MOVE over Johnny Depp and Tim Burton's new film of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. York Stage Musicals are to stage Stephen Sondheim's musical thriller at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, from February 5.

"Sophisticated, macabre and uncompromising, Sweeney Todd has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howling moments of dark humour, " says director Robert Readman.

"Audiences will find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in horror the next.

Sweeney Todd is one of the greatest musicals ever written."

John Hall will star in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison, who vows revenge not only for that cruel punishment, but also for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter.

Joining him will be Sandy Nicholson as Mrs Lovett, Sweeney's amorous old friend, who creates diabolical meat pies; Alex Deadman as Tobias, the unwitting accomplice in her culinary crimes; and Lee Gemmell as the evil Judge Turpin.

Readman's cast also includes Alex Papachristou as the Judge's wicked associate, Beadle Bamford; Neil Foster as a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli; and Juliet Waters, as The Beggar Woman.

Alistair Baron and Sophie Young will make their company debuts as young lovers Anthony and Johanna. Alistair and Sophie were last seen on a York stage playing Jean Valjean and Madame Thénardier in the Northern Musical Theatre Company Youth Section's production of Les Miserables School Edition at the Grand Opera House last July.

The musical director will be Mike Thompson. Tickets are on sale via York Theatre Royal box office, tel 01904 623568, or online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk