Details revealed about new Little Shop of Horrors revival in Leeds

A new production of Little Shop of Horrors is set to play in Leeds next summer.

The news was revealed as part of Leeds Playhouse’s latest season announcement, the first from artistic director Tom Wright. Read more here.

As a co-production with Oxford Playhouse, the revival will be directed by Jamie Sophia Fletcher.

During a celebration launch, Fletcher, who is the new associate artistic director of the venue, revealed further details.

She revealed it is her “favourite musical of all time,” explaining “as a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I grew up with the music of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and the 1986 movie was so exciting – the darkness, the horror and the campy thrills.”

The director, who was at the helm of the recent revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, confirmed, “I really want to lean back into that and bring it to life on the amazing Quarry stage… I hope that you’ll see something that is absolutely visually striking, and the magic of theatre brought to life with puppets.”

As a queer trans woman, Fletcher said: “My personality and my politics and experience seep into everything that I do,” adding, “I’ll be pulling upon some strands of stories and themes within that show and bringing that to life.”

They elaborated that this will be done in part through casting and confirmed that they will cast a trans man to play Seymour.

“It’s something that hasn’t been done before, and I think that highlights something about what it is to be welcomed and feel accepted.”

Productions of Little Shop have been gender fluid in their casting, particularly with the character of Audrey II. Recently, Jinkx Monsoon was considered the first drag queen to play the role of Audrey in a major production Off-Broadway, while MJ Rodriguez, a transgender woman, played the role at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Little Shop of Horrors will play at Leeds Playhouse from 23 June to 17 July.

WhatsOnStage was at the launch of the new season and will be reporting more from Wright and chief executive Shawab Iqbal – so keep your eyes peeled!