NE1 Reviews: Little Shop of Horrors at Northern Stage
Our review of Little Shop of Horrors at Northern Stage.
We’re heading Somewhere That’s Green this May, as Northern Stage is transformed into the Little Shop of Horrors.
And whether you’ve met this mean green mother from outer space before or not – this is a trip to the theatre you won’t be forgetting any time soon.
First things first, for those of you who haven’t visited Skid Row before, let’s get you up to speed. Blending horror-comedy with early Motown and ‘60s-style rock music, Little Shop of Horrors follows hapless florist Seymour Krelborn, who comes into the possession of a mysterious plant that looks a little like a Venus fly trap… except for the small, tiny detail that it’d much prefer to munch on human flesh than insects.
Stuck between his loyalty to Mr. Mushnik – the shop’s proprietor and the man who took Seymour in as an orphan – and the morality of murdering for meals, Seymour struggles to navigate the newfound fame brought by the Audrey II. Yes, he names the plant after the woman he’s been crushing hard on. Because what woman doesn’t want a giant, man-eating plant named after her?
Throw in a sadistic dentist with a deathly addiction to nitrous oxide, and the scene is set for absolute chaos to ensue.
Anyone familiar with Frank Oz’s cult ‘80s movie of the same name will know that there’s some absolute bangers in Little Shop of Horrors. From Audrey II’s toe-tapping manipulation in Feed Me (Git It), to Orin’s Dentist! which gives over-the-top a whole new meaning – in the best way possible.
There’s plenty in this stage adaptation that fellow film fans probably won’t have heard before though. Mr. Mushnik gets more time in the limelight with numbers Ya Never Know and Mushnik and Son, while the “Greek Chorus” of Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette drive the narrative further with Coda and The Meek Shall Inherit.
Perhaps most memorable about these melodies though, is the cast’s ability to recite tongue-twisting lines without tripping over a word. Take Closed for Renovation for example – I mean, who amongst us could sing “Another dozen daisies please / Geraniums, anemones / Forget-me-nots and fleur-de-lis / With gratis home deliveries / On paid-in-full and C.O.D.s” and make it look dirt easy? Talk about impressive.
And speaking of the cast – it’s about time we gave them all their flowers. Kristian Cunningham manages to shine despite Seymour’s sheepishness, and Amena El-Kindy as his crush Audrey gave me goosebumps when Suddenly, Seymour reached its crescendo. Jon Bonner as Mr. Mushnik also did a magnificent job at giving the florist owner more personality and depth than we remember from the ‘80s flick.
Then, there’s the “Greek Chorus” of Emmanuella Chede (Ronette), Shekinah Mcfarlane (Crystal) and Chioma Uma (Chiffon), who have an incredible stage presence throughout. Not only do they drive the narrative with their vocals, but they can also be caught playing instruments at the same time, be it saxophone, guitar or tambourine, putting any of my own multi-tasking to shame!
And of course, the incredible performers behind bringing Audrey II to life; puppeteer Ross Lennon, and vocal artist Tasha Dowd. These two work so harmoniously throughout the performance that you’ll still be asking ‘how did they do that?’ long after you leave the theatre.
So, what’re you waiting for? Grab your best green garb and your pals to catch Little Shop of Horrors at Northern Stage. Just remember: please Don’t Feed the Plants!
Little Shop of Horrors is playing at Northern Stage up until Saturday 23rd May 2026. To find out more, including how to book tickets, visit northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/little-shop-of-horrors.
Main Image: Left to right - Chioma Uma, Kristian Cunningham, Shekinah Mcfarlane, Emmanuella Chede. Pamela Raith Photography.
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