The U.K. is getting a new major revival of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, to be directed and choreographed by SIX: The Musical choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. The production will begin at Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre September 25-November 29, 2026, followed by a holiday run at Liverpool Playhouse performing December 3, 2026-January 9, 2027.
Ingrouille has gathered a creative team that includes set and costume designer Morgan Large (Sister Act), music supervisor and arranger Paul Schofield (Hair0, lighting designer Rory Beaton (Burlesque), and sound designer Kelsh Buckman-Drage (Evita).
Casting, to be announced, will be by Rob Kelly.
The musical, featuring a book and lyrics by Ashman and a score by Menken, is a loving send-up of '60s B horror movies, adapted from the Roger Corman film The Little Shop of Horrors. The story follows green-thumbed Seymour Krelborn who unwittingly adopts a man-eating plant from outer space, and becomes involved in its plans for world domination when it promises him fame, fortune, and the girl of his dreams if he'll feed it on human blood.
A cult favorite since it debuted Off-Broadway in 1982, the musical has since gotten the feature film treatment (in 1986, featuring original Off-Broadway star Ellen Greene), a 2003 Broadway bow, and a long-running Off-Broadway revival, currently playing the Westside Theatre. The title also remains a popular choice at regional theatres and schools internationally. This production is being presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
"We’re really looking forward to welcoming this cult classic musical to the Playhouse next Christmas," says Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Creative Director Nathan Powell in a statement. "Little Shop of Horrors is wonderfully odd, full of cracking tunes, and offers a brilliantly different take on festive entertainment. After bringing The Rocky Horror Show to the Playhouse in 2024 and preparing to present Young Frankenstein this Christmas, Little Shop of Horrors will be another chance to enjoy a gloriously offbeat holiday season with plenty of laughs and, yes, a rather hungry plant.”
“I am truly honored to be entrusted with the opportunity to produce the first major sit-down production, not in one city but two, of Little Shop of Horrors since its celebrated West End run in 2007," adds producer Thomas Hopkins. "With Carrie-Anne and such an exceptional creative team, it’s a dream collaboration. When the team at the Liverpool Playhouse invited us to follow our already announced 10-week run at Hope Mill, we couldn’t be more grateful. This production promises to be one of the most exciting and faithful interpretations of Little Shop of Horrors the U.K. has seen in many, many years.”
Tickets are already on sale at LittleShoptheMusical.com.
