REVIEW: Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre – A Blooming Brilliant Afternoon at the Theatre! 🌱
Updated: Oct 10
My Trip to See Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre 🌱
On Wednesday 7th October, I headed into Manchester for the press matinee of Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre. I've always loved Little Shop of Horrors. It combines science fiction, horror, comedy and musical theatre, which are all things I enjoy, and it has an absolutely fantastic score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, the songwriting partnership behind so many of my favourite Disney songs.
I was really looking forward to seeing this new production, especially in such an intimate theatre. There were two press performances taking place that day, but I decided to attend the 2:30pm matinee. Although I enjoy evening theatre trips, afternoon performances are often much easier to fit around family life, particularly when I need to get home to the children.
Getting to Hope Mill Theatre by Tram 🚋
I set off at around 1pm and caught the tram towards Manchester. Usually, when I visit Hope Mill Theatre, I have to change trams along the way. However, because there was a concert taking place at Co-op Live, the trams were running through towards the Etihad Campus. This worked out brilliantly for me because it meant I didn't have to change trams at all. I was able to stay on until New Islington, which is the closest Metrolink stop to Hope Mill Theatre.
I got off the tram at approximately 1:30pm and made my way towards the theatre. Even walking quite slowly, it only took me about five minutes, and I arrived at around 1:35pm. Considering the performance wasn't due to start until 2:30pm, I had managed to arrive with almost an hour to spare!
Once inside, I went over to the desk and gave my name. The lady checked the list and told me that I would be sitting in Row F, Seat 9. She also explained that our programmes would be waiting on our seats when we entered the auditorium and that drinks were available inside. As I'd arrived so early, there were plenty of tables available, so I decided to have a look around before finding somewhere to sit.
Little Shop of Horrors Merchandise 🛍️
Of course, one of the first things I did was investigate the merchandise!
There was actually quite a nice selection of Little Shop of Horrors souvenirs available.
The prices displayed were:
📖 Brochure – £7
👕 Hoodie – £65
👕 T-Shirt – £32
🧢 Cap – £20
👜 Tote Bag – £18
🎭 Badge Set – £15
📓 Notebook – £12
✏️ Pencil – £3.50
There were six different pencils available. One featured the Little Shop of Horrors title, while the other five had the names of characters from the musical. I asked how much it would cost to buy the complete set and was told £15.50, although this wasn't mentioned on the price list.
I was tempted to buy all six, but in the end I decided to just get the one with the Little Shop of Horrors title on it for £3.50. I always enjoy picking up a little souvenir from the shows I see, and I thought the pencil was a nice inexpensive option.
Audrey II Decorations, Photos & Drinks 🌱
After looking at the merchandise, I spotted a large Little Shop of Horrors promotional board. Naturally, I had to stop and take a selfie! The board featured a huge illustration of Audrey II, complete with its enormous mouth and sharp teeth, so it made a great backdrop for a photo.
I also loved the little Audrey II-inspired decorations on the tables. Each table had a display featuring a miniature carnivorous plant surrounded by flowers. The one near me had several little green mouths, orange flowers and purple foliage. They were such a fun detail and made the bar area feel part of the production.
After taking my photos, I went over to the bar and bought half a pint of Diet Coke for £2.65. I then found myself a table and settled down to wait. I'd planned to use the time to upload a few Instagram Stories, but unfortunately I couldn't get any phone signal, and there didn't seem to be any Wi-Fi available. Instead, I ended up playing a few games on my phone.
After a little while, I noticed a table towards the back of the room with complimentary drinks available for the press. I hadn't spotted it when I first arrived! I went over and chose a bottle of Fentimans Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger before returning to my table. With my drink sorted, I carried on playing games until it was time to go into the auditorium.
My Seat & View at Hope Mill Theatre 🎟️
The auditorium opened at 2:29pm, just a minute before the advertised performance time.
I made my way inside and found my seat in Row F, Seat 9, where my complimentary programme was waiting for me.
I was really pleased with the view. Hope Mill Theatre is quite a small, intimate venue, which means you feel much closer to the stage than you would in a larger theatre. The seating is also nicely raked, so the rows rise as you move further back, helping to give a clear view of the stage.
