A MUSICAL with a chilling edge is being put on in the Guildhall in Brecon later this month by students from the town’s high school.

Sweeney Todd tells the story of a barber who slits the throats of his customers before disposing of them by pulling a lever which drops their bodies through a trap door into the basement.

His partner in crime, Mrs Lovett, then bakes their flesh into pies which she sells to unsuspecting customers in her pie shop in a street nearby.

The musical is being put on by A-level drama students from Brecon High School, assisted by some of the school’s younger drama students.

The original story was published as a “penny dreadful” in 18 weekly parts in 1846-7. The story was set in 1785 and director Helen East said the 17th-century Guildhall provides the “mood and era” of the Stephen Sondheim version of the musical on which their production is based.

She said some of the blood and gore that have featured in some of the popular movie and theatre productions of Sweeney Todd over the years has been toned down but the cast were still keen to make the production as realistic as possible.

Ms East added: “I felt the choice of Sweeney Todd was a fitting tribute to the talents of our sixth form A-level students who have wanted to perform this play for a long time, and as they have been such committed drama students throughout their time in high school, I wanted to provide them with the opportunity to take on a really challenging script and score.

“The sixth formers are ably accompanied by some of our GCSE drama students and a chorus and crew of over 40 younger students.

“We are really excited about bringing the show into the heart of Brecon and promise not to be as gory as the Tim Burton film.”

Tickets for Sweeney Todd are available from The Ardent Gallery or reception at Brecon High School or by calling 01874 622361.

The shows run from Wednesday, February 21 to Saturday, February 24. All shows start at 7pm and there is an extra matinee performance at 2pm on the Saturday.