Richard arrived on the Canberra theatre scene late in life, somewhere between his 31st and 32nd birthdays. His first show was in Phoenix Players production of Kiss Me Kate in 2006, where he "Fell in love with theatre" and since then he has appeared in dozens of shows ranging from plays to musicals to pantomimes.

In 2010 Richard began his foray into producing shows as the Production Manager for Phoenix Players Disney's double bill - Cinderella and The Aristocats. He found managing two casts of about 50 children set him up to handle adult casts like "no other text book training could ever have". In 2012 he got his first chance direct with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as part of the Phoenix Players - Phoenix Rising Program.

In 2013 he performed leading roles in Ickle Pickle's production of Oliver! playing the "suitably sinister" Bill Sikes, as Frank Butler in Queanbeyan Player's Annie Get Your Gun and as understudy for the role of Javert in Canberra Philharmonic Society's Les Miserable.

In 2013 Richard launched the StageCenta website as a resource and information hub for the theatre scene.

In 2014 Richard established Dramatic Productions to co-produce The Rokitelly Man with Ickle Pickle Productions. And then in 2015 directed and produced The Last Five Years and teaming up with the ANU School of Music Into the Woods which won 3 Canberra Area Theatre awards. In 2016 Richard directed Dramatic Productions 4th show Catch Me If You Can.

2017 saw the last production directed by Richard, Sweeney Todd. Afterwards he would exclusively produce theatre, staging Heathers the Musical in 2018 and then The Producers in 2019, starring Daryl Somers (Hey Hey Its Saturday) and directed by Rachael Beck.

Caitlin has been dancing since age 3. Competing in various competitions around the ACT and NSW area. Caitlin’s passion for performing in musicals started when she was 12. This is when she did her first musical ‘The Aristocats’ with Phoenix Players in 2010. Since then she has been in many musicals including Addams Family QPRC, Catch Me If You Can Dramatic Productions and We Will Rock You with PeeWee Productions. Caitlin has choreographed a few musicals including Dramatic Productions Sweeney Todd. Caitlin has won a CAT award for Best Choreography in 2015 for Saint Clares College’s ‘Cats’ and was nominated for Best Dancer in her role as Magical Mister Mistofellees. 

Caitlin has most recently been a part of Supa’s ‘The Full Monty’ as Jordan Kelly’s Assistant choreographer and Canberra Rep's 'And The World Goes Round' which she not only choreographed but performed in for the opening week. Caitlin then went on to feature as Brooke in Canberra Philo's Legally Blonde. Caitlin really enjoyed the challenge this role brought with skipping and singing at the same time. 

Hayden is a seasoned performer in Canberra; this being his 11th show (performing) in the last three years. This show is special to Hayden as this is his first official role on the production team for a musical. This is an opportunity Hayden has not taken for granted, having spent hours upon hours in research, meditation as well as private and group character development.

Hayden has been fortunate enough to have some incredible teachers and mentors throughout this entire process which he would like to thank as they have been his endless supply of skills, inspiration and motivation. These teachers persistently reminded him to reflect, connect and enjoy the experience and creativity of every moment, for this is (to Hayden’s understanding) when the beauty and Truth of a narrative comes to life within each person; be it audience or the cast.

A lot of Hayden’s inspiration comes from dreaming; often waking up in the middle of the night with a picture, image, word or thought in mind that inspires his guidance and direction. Hayden works by seeing the potential in the cast and finding ways to open as many doors as possible for his cast to explore their limitless potentiality.

Hayden has great admiration for the philosophical world that drives the theatrical manifestations we see today, be it classics, or new works of theatre, books, tv, radio, movies and much more! We have so much to learn from art and our connections with worlds beyond our own day-to-day life. They are our modern day teachers of body, mind and soul. Hayden hopes you enjoy the energy and love this cast has put in to creating anew the narrative and Truth of Sweeney Todd as we have all understood it individually and together

David has a career that includes musical theatre, cabaret, opera, television, children’s entertainment and independent film. David studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London highlights which included a UK tour with Sir Elton John, the roles of Ciaphas and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar and making his West End debut. David was part of the Baylis Education Programme with the English National Opera and baritone soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra performing Leonard Bernstein’s Mass.

In Australia David has played principal roles in Titanic the Musical, Jekyll and Hyde, Phantom of the Opera and Nigredo Hotel. Other works include Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris, the Mahagonny Singspiel, Carousel, Godspell, Joseph, 42nd Street, South Pacific, Peter Pan, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, West Side Story, various pantomimes with Top Hat Productions and cabaret seasons at the School of Arts Café in Queanbeyan.