From Row F, I had an excellent, unobstructed view of the entire stage. I could see all the details of the set, including the huge illuminated SKID ROW letters and Mushnik's flower shop, which had been cleverly incorporated into the design. Although I haven't sat in every part of Hope Mill Theatre, I imagine most seats would offer a good view because of the intimate layout and the rake of the seating. I would certainly be happy to sit in Row F again.
The performance was scheduled to begin at 2:30pm but started five minutes late, at approximately 2:35pm. Act One lasted around 65 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval. I stayed in my seat during the interval and spent the time reading through my programme. Act Two was considerably shorter, lasting approximately 35 minutes, with the performance finishing at around 4:40pm. That gave the show a total running time of approximately 2 hours 5 minutes including the interval, excluding the five-minute delay at the start.
The Story & My Thoughts 🌱
Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour Krelborn, a shy and rather awkward young man who works in Mushnik's struggling flower shop in the rundown neighbourhood of Skid Row. Seymour dreams of escaping his miserable surroundings and finding happiness with his colleague Audrey, whom he has secretly fallen in love with. Unfortunately, Audrey is in a relationship with Orin Scrivello, a rather unpleasant dentist with a particularly sadistic streak.
When Seymour discovers a strange and unusual plant, which he names Audrey II after the woman he loves, things begin to change. The plant attracts attention, bringing customers into the previously failing flower shop and offering Seymour the possibility of fame, fortune and a better life.
There is just one rather disturbing problem. Audrey II doesn't survive on water and sunlight. Instead, it has developed an appetite for human blood! As the plant grows, so does its hunger, and Seymour soon finds himself facing some increasingly difficult decisions.
I don't want to give too much more away for anyone who hasn't seen the musical before, but it's a wonderfully ridiculous story that combines dark comedy, science fiction and some surprisingly touching moments.
I've seen Little Shop of Horrors before and already knew the story, so I wasn't going into this production expecting any surprises in that respect. What I was particularly looking forward to was seeing how the creative team would bring the musical to life in such a small theatre. I'm delighted to say that I absolutely loved it.
From the opening number, I was reminded exactly why this musical has been one of my favourites for so many years. The production is full of energy, the comedy works brilliantly, and there are some lovely emotional moments amongst all the madness.
Set, Lighting, Puppetry & Music 🎶
One of the things that impressed me most was how much the production managed to achieve within the relatively small performance space. The set, designed by Morgan Large, is fantastic. Huge illuminated SKID ROW letters dominate the stage, with Mushnik's flower shop cleverly positioned amongst them. I loved the contrast between the bold, colourful exterior and the more traditional interior of the shop, with its shelves, plants, counter and vintage furnishings. Everything had been designed to make the most of the available space, and I never felt as though the stage was too small for what was happening.
The lighting was equally impressive. The illuminated lettering changed colour throughout the performance, while blues, greens and warmer lighting helped create the different moods and locations. There were also lighting strips extending above the stage, which made the whole setting feel much larger.
And then, of course, there was Audrey II. The different versions of the plant were incredibly impressive, growing from a small, rather unusual specimen into an enormous creature that eventually dominated the flower shop. The larger puppets were particularly detailed, with huge mouths, twisting foliage and lots of movement. I thought the puppeteers did a fantastic job of making Audrey II feel like a character in its own right.
As impressive as the puppetry was, though, the music was what really made this production special for me. There are so many brilliant songs in Little Shop of Horrors, including Somewhere That's Green, Dentist!, Suddenly Seymour and Feed Me. Hearing them performed by such a talented company in the intimate surroundings of Hope Mill Theatre was an absolute treat. The vocals throughout were fantastic, and I loved how clearly you could hear the performers and the music.
The Cast 🌟
I thought the entire cast were wonderful, but my two biggest highlights were definitely Jed Berry as Seymour and Maisie Smith as Audrey.
Jed Berry was absolutely brilliant as Seymour. He captured the character's shy, awkward personality perfectly, making him incredibly likeable even when he started making some rather questionable decisions. He also has a fantastic voice, and I particularly enjoyed his more emotional moments.
Maisie Smith was equally impressive as Audrey. She brought a lovely warmth and vulnerability to the character, along with plenty of humour. Her performance of Somewhere That's Green was particularly touching. But what I loved most was the chemistry between Jed and Maisie. They worked so naturally together, and their performance of Suddenly Seymour was one of my favourite moments of the afternoon.
