Christopher Howell (Sweeney Todd)

Christopher trained at Guildford School of Acting and received the Musical Theatre Award.

London Theatre credits include: Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore (Union Theatre); King Sheik Ya Booty in Aladdin (Pleasance); The RNT production of Anything Goes,in which he played Fredand covered and played the role ofThe Purser,directed by Trevor Nunn at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane; The RNT production of My Fair Lady againat Drury Lane and directed by Trevor Nunn, in which he played Sir Reginald Tarringtonand covered and played Colonel Pickering; Raymond Neff in The Witches of Eastwick (Prince of Wales); Goody in Fame (Victoria Palace); Colonel Parker in Elvis (Piccadilly); The Porter in Deborah Warner’s devised piece The Project for the London International Festival of Theatre (St Pancras Chambers); Murray Deutch and BigBopper in Buddy (Strand Theatre); Smartmanin Peter Pan – The British Musical (Cambridge), Fred andHarvey in What a Performance (Queen’s Theatre).

Christopher has spent the last year playing Luther Billis in South Pacific, he also played Gus/Bustopher Jones in the 25th Anniversary production of Cats which toured nationally and also played Lisbon and Porto, Portugal. He has also played Amos Hart in the UK Tour of Chicago, a production that additionally played to audiences in Beijing and Athens. 

Other UK Tours:  Chris understudied and played Monsieur Firmin inAndrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, appeared as Priest and Herod in the original company of Gale Edward’s reworking of Jesus Christ Superstar. Other regional theatre roles include; The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (Tunbridge Wells), Marcel in the chamber version of Aspects of Love for Adrian Reynolds at The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke and King Ratin Dick Whittington, North Wales Theatre.

International credits include: Lead vocalist in A Night at the West End Musicals, Bahrain; Mr Shienkopf in Fame, Cyprus; Benvolioin Romeo and Juliet, Avingnon and Prince Edwardin Talents to Amuse, Los Angeles. He has participated in numerous workshops, playing Hank in Brother Can You Spare a Dime? (Workhouse Theatre), Father in Golden Land (The Entertainment Business) and Wilfred Tyas in Any Questions? at the RSC, Stratford.

Original Cast recordings include: Peter Pan, Buddy, Brother, can you spare a Dime? and Battle Cries.

Emma Francis (Mrs Lovett)

Theatre credits include: ‘Fairy Godmother’ in Cinderella (Pavilion Theatre, Southend), ‘Miss Bell’ and understudy ‘Miss Sherman’ in  Fame (Shaftesbury Theatre, London), ‘Simone’ in A Bedfull of Foreigners, a farce written by Dave Freeman (British Theatre Playhouse, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur), ‘Angel’ and understudy ‘Erma’ in Anything Goes (National tour), ‘Annie’ and understudy ‘Mama Morton’ in Chicago (European Tour), ‘Barelli Sister’ and Resident Director in Rat Pack (Strand Theatre, London and European Tour), ‘Mrs Higgins’ Maid and ensemble in My Fair Lady, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn(Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), ‘Marty’ and understudy ‘Rizzo’ in Grease (National Tour), Ensemble in Dr Doolittle, directed by the late Stephen Pimlott (Hammersmith Apollo), ‘Minister’s Wife’, ‘Mrs Simpson’ and understudy ‘Mrs Walker’ in Tommy, directed by Des MacAnuff (National Tour), ‘Carmen’ and understudy ‘Charity’ in Sweet Charity (English Theatre, Frankfurt and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), ‘Simeon’s Wife’ in Really Useful’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed by Stephen Pimlott (National Tour).

Her television credits include ‘Davina’ in Strictly Chucklevision (CBBC), ‘Barelli Sister’ in Rat Pack, Live from Las Vegas (German Television), Agony (Live TV), The Making of Dr Doolittle (Carlton Television).

Emma has also spent time in Australia where she has worked on various trade shows as an Assistant Choreographer.

Stephen Rashbrook (Judge Turpin)

Stephen trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and made his professional debut as ‘Sebastian’ in ‘Twelfth Night’ directed by Terry Hands for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He stayed with the company for a number of years appearing in ‘Othello’, ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’, ‘The Knight of The Burning Pestle’, ‘Peter Pan’ and in the original award winning production of ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ in London and New York directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

West End Theatre credits include ‘Hamlet’ directed by Jonathan Miller , ‘Forty Years On’, ‘Jackie-An American Life’ and ‘The Lady in the Van’ directed by Nicholas Hytner.

