Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 musical thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. The musical is based on the 1973 play Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond.

The show opened on Broadway in 1979 and in the West End in 1980. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Olivier Award for Best New Musical and has had numerous revivals, notably a 2012 incarnation with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton which added a further three Olivier's to the trophy cabinet.

The show takes on a 'classic' musical style, where much of the dialogue is articulated through song rather than speech. A show of this style is difficult to maintain full stop, so credit where it's due - Walsall Operatic Society did a sterling job with a demanding piece!

The set and lighting were visually superb. This production continues the trend of non-professional companies using professional standard scenery and props and the production was predictably enhanced by it. Creating the illusion of a smokey, smoggy London, add in period costume and the look of the show was outstanding.

Naturally, however, the cast is what makes the heart of the show beat - and everybody on stage this evening should be incredibly proud of what they've achieved. 

It seems somewhat wrong to select stand out performances, but there's a special place in my heart for Richard Poynton and Steph Coleman's interpretations of Todd and Lovett respectively. 

Poynton brings an imposing, sinister and somewhat creepy face to one of the most infamous villains in literary history. He plays the role with just enough malice to retain believability and alongside an equally sinister - and at times, laugh out loud funny - portrayal of Todd's partner in crime, Coleman shines at Mrs Lovatt from the second she walks on stage.

Sweeney Todd continues what is turning into an amazing twelve months for (and I still hate the word!) amateur theatre in the West Midlands. Sure there's the odd bum note and some of the scene changes take a bit longer than usual, but these are people who have day jobs and who fill there spare time with an attempt to put on a professional show - an accolade they achieve in style with this production.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street plays at Wolverhampton Grand until Saturday 17th March. For tickets or more information, head to grandtheatre.co.uk.