Sweeney Todd is a barber who returns to London to take revenge on Judge Turpin, the man who had him transported and took his wife and daughter, and he teams up with pie-shop owner Mrs. Lovett. Around them are Johanna, sailor Anthony, the Judge’s henchman Beadle Bamford, young Toby and a mysterious Beggar Woman.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, adapted from Christopher Bond’s 1970 play. It opened at Broadway’s Uris Theatre on March 1, 1979, directed by Harold Prince, and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical (IBDB). This guide covers who each character is, what they want, the songs that belong to them, and who played them in the 1979 original, the 2023 Broadway revival and Tim Burton’s 2007 film. Spoiler warning: the plot is discussed in full, and the big reveal about the Beggar Woman is marked separately below.
Who are the main characters in Sweeney Todd?
| Character | Who they are | Broadway 1979 | Broadway 2023 | 2007 film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweeney Todd | Barber back from exile, seeking revenge | Len Cariou | Josh Groban | Johnny Depp |
| Mrs. Lovett | Owner of a failing pie shop below his room | Angela Lansbury | Annaleigh Ashford | Helena Bonham Carter |
| Judge Turpin | The corrupt judge who ruined Sweeney | Edmund Lyndeck | Jamie Jackson | Alan Rickman |
| Beadle Bamford | The Judge’s officious right-hand man | Jack Eric Williams | John Rapson | Timothy Spall |
| Johanna | Sweeney’s daughter, now the Judge’s ward | Sarah Rice | Maria Bilbao | Jayne Wisener |
| Anthony Hope | Young sailor who falls for Johanna | Victor Garber | Jordan Fisher | Jamie Campbell Bower |
| Tobias Ragg | Pirelli’s simple, loyal assistant | Ken Jennings | Gaten Matarazzo | Ed Sanders |
| Adolfo Pirelli | Showy rival barber and con man | Joaquin Romaguera | Nicholas Christopher | Sacha Baron Cohen |
| Beggar Woman | A half-mad woman who haunts Fleet Street | Merle Louise | Ruthie Ann Miles | Laura Michelle Kelly |
Sweeney Todd was once Benjamin Barker, a London barber with a beautiful wife, Lucy, and a baby daughter. Judge Turpin wanted Lucy, so he had Barker convicted on a false charge and transported to Australia for life. Fifteen years later Barker returns under a new name, rescued at sea by Anthony, and sets up shop above Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop to wait for the Judge. When his chance at revenge slips away, his grief turns into a vow to kill indiscriminately in “Epiphany”. His key songs are “The Barber and His Wife”, “My Friends”, “Epiphany” and “Pretty Women” (with the Judge). Len Cariou won the Tony for creating him, and George Hearn took over in 1980.
The 2023 revival, directed by Thomas Kail, opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on March 26, 2023 and ran until May 2024 (IBDB).
Who is Mrs. Lovett?
Nellie Lovett runs a pie shop on Fleet Street that sells, by her own cheerful admission in “The Worst Pies in London”, terrible pies. Meat is scarce, and business is dead. She recognizes Sweeney as Benjamin Barker, tells him what happened to Lucy in “Poor Thing”, and gives him back his old razors. She’s practical, funny and quietly in love with him. When Sweeney kills his first victim, she suggests the solution that turns the show into a black comedy: bake the bodies into pies (“A Little Priest”).
By Act Two her shop is a hit, and she dreams of a quiet life by the sea with Sweeney (“By the Sea”) while he thinks only of the Judge. She’s also keeping a crucial secret from him. Angela Lansbury won a Tony for creating the role, and Annaleigh Ashford played her in 2023. For a closer look at her first number, see our breakdown of “The Worst Pies in London”.
Who are Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford?
Judge Turpin is the villain behind everything. He framed Barker to get at Lucy, then took baby Johanna as his ward. Now that she’s grown up, he plans to marry her. Sondheim gives him a song of self-flagellating lust, “Johanna (Mea Culpa)”, which many productions cut. With Sweeney he sings the deceptively gentle duet “Pretty Women” while sitting in the barber’s chair, at the moment Sweeney almost gets his revenge.
Beadle Bamford is the Judge’s enforcer: a parish officer who handles his dirty work and his social life. He advises the Judge to smarten himself up for Johanna in “Ladies in Their Sensitivities” and, in Act Two, entertains at Mrs. Lovett’s harmonium with “Parlor Songs” while sniffing around the strange smoke from her bakehouse. That curiosity is fatal. The Beadle is a small part with a big presence, which is why searches for “Beadle Bamford” keep coming back to the show. Jack Eric Williams created him, Timothy Spall played him on film and John Rapson played him in 2023.
Who are Johanna and Anthony?
