Little Shop of Horrors
The hit musical Little Shop of Horrors is currently gracing the intimate stage of the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. In celebration of the movie adaptation’s upcoming 40th anniversary, this production is an absolute must see.
Originally premiering off-Broadway in 1982, this smash-hit musical follows the sudden prosperity of Mushnik’s Flower Shop due to the discovery of an exotic, unknown plant species – affectionately dubbed Audrey II. Written by Howard Ashman and with an excellent score by Alan Menken, the tale delves into the increasingly specific, hazardous horticultural needs of this unique plant and the devastating impact upon the lives of those who cross its path.
Maisie Smith and Jed Berry give excellent and engaging portrayals of Audrey and Seymour. Smith’s vocals contrast nicely with those of the street-wise trio of Chiffon (Rio Maye), Crystal (Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid) and Ronette (Gabrielle Davina Smith), who powerfully anchor the story. Comedy is a key element of many musical numbers during the production. The sharp comedic timing between Berry and his opportunist on-stage boss turned dad, Mr Mushkin, played delightfully by Michael Starke, had the audience laughing with each movement.
Whilst the story directly tackles the difficult topics of toxic relationships and domestic violence, they are navigated skilfully by Benjamin Yates’ brilliant and camp portrayal of the sadistic Dr Orin Scrivello (DDS!). The dark and twisted humour tightly intertwined within his musical numbers again provide some of the perfect comedy throughout the show.
Arguably the true star of the show, however, is Audrey II, brought to life by a team of talented puppeteers. The masterful voiceover by Marcus Ayton gives a crisp, varied and menacing tone to the unusual creature and beautifully synchronizes with the ‘plantography’ seen on stage.
The set and lighting designs (Morgan Large and Rory Beaton, respectively) contribute vastly to the great atmosphere. A deceptively simple set is somehow packed with intricacies that elevate the creepy shop amongst the urban decay of Skid Row, with clever, stylistic choices highlighting the shop’s rapid rise to fame. Beaton’s strategic use of lighting brings the audience to the forefront of the action – whether plunging the small space into sudden darkness, or brightly engulfing the under the terrifying threat of a dentist’s drill.
Overall, this production is a triumph perfectly scaled to the intimacy of the Hope Mill Theatre, though it would imaginably delight audiences on a larger stage as well. The show incorporates a botanical star into a talented cast to create a show of great success. Not only does this production explore A Little Shop of Horrors, it intimately delivers a little shop of humour and horticulture.
This show was reviewed on the 7th October 2026 at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester where it runs until the 28th November 2026. Tickets available here: Little Shop of Horrors – Hope Mill Theatre
Review written by Gabrielle & Rachael Groves
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Photo credit : Danny Kaan
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