National Theatre credits include ‘Hamlet’ directed by Richard Eyre , ‘The Winter’s Tale’ directed by Nicholas Hytner  and ‘Luther’ directed by Peter Gill.

Other work includes ‘Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme’ directed by Martin Duncan- a co-production for Nottingham Playhouse and Birmingham Rep.

TV credits include ‘Emmerdale’ – forty five episodes as Tony Charlton, ‘Dream Team’, ‘Urban Gothic’, ‘A Touch of Frost’ ,‘My Dad’s the Prime Minister’, ‘Doctors’ and ‘Holby City.’

Music Theatre credits include ‘The Sound of Music’ as Rolf,  ‘Robert and Elizabeth’ as ‘Occy and most recently ‘The Ratpack –Live from Las Vegas’ as Sinatra in the West End also on tour in Europe , Scandinavia and the USA.’

Work as a director includes two years as associate director for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company productions include  ‘Die Fledermaus’, ‘HMS Pinafore’, ‘The Mikado’ and ‘La Vie Parisienne’  and a spell as assistant director at English Touring Opera on Gluck’s ‘Orfeo’.

He has worked extensively for BBC Radio both freelance and as a member of the Radio Drama Company and the BBC World Service and is the narrator on numerous TV Documentaries for the BBC, Channels 4 and 5, National Geographic, The History Channel and Discovery.

Adam Ellis (Tobias)

Adam is originally from Swansea, South Wales and trained professionally at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 200

Television Credits include: Skater Boy in Britannia High (ITV1) and Freddy in Red Lion Square (Halogen Entertainment)

Adam is thrilled to be playing Tobias and would like to thank his family and friends for all their support.

Leon Kay (Anthony Hope)

Leon trained at the Arts Educational School, London where he gained a BA Hons Degree with a first classification. Whilst training he played a number of roles including Pippin in “Pippin”, Dickon in “The Secret Garden” and Dave in “The Full Monty”.

Theatre Credits: - Seabee Wise in “South Pacific” (UK No.1 Tour), Dick in “Dick Whittington” (The Queens Theatre, Barnstaple), SGT Godley in “Ripper The Musical” (Covent Garden), Ensemble in “Children Will Listen, Stephen Sondheim’s 75th Birthday Show” (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) and William in “Nightingale The Musical” (Hammersmith).

Recording Credits: - Preacher Carcroft “Spitting Distance” (RNT), Dean “Comrade Rock Star *demo song recording*” (Woolford & John), Seamus “The Circus”.

TV Credits: - Tango Dancer in “F**k off I’m Small” (BBC).

Leon is delighted to be part of Sweeney Todd and would like to thank his friends and family for their continued love and support. You’ll Lovett!! 

Katie Stokes (Johanna)

Katie graduated from Rose Bruford College earlier this year with a degree in Actor Musicianship. Whilst training she performed many roles including Portia in Julius Caesar and Cinderella in another of Sondheims infamous musicals, Into the Woods. Since leaving college she has performed with the Works Theatre Company playing the part of Juliet in an actor musician production of Romeo and Juliet which toured around the Kent and the south this summer. As well as acting Katie is also a keen musician playing the violin, clarinet and piano. She is very excited to be working at the Union Theatre, and hopes you all enjoy the show!

David Kristopher-Brown (Pirelli)

David is a native of Glasgow and trained at Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts, gaining a BA in Performance.

Theatre credits include: Ensemble/Understudy Piangi in 'The Phantom Of The Opera' (Her Majesty's Theatre, London), Ensemble in 'Chess in Concert' with Adam Pascal, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Kerry Ellis (Royal Albert Hall), Soloist in '...And then there were six' (Network Theatre) and David in the workshop of a new musical 'The Diary Of Me' (Playhouse Theatre Harlow)
Film credits include: Zacky Hill in 'Glasgow Dreams' (BBC Afternoon Plays series) and Midget in 'Wise Guys' (Tartan Shorts)
David is DELIGHTED to be joining the cast of 'Sweeney Todd' and dares anyone to try and look at a meat pie in the same way again after seeing the show!

