Little Shop of Horrors
Kristy Stott, Theatre EditorBook now
Little Shop of Horrors
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
A major new production of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s cult musical arrives at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre this autumn before heading down the M62 to Liverpool Playhouse for Christmas. It’s a musical about a man-eating plant, and Manchester tickets are getting snapped up at a similar rate: of Hope Mill’s nine-week run, 28 performances have already gone.
For those who aren’t familiar, Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour, a down-on-his-luck florist working in a struggling flower shop. His fortunes take a dramatic turn when he discovers a strange and unusual plant, which he names Audrey II after his co-worker and long-time crush. There is, however, one fairly significant problem: Audrey II has an appetite for human blood.
As the plant grows, so does Seymour’s success, but keeping Audrey II fed quickly leads him into increasingly dark – and very funny – territory. It is a gloriously odd mix of musical comedy, sci-fi, horror and romance, with enough camp excess to make the whole murderous-plant situation feel surprisingly joyful.
The score comes from Menken and Ashman, the songwriting partnership who went on to create some of Disney’s best-known music for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Here, expect a mix of rock and roll, doo-wop and Motown-inspired numbers, including Suddenly, Seymour, Somewhere That’s Green and the ridiculously catchy title song.
Tony and Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, whose credits include the global hit SIX, is part of the creative team behind this new production. Jed Berry takes on the role of Seymour, with Michael Starke as Mr Mushnik, Benjamin Yates as Orin Scrivello and Marcus Ayton providing the voice of Audrey II.
The production will also have two Audreys across its run. Maisie Smith takes on the role at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, while Jessie Elland joins the company for Liverpool.
The timing feels particularly fitting, too. December 2026 marks 40 years since the release of Frank Oz’s much-loved film adaptation, which helped turn Little Shop of Horrors into the cult classic it is today.
Catch the show at Hope Mill Theatre from 25 September to 28 November, before Audrey II heads to Liverpool Playhouse for the festive season, 3 December to 9 January. If your idea of festive theatre involves fewer pantomime dames and rather more bloodthirsty plants, this might be just the ticket.