Non-musical roles include, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Andy in Star Spangled Girl, Cooley in Don’s Party and two seasons as Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. David played the role of Heart in Jingle Man by Magenius, which won best score for composer Peter J Casey at the 2017 Canberra Short Film Festival.

Ever since she was 4 years old, Meaghan knew she wanted to become an actress and everything she has done since has been in pursuit of her dream. She has a huge passion for cabaret, entertaining, the 80s and vinyl clothing.

Meaghan has performed in over 11 different shows ranging from Shakespeare to Disney musical, she is probably best known for her performance as Ursula in Daramalan theatre company’s 2014 production of ‘The Little Mermaid’ in which she was nominated for a CAT award. Studying a wide range of theatre styles at Daramalan College from Stanislavski to Artaud has been the basis for her unique approach to theatre and overall enthusiasm for the arts.

When Meaghan completes her year 12 certificate at the end of this year, she hopes to attend NIDA and pursue her dream of becoming an actress. It has been a dream come true and an absolute bucket list role to play Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd as she has studied this role since she was 12 years of age and being able to play it so early in her life is an absolute privilege, as well as to work with such an incredible cast and team. Meaghan hopes that you will enjoy the show as much as she enjoys performing in it.

Lachy’s love of theatre started in high school; his study of music, dance, and acting lead him toward the stage – and ever since he hasn’t left! Although he has only been performing for the better part of three years, he’s become enamoured with the theatre community, performing in some of the biggest and best shows, and working with Canberra’s most renowned creatives and cast members in shows such as PeeWee’s Jesus Christ Superstar: The Arena Spectacular (2015), Supa Productions’ Funny Girl (2016), Queanbeyan Players’ Sound of Music as Friedrich (2014), Free Rain Theatre’s Mary Poppins as Robertson Ay (2015), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2016), and Les Miserables (2017), Queanbeyan City Council’s Grease as Sonny (2015), and The Addams Family (2017), Pied Piper Productions’ High School Musical Jr. as Ryan Evans (2016), Phoenix Players’ Spring Awakening as Hänschen (2017).

When he’s not onstage around Canberra, Lachy works as a member of Questacon’s Excited Particles – a group of performers devoted to bringing fun and engaging scientific concepts to kids from all over Australia, and is studying of a Bachelor of Primary Teaching – so he can infect the next generation with his passion for the arts.

Max burst onto the musical theatre stage in 2001 as the voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. His more than 40 productions since have seen him pushing himself both onstage and off. Recent highlights include donning breasts and learning to tap in high heels as Edna in Hairspray, bumming around a music store as Barry in High Fidelity and not stopping Jesus’ self-destruction as Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar. Most recently he was seen rocking out with his band and cast as Musical Director for Rock of Ages.

Max would like to thank his beautiful, patient and supportive family. The insanity of raising children around theatre cannot be understated, especially with clashing rehearsal schedules across multiple productions. He would also like to thank the cast and team of Sweeney for being so accommodating and professional. He is proud of our community and what they produce, with Sweeney being a fi ne example. Finally Max would like to thank you - our audience. Without your support the madhouse would close and we’d all be turned loose.

Audrey is no stranger to stage and small screen as she first appeared in a commercial while she was still in the pram. Audrey would get to see her dad both rehearse and perform in “The Old Time Music Hall” and the theatre bug soon followed her.

Audrey’s first role was in Phoenix Players “The Wizard of Oz” in which she played one of the Lullaby League. It would be a few years later until Audrey did her next production so in the mean time she concentrated on her Dance at “Dancedge”.

Child Players announced their Holiday program which would be “The Jungle Book” and the following year “Alice in Wonderland” where Audrey was in the ensemble. The next show Audrey auditioned for was “The Music Man” for Queanbeyan Players also appearing in the Ensemble.

Audrey is still taking Dance classes now in Queanbeyan at “Eden Dance”. Audrey is also playing drums in the school band at Queanbeyan High School. Audrey wasn’t going to be involved in a show this year but circumstances arose where she could tread the boards again so she joined the cast of “Sweeney Todd”.

Hailing from mostly rainy South Wales in the UK. Sian studied a degree in Musical Theatre and Drama at Cumbria Institute of the Arts in Carlise. She then took off to travel the world, working in Minnesota, USA at a summer camp, teaching rock climbing and as a nanny at a ski resort in France. During this time she met a lovely Australian guy and has since moved to Canberra, become an Australian citizen and is engaged to marry him in January next year.

