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Menier Little Shop Embarks on National Tour, 6 Feb

The award-winning 2006 Menier Chocolate Factory production of Little Shop of Horrors, which subsequently transferred to the West End for a six-month run in 2007, is to embark on a UK tour, beginning at the Churchill Theatre Bromley on 6 February 2009.

Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s musical is loosely based on Roger Corman’s popular low-budget 1960 film about a plant with an appetite for blood. Nerdy orphan Seymour works in Mr Mushnik’s Skid Row florist shop, along with girl of his dreams Audrey, who is dating Scrivello. After a solar eclipse, Seymour discovers a peculiar plant with a bloodthirsty appetite, which he names Audrey II. As his infatuation with the real Audrey grows, so does the plant.

The touring cast features Clare Buckfield (Audrey), Alex Ferns (Dentist), Sylvester McCoy (Mushnik), Damian Humbley (Seymour), Cathryn Davis, Nadia Di Mambro, Donna Hines as Ronettes and Andy Heath as Puppeteer. Original Menier director Matthew White returns, as does designer David Farley.

Clare Buckfield has starred in TV series including Steel River Blues and 2.4 Children. She was recently a finalist on ITV's Dancing on Ice series. Sylvester McCoy is best known as the seventh Doctor in long-running BBC seriesDoctor Who. His numerous stage roles include the Fool in the recent RSC production of King Lear with Ian McKellen. Alex Ferns recently starred as Trevor in EastEnders, while stage credits include Michael Grandage's Donmar revival of Guys and Dolls.

After opening in Bromley from 6-14 February, the tour will visit Brighton, Wimbledon, Coventry, Cambridge, Cardiff, Billingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Sunderland, Nottingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Milton Keynes and Woking.

- By Theo Bosanquet

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