Birmingham Rep's Sweeney Todd becomes its most successful musical ever

It has been a summer to remember at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The Rep's revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which closed on 15 August 2026, has become the theatre's most successful musical production of all time, based on box office income across its performances.

Directed by artistic director Joe Murphy in his first season, the show starred West End and Broadway star Ramin Karimloo as Sweeney, Meow Meow as Mrs Lovett and three-time Olivier Award winner David Bedella as Judge Turpin. It sold 31,283 tickets, played to 82 per cent capacity and took nearly £1.4 million during its six-week run, earning more than twenty five-star reviews. Four in ten audience members came from Birmingham and the West Midlands, over 430 people saw it more than once, and one fan went 19 times.

"I'm deeply proud that the show was made here in Birmingham," said Murphy. "Everything, from the set, costumes and props, was created by our wonderfully talented craftspeople. And we rehearsed the production here too."

That spirit of making theatre in the city runs deep. The Rep grew from the Pilgrim Players, founded by Barry Jackson in 1907, which turned professional as the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1911. Jackson built Britain's first purpose-built repertory theatre on Station Street, now The Old Rep, which opened with Twelfth Night on 15 February 1913. It is regarded as the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre companies. Its 1923 Cymbeline was the first Shakespeare performed in modern dress, and the young Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft and John Gielgud all made their mark there.

In 1971 the company moved to a new theatre on Broad Street, in what became Centenary Square. Today it produces drama across three auditoria, The House, The Studio and The Door, and is home to The Young Rep. Its stage version of Raymond Briggs' The Snowman, first seen in 1993, has become a Christmas institution.

There is plenty more to come this season. The Snowman returns to The House from 22 October to 1 November, followed by Peter Pan from 18 November to 17 January, while The Ugly Duckling plays in The Door from 3 December.

Tickets and the new season brochure are available on the Birmingham Rep website.