bloodthirsty opera at the map village street editors

Contemporary pop culture has become a dynamic fusion of creative endeavours for those who inhabit its upper echelons. Writers dabble in directing, musicians dabble in acting, models dabble in fashion design, fashion designers dabble in architecture, architects dabble in celebrity, and so on. One of the latest creative fusions takes the form of Tim Burton’s latest movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – a compelling and original vision based on the award-winning musical sensation by legendary lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim.

Amongst the actors dabbling in operatic performance are Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen and Alan Rickman, who combine their unique talents to bring the iconic story to life on screen revealing quite a knack for singing that, until now, was largely unknown to film audiences. Set amongst the gritty streets of 18th-century London, Sweeney Todd tells the gloomy tale of barber wronged many years ago and sent into exile who returns to exact his revenge on his tormentors. This gloriously bloody musical is an enthralling two hours of cinema worth experiencing – if only to marvel at the operatic talents of its stars. And if you can’t wait the few weeks until its release, satiate your curiousity by watching the trailer here. Only at the movies from January 24.