Sian has been involved in theatre in Canberra for the last six years. She has been taking a break from the stage recently to finish her Drama Teaching qualifications with Charles Sturt University. Previously has played the role Lucy Brown with Canberra Rep’s production of Threepenny Opera and Little Red Riding Hood with Dramatic Production’s version of Into the Woods. Other shows she has been involved in here in Canberra include; Arcadia, Under Milk Wood, Forbidden Broadway, West Side story and Back to the 80’s. Sondheim has called to her again and dragged her out of hiding. She hopes you are not too squeamish and you enjoy the show.

Bradley J McDowell first took an interest to acting on stage when he appeared as the main villain in a pantomime when he was 14 for his school. He continued his work with Emmaus Christian School’s drama stream and appeared in both following productions written and directed by John Jenkins. He would go on to receive the Excellence in Drama award for his graduating Year 10 class of 2012. Bradley also appeared in a number of Lights! Canberra! Action! short film finalists since 2013.

When at college, Bradley pursued his acting and had leading roles as Mercutio in Gungahlin College’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and as Nick Piazza in ‘Fame: The Musical’. It was at college where he met Dr. Duncan Driver who offered him a role in Everyman Theatre’s 2014 production, ‘The Burning’. In 2015, he appeared in Canberra REP’s ‘Casanova’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Last year, he played the eccentric playwright, Philip Montague, in ‘Play On!’ and made a special guest appearance as Mr. Renaldi in Supa Production’s ‘Funny Girl’, both performed at The Q.

This is Bradley’s first show with Dramatic Productions and he is stoked to be performing once again in his home theatre.

Emily Grace Mullamphy is 18 years old, currently studying Primary Teaching but a musical nerd at heart. For 10 years Emily has been performing in musicals since she was even littler in her debut in High School Musical in 2007.

Since then highlights have included returning to High School Musical in 2017 as Gabriella, Lady Thiang in The King & I, Rumpleteaser in Cats and has enjoyed all 17 musicals. She takes singing lessons currently with Sharon Tree and previously with Lauren Nihil.

Last year Emily auditioned for a Degree in Musical Theatre at the major institutions around Australia and was thrilled to receive call backs for both NIDA and Griffith. Though not getting in this time, she vows to continue until she is accepted even if she gets to being an 80 year old auditionee.

Being Johanna’s Understudy has been an incredible experience. During rehearsals having to be constantly aware of two characters’ actions and journeys has been a test of her questionable multitasking abilities and a huge learning experience.

Through this darker musical she hopes all the different themes and emotions shine through the performance and that the audience leaves changed in some way.

From her mid-teens as Shakespeare’s Juliet on the Cenotaph parapet in Sydney’s Hyde Park (an Education Week televised production) to The Bird Seller and the Ensemble in Dramatic Productions’ Sweeney Todd, Ros has acquired an eclectic repertoire: student reviews and cabarets, theatre restaurant work in California, mainstage musicals, comedy and drama.

Ros’s mainstage performances began with Canberra Philharmonic as Eliza Doolittle (Philo’s first production of My Fair Lady -1979), then Ado Annie (Oklahoma - 1980), Sister Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls -1982), and Rose of Spadger’s Lane (The Sentimental Bloke - 1984), all staged in the Canberra Theatre. She also contributed as a Philo Executive member and behind the scenes during this time. Then followed a 1988 season (by invitation) with David Whitbread at The School of Arts Café, and performances for Canberra Rep - Sally Bowles (Cabaret - 1989), four wonderful seasons of Old Time Music Hall in the 1990s, Madame Knorr (On the Razzle - 2004), and her CAT-nominated role as Lady Markby (An Ideal Husband – 2007). A welcome return to the stage for Philo in 2014 saw Ros as Fraulein Schneider (Cabaret - 2014). And now Sondheim’s delicious Sweeney Todd! That’s eclectic!

Gerard joined the team part way through the production process and is most grateful to the impressive cast for their support. The role of Jonas Fogg has proved a challenge as he attempts to portray a sadistic creep - Gerard’s first attempt at playing a villain.

Gerard was introduced to music and theatre by his Aunty Meg in the early 1970’s and credits her for developing his interest. Several seasons of Rugby in the 1990’s – included post-match revelry across suburban Sydney which enhanced and ensured an ability to project his singing voice. His most recent Canberra show saw him play the role of Max in the Q Players production of the Sound of Music 2014. Other shows have included Annie Get Your Gun, 42nd Street, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Annie.

Sweeney Todd is Mitchell’s fi rst musical outside of a school setting. He has previously stared in his school production of Peter Pan a Musical Adventure as Peter Pan, his other shows include – Suessical, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dream coat, The Benevolent Dictator and Midsummer Night’s Dream.

