The cast of nine for the return of cult classic rock 'n' roll musical Little Shop Of Horrors has been announced, and features Laura Jane Matthewson (Romantics Anonymous, Bristol Old Vic and US tour, winner of Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Emerging Talent) and Oliver Mawdsley (Boys from the Blackstuff, Liverpool Royal Court, The Comedy of Errors (More or Less), Stephen Joseph Theatre and Shakespeare North Playhouse) will play leading couple Audrey and Seymour.
The new co-production opens at the New Wolsey Theatre in March before touring to Theatre by the Lake in Keswick (March 27-April 20); Bolton Octagon (April 24-May 18) and Hull Truck Theatre (May 22-June 8). The man-eating plant, Audrey II, will be voiced by 2015 X Factor finalist and West End regular Anton Stephans.
Completing the cast will be Matthew Ganley (One Man, Two Guvnors, Octagon); Matthew Heywood (The Book Thief, Octagon); Janna May (The Museum of Marvellous Things, Practically Perfect Productions); Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos (The Hypochondriac, Sheffield Crucible); Chardai Shaw (Protest, Poetry, Peace and Song, Peripeteia Theatre) and Andrew Whitehead (The Book Thief, Octagon).
Weedy Skid Row flower shop assistant Seymour is down on his luck until he stumbles across a mysterious new plant. Fame and fortune follow, but will they win the attention of the girl of his dreams – or will the insatiable appetite of his carnivorous plant get out of control?
Director Lotte Wakeham said: “We have been wanting to stage this production for years and jumped at the chance when the rights became available. It has such an iconic score with memorable and brilliantly feel-good songs and to stage it with a company of immensely talented actor-musicians performing all the music live on stage will sound absolutely incredible.
"It is fantastic to be partnering with three other theatres to ensure even more people across the country get to enjoy it.”
More info and tickets here (Bolton)