sweeney todd

As the final project for my Scenic Design II class at Syracuse, I wanted to challenge myself with an approach on Sweeney Todd that has yet to be seen, outside of the usual grunge and gore, while also capturing a deeper story. To achieve this, I dove into the history and origins of the character of Sweeney Todd, and how the story originally came about in Victorian England. In my research, I found that the demand for Penny Dreadfuls and short stories to read for a low cost rose in direct correlation with the rise of literacy among lower classes. The story of Sweeney Todd was just one of many that became serialized in the Penny Dreadfuls. To turn a profit from this new demand, the government began releasing broadsides for sale at the many public executions occurring at the time - a one page document illustrating and explaining the crime of the person being executed. In the play, Sweeney Todd declares himself an executioner, really cementing the theme of righteous judgement present throughout. With this background, I found my through-line for the concept of my design. The structures of the units on set, as well as the proscenium, are based on the construction and style of gallows at the time, as well as the style of 2D elements being informed by the prints on the broadsides.

concept thumbnail sketch