Nigel Pilkington (Beadle Bamford)

Nigel graduated from Cambridge University with a first class degree in law.  Whilst at University, he sang for his supper as a Choral Scholar.  After four years in private practice at a City law firm, he saw the error of his ways, and resumed his career on the stage.  Fluent in French and German, he also has a working knowledge of British Sign Language (Stage 2).

Nigel’s young, native Lancashire tones are often used for radio and TV commercials, English teaching recordings, audiobooks, radio drama and animation.  His theatre work encompasses many lead musical characters including Candide in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald in Sondheim’s Assassins, as well as Mowgli in The Jungle Book, and Lombardi in Sondheim’s Passion.  Nigel was lucky enough to cut his teeth in repertory theatre,  performing such plays as Arsenic & Old Lace, One For The Pot, Table Manners, Design For Living, and A Toe In The Water.  He has also toured German theatres in the title role of a French-speaking production of Le Petit Prince.

Earlier this year Nigel played Asmar in the animated feature-film Azur & Asmar: The Princes’ Quest, and he is the continuity announcer for the children’s TV channel Kix.  He’s proud to provide character voices for the channel five cartoon Bottle Top Bill & His Best Friend Corky.

www.nigelpilkington.com

Róisín Sullivan (Beggar Woman)

Róisín is a graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London, where she studied Musical Theatre.  Previous work includes understudying and performing the lead singer role in the Broadway tour of ‘Riverdance’ in America, Canada, Germany, and in
The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.  She was the resident lead performer in ‘Normandy Nights Cabaret’ which took place nightly on board cruise vessel The M.V. Normandy and has workshoped new musical ‘Alvaro’s Balcony’ in Her Majestys Theatre, London. 

Whilst studying at Mountview, she played Peggy in ‘Godspell’ (Chelsea Theatre), Golde in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and Procne in ‘The Love of the Nightingale’.  Favourite Musical Theatre credits in Ireland include ‘Eliza Doolittle’ in ‘My Fair Lady’, Gigi in ‘Gigi’, (both at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin), Phoebe Meryll in ‘Yeoman of the Guard’ (The National Concert Hall, Dublin) and Anne Dindon in ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ (The SFX, Dublin).  Film and TV credits include Alison in ‘Play it Safe’ produced for the NSPCC and the Kitchen Girl in ‘The Tale of Sweeney Todd’ produced for Sky.  Róisín also works as a voice over artiste, particularly for English Language Tapes.  

Róisín is delighted to be performing at the Union Theatre.

Ross Aldred (Ensemble)

Ross trained at the Guildford School of Acting graduating in 2006 with a First Class Honours Degree in Musical Theatre.

Credits include: Betwixt the Musical (Kings Head & Ambassadors Theatre), Me & My Girl (London Palladium), Twelve Irish Tenors (USA & European Tour), Enchanted (Courtyard Theatre, Covent Garden), Assassins (Bellairs Playhouse), Cinderella (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre), Lucky Seven (Hermitage, Monte Carlo) and Titanic the Musical (Electric Theatre).

www.rossaldred.com

Matthew Baker (Ensemble)

Matthew graduated from Bird College in July 2008 gaining a National Diploma in Musical Theatre. His credits include various leads in “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Studio Theatre), Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” (Orchard Theatre, Dartford), Dr. Parker in “Bat Boy” (Studio Theatre), 1st Man of the Gangster Duo in “Kiss Me Kate” (Studio Theatre), Ensemble in the Pirate Show for “Harrods Christmas Parade” and Chad in “All Shook Up” (Orchard Theatre, Dartford). Matthew also featured as an ensemble dancer for “A Tribute to Bob Fosse”  choreography by Alistair David (Orchard Theatre, Dartford).

Matthew is very much looking forward to performing in this production of Sweeney Todd at the Union Theatre.

Matthew would also like to thank his friends and family for their continual love and support.

