HEXHAM Amateur Stage Society has announced its latest upcoming show.

Following its concert ‘A Sound of Musicals’, celebrating 90 years since its formation in 1931, the society is now in full rehearsals of Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Queen's Hall in Hexham.

The production will run from Wednesday, May 10 to Saturday, May 13 with performances at 7pm and a Matinee performance on Saturday May 13 at 2pm.

The show is directed by Jude Long with musical direction by Robert Laws, and the group has welcomed several new members in significant roles.

The show is sponsored by barber Hares of Hexham and Orchard House Vets.

The ‘musical thriller’ was first staged on Broadway in 1979, and, with the dramatic and haunting music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the musical won several awards including; the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

The story is based on the character from Victorian London, from the book by Hugh Wheeler.

The evil Judge Turpin sets his sights on the beautiful wife of London barber Benjamin Barker and has him transported to Australia for a crime he did not commit.

Fifteen years later, Barker returns with a new name, Sweeney Todd, vowing to take his revenge on Turpin.

Proving himself to be the best barber in London, he sets up business above Mrs Lovett’s Pie Shop. She is short of meat for her pies, and she persuades Sweeney to join her in a sinister venture: his unsuspecting customers becoming the solution to her problem.

Though many fall to his blade and are turned into Lovett’s ‘Best Pies in London’: will Sweeney ever take his revenge on Turpin?