Review: Little Shop of Horrors at The Hope Street Theatre

“…laughter, surprise, and more than a little unease…a joy to watch.”

Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, The Hope Street Theatre

By Abi Kelly

What We Did Next theatre company brought Little Shop of Horrors to life last weekend with a vibrant take on a dark comedic musical. With a cult following this musical brings Motown inspired music with a sci-fi twist. The production benefitted from a tight ensemble, an eager chorus of narrators and clever direction, which resulted in a lively and enjoyable evening.

Set in the gritty streets of Skid Row, the story follows Seymour (Kai Heale), a shy and painfully awkward at times flower shop assistant turned botanist who discovers a mysterious plant during a solar eclipse. Naming it after Audrey, his colleague and not so secret crush, Audrey II is born. Seymour quickly comes to realise the plant has a taste for something a bit more sinister than plant food. As the plant grows, so too does Seymour’s fame, and the plant’s appetite.

Opening with the chorus, Chiffon (Katie Moncaster), Ronette (Julie Evans), and Crystal (Roisin Carlin) set the tone for the vocals of the evening. Strong harmonies and attitude to match, their performances were endearing and enticing.

Heale brought a soft, likeable charm to Seymour, leaning into his nervous energy and selling his darker moments with sharp turns. Jennifer Morrow, as Audrey, was one of the highlights of the evening. She nailed the accent, her comedic timing was calculated and sharp, and her performance of Somewhere That’s Green was tender, full of longing and delivered with depth.

Mr. Mushnik (Omar Hussein) balanced sternness with sharp wit, while Daniel Hickman brought gleeful menace to Orin Scrivello DDS, Audrey’s cruel dentist boyfriend, without veering too far into caricature. His scenes were some of the funniest of the night.

Audrey II, voiced by Alex Firth-Clark, oozed personality along with murderous intent. Sassy, bold, and wickedly funny, Firth-Clark’s delivery had the audience laughing throughout and the puppetry was impressively executed – especially as the plant grew to take over the stage.

The set was thoughtfully designed with Mushnik’s shop at the heart of the action and small details evoking the urban decay of Skid Row. Lighting shifts helped distinguish the more surreal, dreamlike moments from the grittier reality. Special mention goes to the musical sound effects, which added an extra dose of humour and helped bring a catharsis to the darker moments.

Musical director Grace [Maudie] Maude led a tight band that did justice to Alan Menken’s dynamic score. From soulful solos to high-energy group numbers, the music gave the production its pulse. The supporting ensemble (Jack Gloyens, Aimee McMenamin) added further colour and vitality to crowd scenes and musical numbers. Even when not the focus of the scene, they made their short comedic moments prominent and worth casting your eyes away from the main cast.

Director Katie Marrin brought a confident vision, balancing the show’s humour with its darker undercurrents. The result was a production that felt both fun and grounded, filled with moments of laughter, surprise, and more than a little unease.

With strong vocals, consistent pacing, and an enthusiastic cast, What We Did Next’s production of Little Shop of Horrors was a joy to watch. A playful show that proves just how powerful community theatre can be when done with heart.

Little Shop of Horrors plays at The Hope Street Theatre until Saturday 31 May.

Abi Kelly is a writer and theatre enthusiast who has studied both Drama and Scriptwriting. A lover of weird and wonderful stories, she’s usually found at home with a book in hand or deep in a theatre seat.