Sweeney Todd to be revived in Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse 2019 season

Sweeney Todd will be revived as part of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse 2019 season as the venue announces its plans for the coming year.

Running from 12 April to 18 May in the Everyman Theatre, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical about the bloodthirsty demon barber of Fleet Street will be directed by Nick Bagnall, with set and costume design by Michael Vale, sound by Ian Davies, musical direction by Tarek Merchant, set and costume by Kirsty Barlow and casting by Sophie Parrott.

Taking the lead role of Sweeney Todd will be Liam Tobin, who was part of the venue's rep company in 2017 and 2018. Full casting will be announced in the new year. Artistic director Gemma Bodinetz has stated that the Everyman rep company itself will "take a pause" in 2019.

Also announced today is Us Against Whatever, a new collaboration with Hull Truck Theatre and Middle Child. Running from 20 to 23 March, the piece features cabaret and karaoke and discusses the role of 'the people' in the modern day.

Touring shows for the season include previously announced productions of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party (25 to 30 March), The Girl on the Train (11 to 16 March), Stones in His Pockets (18 to 23 March), Curve and Rose Theatre Kingston's production of The Cat in the Hat (12 to 16 February), and Caroline's Kitchen (19 to 23 February).

Eclipse Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Hull Truck will present Princess and The Hustler (3 to 6 April), Mark Thomas will perform his Check-Up – Our NHS@70 on 12 and 13 April, and Kenny Wax's touring production of Around the World in 80 Days will also feature from 17 to 20 April.

Spymonkey will return to the venue with pulp-gothic romance Cooped (4 to 8 June), the touring new stage adaptation of Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch will run from 28 May to 1 June, while Ian McKellen will stop off on his major UK tour to appear for two nights on 17 and 18 May.

The Young Everyman company will present Crowd on the Playhouse stage from 27 February to 2 March, examining the control of autocrats. Imitating Dog will also bring their Heart of Darkness to the venue from 1 May to 4 May, while Dead Centre will present their critically praised Chekhov's First Play from 8 May to 11 May.

Speaking of plans for the 2019 season, Bodinetz said: "The Company itself is taking a pause. It achieved so much artistically including several awards and its spirit (and indeed many of its regular members) will continue to infuse our work and our ambition to bring adventurous, ensemble-led theatre to Liverpool remains undiminished."