Laura Mann & Ashley Marie-Stone
I was delighted to chat this morning with two of the leading members of the cast of a performance next month of one of the most gruesome tales of the Victorian age, Sweeney Todd – the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Ashley Marie-Stone and Laura Mann are members of Southend Operatic and Dramatic Society and it was great to hear their passion not just for performing generally but especially for their particular roles – Ashley playing the complex Mrs Lovett, Todd’s sidekick, and Laura portraying the craziness of the Beggar Woman. It’s all too easy for an audience to take a performance for granted, so it was also fascinating to hear Laura and Ashley talk about some of the technical challenges posed by Stephen Sondheim’s music.
Recently celebrating its 125th anniversary SODS is one of the longest established musical theatre groups in the country and an intrinsic part of the story of Southend, and in particular central to the town’s theatrical heritage.
Laura explained that SODS is always delighted to hear from anyone interested in joining them; if you’d like to take part in an audition contact the Membership Secretary.
For ticket information for Sweeney Todd – which is at Westcliff’s Palace Theatre between 11th and 14th November – contact the Box Office.
Listen again:
