Sweeney Todd set to sweep the UK Theatre Awards

Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball

Sweeney Todd is poised for glory at the Theatre Awards with three nominations.

The Jonathan Kent revival about a murderous barber, which starred Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball, recently ended a run at the West End.

Both actors have been nominated for best performance in a musical and the Stephen Sondheim scored production is also among the nominees for best musical.

The awards celebrated regional theatre across the UK.

Sweeney Todd had a successful run at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2011 before transferring to London last March.

Sheffield did well with four nominations in the region: two for the Jonathan Munby’s Company (best musical production and best musical performance); a best supporting actor nomination for Aidan McArdle in Democracy; and best new play for Lungs by Duncan MacMillan.

The other best new play nominations were South Downs by David Hare, Chichester Festival Theatre production, and In the Next Room by Sarah Ruhl, a Theatre Royal Bath production.

This year the public can vote for their favourite touring production. The nominees are the Shakespeare’s Globe’s Anne Boleyn, The King and I by Curve Theatre, Leicester, the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic’s touring Swallows and Amazons, and the Northern Broadside We Are Three Sisters.

The winners of the Theatre Awards UK 2012 will be announced on 28 October at the Guildhall in London.

Full nominations can be seen here.