Michael Starke was excellent as Mr Mushnik, bringing lots of personality and humour to the role. Benjamin Yates was absolutely hilarious as Orin, the sadistic dentist. His performance was wonderfully over-the-top, and Dentist! was another highlight.
Rio Maye, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid and Gabrielle Davina Smith were fantastic as Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette. Their harmonies were incredible, and they brought so much energy and personality to the musical numbers.
Marcus Ayton also deserves a special mention for providing the magnificent voice of Audrey II. His powerful vocals gave the plant so much character. The puppeteers, Christopher Dobson, Julia Frost and Imogen Khan, were equally impressive, bringing Audrey II to life with some remarkable movements.
There really wasn't a weak performance in the company. Everyone worked brilliantly together, and the musical numbers were an absolute joy to watch.
If you'd like to read more about the production itself, you can also read my more theatre-focused five-star review over on All About Theatre.
The Journey Home 🚋
Once the performance finished at around 4:40pm, I made my way out of Hope Mill Theatre and headed back towards New Islington tram stop. As I'd chosen the matinee specifically so I could get home to the children at a reasonable time, I didn't hang around afterwards.
Thankfully, the journey home went smoothly, and I arrived back at around 5:50pm. It was lovely to be able to enjoy an afternoon at the theatre without having to worry about getting home late.
Final Thoughts 🌱
I had a fantastic afternoon seeing Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre. I've loved this musical for years, so I went into the performance with high expectations, and I'm delighted to say that it certainly lived up to them. The intimate venue worked brilliantly for the production, allowing me to appreciate all the little details of the set, lighting and performances.
The Audrey II puppetry was incredibly impressive, and the whole cast were fantastic. Jed Berry and Maisie Smith were particular highlights for me. Their chemistry was wonderful, and I absolutely loved hearing them perform Suddenly Seymour. But more than anything, it was the music that made the afternoon so special. Hearing such a fantastic score performed so beautifully by such a talented company was an absolute treat.
I also really enjoyed the little touches around the theatre, from the Audrey II table decorations to the photo opportunity and the selection of merchandise. It all made the visit feel like a lovely afternoon out rather than simply arriving, watching the show and going home.
A wonderfully entertaining afternoon filled with fantastic music, brilliant performances and one very hungry plant!
More Information About Little Shop of Horrors at Hope Mill Theatre 📍
Little Shop of Horrors is playing at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 28th November 2026. Tickets are available through the Hope Mill Theatre website, where you can check current performance times and availability. Ticket prices vary depending on the performance and seating block, with prices I found starting from £34.50, plus a £1.50 booking fee per order.
After Manchester, the production transfers to Liverpool Playhouse, running from 3rd December 2026 to 9th January 2027. Tickets are available through the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse website where you can check current performance times and availability.
Hope Mill Theatre is a small, intimate venue, and the nearest Metrolink stop is New Islington, which was approximately a five-minute walk from the theatre at my pace.
The performance I attended lasted around 2 hours 5 minutes including a 20-minute interval.
🎥 Watch My Little Shop of Horrors Theatre Trip
I also filmed some clips from my visit to Hope Mill Theatre, including the merchandise, decorations and my view of the stage.
I'll add the video here once it's available.
At a Glance
📍 Venue: Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard Street, Manchester, M4 7JB
📅 Manchester Run: 25th September – 28th November 2026
🎭 Genre: Comedy Horror Musical
⏱️ Runtime: Approximately 2 hours 5 minutes including interval
☕ Interval: Approximately 20 minutes
🎟️ Ticket Prices: From £34.50, plus a £1.50 booking fee per order. Prices vary by performance and seating block
🎟️ Tickets: Hope Mill Theatre
💺 My Seat: Row F, Seat 9
👀 Seat View: Excellent clear view of the whole stage. The auditorium is intimate and the seating is well raked
📖 Programme Available: Yes, brochure priced at £7.
🛍️ Merchandise Available: Hoodies, T-shirts, caps, tote bags, badge sets, notebooks, brochures and pencils
🚋 Nearest Tram Stop: New Islington Metrolink
🚶 Walk From Tram Stop: Approximately 5 minutes
🎭 Liverpool Transfer: 3rd December 2026 – 9th January 2027 at Liverpool Playhouse
🎟️ Tickets: Liverpool Playhouse
My ticket and programme were kindly provided for review purposes, along with a complimentary press drink. All opinions are my own.
Comments