With the world seemingly spinning out of control with various wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, budget crises, economic strife, and political upheaval, what better time to produce an end of the world satire complete with a Motown style score and a giant carnivorous plant from outer space?

Come enjoy an evening of macabre laughs and Doo-Wop songs as the world crashes down around us with Newport Operatic Society ‘s latest musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors”, playing at The Dolman Theatre 18– 21 April 2018 at The Dolman Theatre, Newport, NP20 1NY

When a socially awkward floral shop clerk named Seymour finds a bizarre new plant after a solar eclipse, he and his colleagues quickly discover that this odd looking seedling may be the key to drawing new customers into their floundering Skid Row flower shop.

Naming the Venus Flytrap looking plant Audrey II in honour of the quirky and beautiful store assistant he has a crush on, Seymour begins to nurture the little seedling with the only thing it wants to eat — Seymour’s own blood.

As the shop thrives because of the strange looking plant in the window, so does Audrey II – into a giant, deep throated, blood sucking carnivore with nefarious designs of world domination. Now enjoying everything he ever desired — fame, money, and the affection of his beloved Audrey — Seymour must decide if he can sacrifice it all in order to save the world from this alien plant and its sinister spores.

Inspired by the much darker and far less intentionally campy 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, this rock musical version of “Little Shop of Horrors” by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman premiered Off Broadway in 1982 before enjoying a successful run on Broadway and in London’s West End, eventually inspiring a film version by veteran puppeteer Frank Oz.

“Little Shop of Horrors” is directed by Steve Bissex-Williams and Sue Burgess, Choreographed by Kelly Chown and with John Murray as musical director.

The cast is lead by Emily Rose Smallwood (Audrey) Steele Quinnell (Seymour Krelborn) & Gareth Brenton (Orin Scrivello) who are new to the Dolman Theatre. They are supported by Chris Edmunds,David Burgess,Katie Green, Katherine Bluck, Tracey Rogers, Cerys Heffernan & Beth Evans.

Steve Bissex-Williams was introduced to Little Shop of Horrors in 1990 when he was invited to direct the show, he then repeated the show two years later as his production was entered into the International Musical Theatre Festival.

The show went on to win Best Actress and Best Actor awards. The show has always had a special place in Steve’s heart and he has thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the show for Newport Operatic Society.

Tickets are available on line via the Dolman Theatre website www.dolmantheatre.co.uk, to personal callers at the Dolman Theatre Box Office on Saturdays between 10.00am and 1pm (Tel: 01633 263670) or from Chris Edmunds, NOS Ticket Secretary (Tel:. 01633 891363). Ticket prices are £11 for the performance on 18th April and £12 for 19th, 20th and 21st April erformances.