NZ Opera’s production of Sweeney Todd which is on at the moment. The story was originally published as a penny dreadful in 1846 that morphed over the years into a play and then the Broadway show, that opened in 1979 and has remained one of the most popular Sondheim shows ever since.

The production is a co-production between NZ Opera and Victorian Opera in Australia: it opened in Auckland last week, runs down to Wellington on Friday and then to Christchurch for the first time as well so you in the south island get to enjoy it too.

The title role of the demon barber is taken by Teddy Tahu Rhodes, looking suitably villainous.