Little Shop of Horrors kicks off national tour

Esther Hannaford and Brent Hill in Little Shop of Horrors photo by Jeff Busby tour editorialFollowing its critically-acclaimed sold-out season in Sydney, the cult musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors kicks off its Australian tour in Adelaide this week, before touring to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and a recently announced Sydney return season.

When meek, down-and-out floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new plant species that he names ‘Audrey II’ after his co-worker crush, it seems like a serendipitous ticket to fame and fortune. But as Audrey II grows and grows – into a foul-mouthed, smooth-talking, R&B-singing carnivore – Seymour discovers that feeding his ambition starts to require juicier and less justifiable ingredients.

Before he knows it, our accidental hero Seymour and the gutsy but guileless Audrey must battle the perilous and persuasive plant – not just for their lives, but for the very future of planet earth!

Produced by Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions who brought the 2014 multi award-winning Sweet Charity to the stage, this gleefully gruesome musical combines the upbeat, doo wop Motown score, puppet wizardry and a wickedly talented Australian cast including Brent Hill and Esther Hannaford.

Award-winning creative duo Director Dean Bryant and Choreographer Andrew Hallsworth have combined their ingenious minds to bring Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s book and score to life, creating a deviously delicious out-of-this-world musical experience. They have joined forces with master puppet-makers Erth to create a brand new Audrey II for the 21st century.

Brent Hill stars as the unassuming, hapless flower shop worker Seymour Krelborn. Brent most recently starred in the Australian production of Once – earning himself a Helpmann Award nomination. Other theatre credits include Jerry’s Girls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Rock of Ages.

Playing the object of Seymour’s affections, Audrey, is multiple-award winner Esther Hannaford, one of Australia’s most in demand leading ladies. Esther starred as Ann Darrow in King Kong, Bonnie Mae in Miracle City and received a Helpmann Award for her role as Penny in Hairspray.

The opportunistic shop owner Mr Mushnik, is played by Tyler Coppin (Strictly Ballroom, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) while the role of the demon dentist and Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend is acclaimed actor Scott Johnson (Jersey Boys).

Angelique Cassimatis (The Rocky Horror Show), Josie Lane (Miracle City, Fame) and Chloe Zuel (Legally Blonde) play the three Supreme-esque streetwise urchins while Dash Kruck (Violet) and Kuki Tipoki (Sweet Charity) complete the cast playing in the ensemble.

Laced with dark humour and irresistible music, Little Shop of Horrors is one of the longest-running off Broadway shows of all time. Inspired by the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, this rock musical version premiered off-Broadway in 1982 before enjoying a successful run on Broadway and in London’s West End, eventually inspiring the 1986 film version by veteran puppeteer Frank Oz that starred Rick Moranis.

The Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin) rocking doo-wop score includes the popular songs Feed Me, Suddenly Seymour and Somewhere That’s Green.

Director: Dean Bryant Featuring: Angelique Cassimatis, Tyler Coppin, Esther Hannaford, Brent Hill, Scott Johnson, Dash Kruck, Josie Lane, Kuki Tipoki, Chloe Zuel Choreographer: Andrew Hallsworth Musical Director: Andrew Worboys Set Designer: Owen Phillips Costume Designer: Tim Chappel Lighting Designer: Ross Graham Sound Designer: Jeremy Silver Puppetry: Erth

Little Shop of Horrors
Her Majesty’s Theatre, 58 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 20 – 30 April 2016
Bookings: www.bass.net.au

Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Season: 4 – 22 May 2016
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au

Canberra Theatre, London Circuit, Canberra
Season: 25 – 29 May 2016
Bookings: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Playhouse – QPAC, Cultural Precinct, Southbank (Brisbane)
Season: 1 – 9 June 2016
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au

Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay (Sydney)
Season: 20 – 24 July 2016
Bookings: www.roslynpackertheatre.com.au

His Majesty’s Theatre, 825 Hay Street, Perth
Season: 4 – 7 August 2016
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au

For more information, visit: www.littleshoptour.com.au for details.

Image: Esther Hannaford and Brent Hill in Little Shop of Horrors – photo by Jeff Busby