Review – Little Shop of Horrors – Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

There are some productions that simply seem to belong in a particular theatre, and this vibrant production of Little Shop of Horrors feels perfectly at home at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre. With Skid Row taking over the venue and Audrey II lurking in the shadows, this is a production packed with energy, humour, superb performances and more than a little horticultural mayhem. If the reaction from the audience is anything to go by, anyone hoping to see this production would be wise to book sooner rather than later.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Seymour is a rather hapless florist who discovers a strange and extraordinary plant. Naming it Audrey II after the woman he secretly loves, Seymour soon discovers that his new botanical friend has a rather unusual diet — and an appetite that becomes increasingly difficult to satisfy. As Audrey II brings Seymour fame, money and attention, the consequences of feeding it become ever more sinister, forcing him to choose between personal success and doing what is morally right, while attempting to protect Audrey from the increasingly dangerous creature.

The casting is one of the production’s greatest strengths. Rob Kelly has assembled a company that works wonderfully as an ensemble, with every performer bringing something
distinctive to the stage. There is a genuine sense of chemistry between the cast, and importantly, there is never a feeling that anyone is being carried by the performances around them.

Jed Berry is superb as Seymour. He captures the character’s awkwardness and vulnerability beautifully, while demonstrating an impressive comic instinct throughout. What is particularly effective is his ability to switch seamlessly from the broad comedy to the much more heartfelt moments, particularly in his scenes with Maisie Smith’s Audrey. Their relationship provides the emotional heart of the production, and Berry handles Seymour’s growing confidence and desperation with considerable skill.

Maisie Smith delivers an assured and thoroughly engaging performance as Audrey. She moves convincingly from the more controlled relationship she initially finds herself trapped in to the increasingly affectionate connection she develops with Seymour. Vocally she is excellent, giving us a much more natural Audrey than the usual squeaky, timid creature we’re used to. This Audrey has a little grit and edge but still shows her vulnerability, and her performance of ‘Suddenly Seymour’ alongside Berry is one of the show’s standout moments, beautifully capturing both the romance and vulnerability of the characters.

Michael Starke brings considerable experience and presence to the role of Mushnik, Seymour’s employer and the owner of the flower shop. He provides plenty of humour while also giving Mushnik the warmth and paternal quality that makes the relationship with Seymour work. There is perhaps room to push some of the character’s more specific comic traits even further, but Starke remains a strong and entertaining presence throughout.

Benjamin Yates is wonderfully entertaining as Orin. His performance manages the difficult trick of making the character genuinely intimidating while simultaneously extracting every possible ounce of comedy from him. It is a performance that regularly threatens to steal the scene, and the audience clearly relishes every appearance.

The street urchins — Rio Maye, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid and Gabrielle Davina Smith as Chiffon, Crystal & Ronette respectively — are ever-present and provide much of the show’s energy and musical sparkle. Their characterisations are solid and their harmonies are excellent, with Myers-Reid in particular producing some superb vocals that were rewarded with some very enthusiastic audience reactions in her opening to the “Skid Row(Downtown)” number.

It would be almost impossible to stage Little Shop of Horrors successfully without getting the plant right, and this production certainly does. Rather than attempting to reinvent Audrey II, the production embraces the traditional puppet approach, with Christopher Dobson, Julia Frost and Imogen Khan expertly bringing the increasingly hungry plant to life. Their manipulation is seamless, and the illusion works remarkably well. Marcus Ayton provides the unmistakable voice of Audrey II, giving the character exactly the combination of menace, comedy and attitude required.

The ensemble of Ella Howlett, Joseph Peacock, Kai Cameron-Jay and Nathen Scott are also strong, with each character given their moment to shine… and shine they do! A special mention must be given to Nathen Scott’s hilarious performance as various characters during the number “The Meek Shall Inherit”

The set, designed by Morgan Large, who also designed the Audrey II puppets, deserves considerable credit. Little Shop of Horrors does not offer the easiest show to design when working within a relatively restricted number of locations, but the production makes excellent use of the Hope Mill space. The attention to detail is particularly impressive, with even the clock above the flower shop door receiving the kind of care that means it actually tells the correct time when it is referenced in the dialogue. Details such as this may seem small, but they demonstrate the thought that has gone into creating this world.

Musically, the production is equally impressive. The five-piece band, positioned behind the set, provides an excellent accompaniment to the performers without ever overpowering the vocals and the balance between orchestra and cast is spot-on, making the musical numbers sound full and energetic while allowing the lyrics and performances to remain clear. The sound design is another definite success.

Most importantly, this feels like a company having a genuinely great time performing together. That enjoyment transfers directly into the auditorium, creating a production that is lively, funny, musically accomplished and hugely entertaining.

Hope Mill Theatre has provided the perfect home for this revival, and Little Shop of Horrors makes excellent use of everything the venue has to offer. It’s a colourful, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production, with a cast that delivers across the board and an Audrey II that is every bit as entertaining as it should be.

*****    Five Stars

Little Shop of Horrors runs at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday 28 November 2026, before transferring to Liverpool Playhouse from 3 December 2026 to 9 January 2027.