A School Production Of “Sweeney Todd” In New Zealand Is Causing IRL Violence, Hospitalisations

One thing you definitely want to check before staging Stephen Sondheim’s bloody, neck-slicing play Sweeney Todd at your school: that the props won’t actually cut the performers.

And yet, according to The Age, an Auckland high school’s production of The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has resulted in several serious injuries, with two students hospitalised as a result of their involvement.

Saint Kentigern College in Auckland is now investigating how two students suffered neck injuries during the opening night performance on Wednesday.

For those unfamiliar with the play – or the Johnny Depp movie – the character of Sweeney Todd is a barber who exacts bloody revenge by killing his patrons with a razor blade. (The victims then get turned into meat pies, which isn’t really relevant here, but is still worth noting for its grossness.)

Principal Steve Cole has said the two boys are in a stable condition and are expected to be discharged from hospital today.

Understandably, Thursday night’s performance was cancelled, and counselling has been offered to the cast, crew and wider student community.

Photo: Warner Bros.