By Rosa Smith

AS PART of a UK tour, which started in August 2016, a brand new production of the comedy rock musical Little Shop of Horrors will be coming to the Everyman Theatre in October, featuring X Factor success, Rhydian.

A charming, kooky and hilarious 1950s musical comedy, Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of Seymour, the assistant at Mushnik’s Flower Shop in downtrodden Skid Row, who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers a strange and exotic plant.

He names it Audrey Two in order to impress glamorous Audrey, the shop assistant he’s secretly in love with.

But Audrey Two has a mind of its own, and soon grows into a bad-tempered, foul-mouthed carnivore with an appetite that can’t be satisfied.

Seymour must keep the meals coming to stop his prized plant from wilting, but how far is he willing to go to get the girl of his dreams?

The cast stars ITV’s X Factor runner-up Rhydian as The Dentist, Orin Scrivello.

The classically trained singing star has sold in excess of a million albums worldwide as well as having numerous theatre credits such as, Grease, We Will Rock You and The War of The Worlds.

Other cast members include Sam Lupton (Boq in Wicked, West End) as Seymour, Stephanie Clift (Mamma Mia!, West End) as Audrey, Paul Kissaun (Calamity Jane, Fiddler on the Roof, UK Tours) as Mushnik, Sasha Latoya (Rent, Greenwich Theatre, Britain’s Got Talent) as Crystal, Vanessa Fisher (Hairspray, UK Tour) as Chiffon, Cassie Clare (Cats, West End) as Ronnette and Josh Wilmott (Spamalot, We Will Rock You, UK Tours) as Audrey II.

The cast also includes Phil Adele, Stephanie McConville and Neil Nicholas.

Featuring music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, who are best known for their Academy Award winning Disney collaborations, this vibrant new version of Little Shop of Horrors shows why the musical has stood the test of time.

Originally opening Off-Off-Broadway in 1982, the show has won numerous awards including the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical.

In 1986 it was adapted into the now iconic cult film starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin.

Other notable stage productions include the 2006 London revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory and in the West End, starring Sheridan Smith as Audrey.

  • Little Shop of Horrors in on at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre from Monday, October 17 to Saturday, October 22. For more information and to book visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk or call 01242 572573