This production of Sweeney Todd has taught Mitchell so much about theatre and has ignited a passion that will never leave him! This production has also taught him a few other things, some of these are: No matter how lovely and amazingly kind David is, whenever he is in the character of Sweeney he is none the less terrifying and practicing your songs at home really does help, especially when it’s Sondheim! Mitchell has enjoyed every single part about being in this show and he hopes you do too!

Katherine Berry has had a passion for the performing arts from a very young age. She started dance lessons at the age of 3 years. After completing a Diploma of Musical Theatre at Canberra Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2015, Katherine has taken part in Acoustic Theatre’s The Last Time, Canberra Philharmonic’s Anything Goes and Honest Puck’s Henry V in 2016 and Canberra Unscripted: X Voice Idol in 2017.

Katherine is always filled with joy and inspired by the creative team, cast, crew and orchestras she has been given the opportunity to work and perform with. If it were a choice for Katherine, all life should be a musical.

Born blind, Kirsten started her musical career twinkling the ivories at the tender age of 6. She branched out from this and starting singing some memorable classics like ‘Rockin Robin’ and Taylor Swifts ‘Shake it Off’. Finally after a number of years torturing her parents she began singing lessons under Greta Claringbold in 2014 who began developing her unique voice. After a number of years with Greta, she moved on to Helen Swan where she gained a credit in her AMEB Certificate of Performance exam.

Kirsten first performance after changing to classical music was the Opera Australia Rising Stars Concert in 2014. In 2015 she performed in Judith Clingan ‘Songs of Passion and Compassion,’ the High Court Christmas Party and was a chorister in Canberra Choral Society’s production of Messiah. In 2016 she played Cosette in the Gungahlin College production of Les Miserables and again a chorister in the Canberra Symphony Orchestra production of Beethoven Symphony No 9. A regular with the Gondwana Choirs since 2015, Kirsten is well on the way to realising her dream of performing at the Opera House

After taking a break from performing to follow an academic career, Ash is coming back to the stage in full force - Sweeney Todd is Ash’s third show onstage since moving to Canberra for university, having performed in the ensemble for Anything Goes (Canberra Philharmonic Society, 2016), and as the student Joly in Les Misérables (Free-Rain Theatre, 2017). He has also helped behind the scenes of shows such as Spring Awakening (Phoenix Players, 2016), and Avenue Q (Supa Productions, 2017).

He’s enjoyed getting close to the cast through backstage sing alongs, postrehearsal Maccas runs, and the challenge of performing Sondheim’s score - which he believes may have been written with a cat running over a keyboard at certain points. He just hopes Mrs Mooney didn’t get her hands on it...

Silvana jumps back into the foray after a 10-month sojourn to the Northern Hemisphere where she completed a year of her studies and took part in what became an unintentionally gender-bender production of The Pillowman at Richmond, The American International University in London because there really is ‘No Place Like London’.

Before heading overseas, she stepped in as pit singer, crew member, and front of house for Catch Me If You Can because she refused to sit around and ‘Wait’, was a magical mermaid ‘By the Sea’ in The Little Mermaid, one of many ‘Pretty Women’ in the ensemble of Grease, in ‘The Contest’ to be one of the top 5 ex-girlfriends in High Fidelity, and a Bird Girl, though not a ‘Green Finch [or] Linnet Bird’, in her first out-of-school-production, Seussical The Dr Seuss Musical.

When not at the theatre, it’s a ‘City on Fire’ as Silvana juggles her final semester of her Bachelor of Writing, working at a café and her internship in publishing. While most of her haggard appearance on stage can be attributed to the makeup ladies, at least part of it is due to her unsustainable schedule. Be sure to give her a hug after the show.

Jesse is making his musical debut in Sweeney Todd - after performing for 9 years as both a solo artist, and as a member of the acoustic duo Hold Harbour. When he’s not performing, Jesse works at Riddle Room, Canberra’s premiere escape room, as the owner and operator.

Jesse is thrilled to be a part of this show, and he hopes that you Lovett.

John has been involved backstage in musical theatre and events for over ten years. This will be just his third time bringing a character to life onstage for a musical.

In the Dramatic Production’s version of Into the Woods in 2015, John was given the near impossible task of engineering and piloting a remote-control chicken! Despite some unfortunate collisions with the set during rehearsals, (many suspect fowl play), the performances during the shows were eggcellent.

Then in 2016, John fi nally had his big break. During one evening’s performance of Catch Me if You Can, a cast member was mysteriously absent and John had to perform as understudy. Whilst his performance as “dead man on hospital bed” only lasted but a few brief moments, John really brought the character to life. John has been amazed by the hard work and dedication shown by the cast and the production team, and is extraordinarily proud to be involved with such an amazing theatre family for this production of Sweeney Todd.