. 

Áirítear lena creidiúintí teilifíse agus scannán fairsinge tá róil in Family Guy, The Royal, Doctors, agus EastEnders. Sheinn Anna-Jane freisin le ceolfhoirne mór le rá ar fud an domhain, lena n-áirítear an Royal Philharmonic agus BBC Concert Orchestra. Bíonn sí ina haoi-aonréadaí rialta ar Friday Night is Music Night (BBC Radio 2), agus leanann sí uirthi ag mealladh lucht féachana lena guth cumhachtach agus a láithreacht dhinimiciúil ar an stáitse. 

Ceolamharclannaíocht Óige na hÉireann  

Is Comhlacht Oiliúna Amharclannaíochta Ceoil Náisiúnta na hÉireann é Ceolamharclannaíocht Óige na hÉireann d’aisteoirí idir 14 agus 25 bliain d’aois ar fud Phoblacht na hÉireann agus Thuaisceart Éireann araon. Bunaithe i mí Eanáir 2020 faoi phátrúnacht Colm Wilkinson agus faoi Threoir Ealaíne Séimí Campbell, agus á reáchtáil i gcomhpháirtíocht le Ceol-Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann déanann sé a dhícheall an chéad ghlúin eile d’aisteoirí Éireannacha a aimsiú, a chothú, a thraenáil agus a thaispeáint, agus a ngairmeacha beatha a sheoladh i dtionscal na hamharclannaíochta ceoil sa bhaile agus thar lear. 

Faoi an Ceoláras Náisiúnta 

Is institiúid chultúrtha náisiúnta na hÉireann don cheol é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta, a fhreastalaíonn go bródúil ar phobal na hÉireann ó osclaíodh é i 1981 trí thaibhithe ceoil beo agus cláir shuntasacha oideachais agus chultúrtha. Lonnaithe i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath, agus béal dorais le Gairdíní Uíbh Eachach, tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta bródúil as ár gCeolfhoireann Shiansach Náisiúnta, Cór Siansach Náisiúnta, Cór Linn agus Cór na nÓg chomh maith le háit chónaithe a chur ar fáil do réimse eagraíochtaí ceoil eile lena n-áirítear Cór Aireagail Éireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, Music Network, Crash Ensemble agus Music Generation. Tá sé i gceist faoi láthair athfhorbairt mór á dhéanamh ar na háiseanna go léir mar chuid den Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus de Thionscadal Éireann 2040. 

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