Johanna is Sweeney’s daughter, raised by Judge Turpin and kept locked away in his house. She sings “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” about the caged birds she identifies with, and she’s desperate to escape. When she agrees to elope with Anthony, the Judge sends her to Fogg’s asylum. Johanna divides audiences: some find her the show’s only innocent, others find her a blank. We take a side in Why Everybody Hates Johanna, and break down her song in “Green Finch and Linnet Bird”.
Anthony Hope is the young sailor who rescued Sweeney at sea. He sees Johanna at her window, falls instantly in love and sings “Johanna”, one of Sondheim’s most beautiful ballads. His job in the story is to be the romantic hero in a world without heroes, and he rescues Johanna from the asylum in Act Two. Victor Garber created him, and Jordan Fisher played him in 2023.
Who are Tobias Ragg and Pirelli?
Adolfo Pirelli is a flamboyant “Italian” barber selling a fake hair tonic (“Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir”). Sweeney beats him in a public shaving contest. Pirelli turns out to be Daniel O’Higgins, an Irishman who once worked for Benjamin Barker. He recognizes Sweeney and tries to blackmail him, becoming the first victim.
Tobias (Toby) Ragg is Pirelli’s young assistant, and after Pirelli’s death Mrs. Lovett takes him in. He adores her and promises to protect her in “Not While I’m Around”. The trouble is that he starts to suspect Mr. Todd. Toby’s innocence makes the ending even more devastating. Ken Jennings created him and Gaten Matarazzo played him in 2023.
Who is the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd?
The Beggar Woman wanders Fleet Street, begging, making crude propositions and warning anyone who will listen that something evil is happening at Mrs. Lovett’s. Most characters dismiss her as mad. She sings fragments throughout the show and the haunting “Beggar Woman’s Lullaby”.
Spoiler: the Beggar Woman is Lucy, Sweeney’s wife. She didn’t die after the Judge assaulted her. She took poison, survived and lost her mind. Mrs. Lovett knew and let Sweeney believe she was dead. In the final scene Sweeney kills the Beggar Woman without recognizing her. When he realizes who she was, he throws Mrs. Lovett into the oven, and Toby then kills Sweeney with his own razor. Merle Louise created the role, Ruthie Ann Miles played it in 2023 and Laura Michelle Kelly played Lucy and the Beggar Woman in the film.
Which songs belong to which characters?
- Company: “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”, the narrative frame that returns throughout.
- Sweeney: “The Barber and His Wife”, “My Friends”, “Epiphany”, “Pretty Women” (with the Judge), “A Little Priest” (with Mrs. Lovett).
- Mrs. Lovett: “The Worst Pies in London”, “Poor Thing”, “Wait”, “By the Sea”, “God, That’s Good!”.
- Judge Turpin: “Johanna (Mea Culpa)” and “Pretty Women”.
- Beadle Bamford: “Ladies in Their Sensitivities” and “Parlor Songs”.
- Johanna: “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” and “Kiss Me” (with Anthony).
- Anthony: “Johanna”.
- Pirelli and Toby: “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” and “The Contest”. Toby also sings “Not While I’m Around”.
- Beggar Woman: “Beggar Woman’s Lullaby”.
Is it based on a true story? No. The Demon Barber first appeared in the Victorian penny serial The String of Pearls (1846–47) and became a stage melodrama staple. There’s no solid evidence that a real Sweeney Todd ever existed. If Sweeney is your first Sondheim, read our guide to the best Sondheim musicals for beginners, and our Into the Woods songs explained for a very different Sondheim fairy tale.
Want to play these songs yourself? Sondheim’s score is famously demanding, but songs like “Johanna” and “Not While I’m Around” are built on lovely chord patterns you can learn to accompany. Pianoforall teaches chord-based piano from the ground up, a good first step before tackling a Sondheim vocal score. Try Pianoforall.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the villain in Sweeney Todd?
Judge Turpin is the clear villain: he framed Sweeney, assaulted his wife and plans to marry his daughter. But Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett become murderers too, which is why many people see Sweeney as an antihero rather than a hero.
What is Beadle Bamford’s role?
The Beadle is Judge Turpin’s assistant and enforcer. He helps the Judge pursue Johanna, and in Act Two his suspicions about Mrs. Lovett’s bakehouse lead him to Sweeney’s chair.
Is Johanna Sweeney’s daughter?
Yes. Johanna is the daughter of Benjamin Barker (Sweeney) and Lucy. Judge Turpin took her as his ward after Barker was transported, and she doesn’t know who her father is.
Who played Sweeney Todd in the 2023 revival?
Josh Groban played Sweeney opposite Annaleigh Ashford’s Mrs. Lovett in the 2023 Broadway revival at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, directed by Thomas Kail.
Is Sweeney Todd based on a true story?
No. Sweeney Todd comes from the Victorian penny dreadful The String of Pearls (1846–47). The musical is based on Christopher Bond’s 1970 stage version, which gave Sweeney his revenge motive.