Hannah Bingham (Ensemble)

Hannah has recently graduated from the Arts Educational School, London. Credits include the 'Barbara Cook and Friends' concert (Coliseum), she featured as Petra in 'Good Thing Going' with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Cadogan Hall), Assassins (Pimlico Opera Company), understudy Claudia in 'Nine' (Arts Ed) and 'Once On This Island' (Arts Ed). Roles in new works include: Holly in 'Tickledom' (Perfect Pitch, Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Sigma Bracebridge in 'Nightingale: A Tale Of Love And War' (workshop, Posk Theatre) and Mary (lead) in 'Sherlock Holmes - The Early Years' (Arts Ed).

Michael Burgen (Ensemble)

His theatre credits include Me and My Girl (London Palladium), the Jeweler in Conor Mitchell's Mathilde (Embassy Theatre), Ugly in Honk! (Edinburgh Festival) and Man 2 in Songs for a New World (Edinburgh Festival).

Sweeney Todd marks Michael's return to the Union Theatre after appearing in the all male version of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado, where he covered the role of Nanki-Poo.

Michael is also a member and founder of the Hear Me Now! Choir, which featured on the BBC's Last Choir Standing this summer. www.hearmenowchoir.co.uk

Michael is delighted to return to the Union Theatre and would like to thank his friends and family for all the support they have given him over the years.

Paul Callen (Ensemble)

Paul Callen trained at The London School of Musical Theatre.

Theatre work includes the Bellboy in the European premiere of Flaherty/Ahrens ‘Lucky Stiff' (Bridewell Theatre), Paul in the critically acclaimed 'Company' (Edinburgh Festival),  Soldier in Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet' (London Coliseum), Harold Schaffner in the World Premiere of ‘Tin Pan Pals’ (Drayton Court Theatre, London), Hansel in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ (Bull Theatre, London), ‘Heatwave’ and ‘Temptation’ (Ibiza) and Jack in 'Jack and the Beanstalk (Princess Theatre, Torquay). Paul has been involved in various workshop performances including 'Sleeping Beauty' (The Venue, Leicester Square), Hylas in ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ (The New Players Theatre) and most recently as The Soldier in 'The Attic' (Haymarket Theatre, London). Paul can also be heard on the subsequent Original Concept Album of 'The Attic'.


He has performed in concert at the Barbican Centre, London in ‘Sondheim Tonight’ and around the world with the premiere cabaret ‘From West End to Broadway’ including onboard the QE2 during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and in front of former PM John Major at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Danielle Fenemore (Ensemble)

Danielle trained at Mountview. Her theatre credits include: Ruby Bates in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (George Wood Theatre), Wanda in the workshop of Slow Motion Suicide (Edinburgh Festival), Vocalist in Anything You Can Do (Greenwich Playhouse), Willy Browne in Never Land (Abbeyfest), Simone in Speed Dating the Musical (Jermyn Street Theatre), Penelope in An Act of Twisting (Kings Head Theatre), Harriet Harman in Tony Blair the Musical (Gilded Balloon), Carol in It’s Only Make Believe (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), Margie Ann in Bye Bye Birdie & Rita in The Pajama Game (Craterian Ginger Rogers Theatre, USA).

Film/TV credits: The Duchess, The Sitcom, Graham Norton Show, Sweet State of Mind & Every Little Thing.

Kimberley Ensor (Ensemble)

 
Kimberley trained At Mountview Academy Of Theatre Arts, gaining a BA Hons in Performance.

Whilst studying as Mountview she played Alexandra in 'Witches Of Eastwick', Edith in 'The Pirates Of Penzance', Suzannah in 'Hair', Nickie in Sweet Charity and Clootie in 'In Flame'.

She is delighted to be a part of the cast of Sweeney Todd and to be performing at The Union Theatre.

She would like to take this opportunity to thank her friends and family for all the love and support they have given her over the years. Thankyou for believing in me.
All the hard work has finally paid off.

Michelle Williamson (Ensemble)

Michelle graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts last year. Roles during college include Helene in 'Sweet Charity', Desdemona in 'Othello', Felicia in 'The Witches of Eastwick' (The Albany, Deptford) and Claire/Marilou in Personals (Jermyn Street Theatre, London).
Since leaving college Michelle was part of the cast of the World Premiere of 'Only The Brave' in The Edinburgh Festival 2008, and was also a part of the Original Cast Recording. She is delighted to be involved with 'Sweeney Todd' and performing here at The Union.