Little Shop of Horrors (Northern Stage) Review

AD - We were provided with press tickets to review this show at Northern Stage in May 2026

Need to know:

📆 8 - 23 May 2026 at Northern Stage Newcastle
🫶 All performances include creative captions. BSL and relaxed performances available.
⌚ 2 hrs 20 mins including interval
⚡Triggers: comic horror violence, mild language, sex references and mature themes including domestic violence
🎫Tickets available from £12
✅Recommended for ages 13+ 🎟️Book: https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/little-shop-of-horrors/ ⭐ Amena El-Kindy stars as Audrey (known for her role as Eponine in the West End producton of Les Miserable)

⭐ Music by Alan Menkin and Lyrics by Howard Ashman (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Aladdin & Beauty & the Beast)

This cult musical is major new co-production between Northern Stage and Derby Theatre. How exciting that Newcastle is the first to see this brand new version of the show which has been dazzling audiences for 40 years.

My husband Steve has always raved about Little Shop of Horrors and we've even named our own Venus Flytrap Plants Audrey II (and Audrey III) in honour of the show. But weirdly I have never watched any version of this production before and although I was aware it was a proper cult classic and that it featured a talking plant, I didn't really know much else about the story.

Wow! What a wonderful two hours of pure entertainment. Little Shop of Horrors is absoultely captivating and I'm so proud that one of our regional theatres is producing theatre of this quality and calibre - this production genuinely would not feel out of place on the West End and I'd urge you to get tickets - you seriously won't regret it!

The Creative Captions designed by Ben Glover don't only make the performance more accessible but actually add to it too (and in a way without taking away from the main show). They aren't an after thought here.

From the bold TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK popping up on the screen which really does help portray the passage of time to the bold graphics during big scenes and more understated captions during everyday dialogue, they're an absolute triumph. More of this in theatre please.

And a word for Audrey II. The man-eating plant is an absolute joy to watch and I loved her from the early movements when she was just a small pot plant and seemed super cute right up untul she was an over-sized unhinged man-eating monster.

Kudos to Puppet Director John Barber, Puppeteer Ross Lennon and Tasha Bowd who plays the voice of Audrey (and everyone else involved). They have done such a good job of bringing the plant to life and FEED ME will forever live in my head now. I am so pleased that Tasha gets a proper moment to shine too - one of those endorphin moments that runs right through the audience.

The cast is absolute perfection. David Rankine as Orin the Crazed Dentist was fantastic and was the kind of guy we all loved to hate. Reminded me a little of Jim Carey in the Mask. Amena El-Kindy as Audrey was a joy to watch and really captured her tender side perfectly. And Kristian Cunningham was an incredible Seymour - we could all really feel his internal struggles with life.

Jon Bonner played the role of Mr Mushnik and he was so realistic that I honestly thought I was visiting his shop myself rather than sitting in the audience and watching along.

Ronnette (Emmanuella Chede), Crystal (Shekinah Mcfarlane) and Chiffon (Chioma Uma) were my three favourite cast members and really moved the story along well. Their voices were outstanding and I loved that one moment they'd be centre stage and a main part of a scene and the next, they'd be quietly standing on the side steps adding a little background music to add depth to a scene.

The music is fantastic - performed by a live band on stage with the addition of various cast members picking up instruments on an ad-hoc basis across the two hours. This really brings the whole performance together.

And the set and lighting is creative and fun.

The storyteling is brilliant and at it's heart, Little Shop of Horrors is a love story which is cute.

I really loved everything about this production. During the first 5 minutes I thought to myself, I haven't felt like this at the theatre since watching Hamilton. The kind of feeling where you think wow, this is so creative and like nothing I've ever seen before and I know I'm going to be in for a very entertaining night.

After it's stint at Northern Stage, this production is heading to Derby Theatre. After this I really hope they get to head to London or tour the UK. This production is the very best showcase of the work the North can produce.

About Northern Stage Newcastle

📌 Northern Stage. Barras Bridge. Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 7RH (part of Newcastle Uni campus opposite the Student Union - see map below). 🚃 Haymarket Metro & Bus Station are across the road from the theatre. 🚗 Parking is available nearby at Claremont Road (NE2 4AN). 🍷 The onsite CafeBar is a lovely space featuring lots of local suppliers including Big River Bakery and Northumberland Cheese Company. Every penny you spend here goes back into the theatre. If you wish to dine here before a show, I recommend booking a table. You can check menus & book here.

Other restaurants I recommend nearby include Butakun (lush Japanese), Mean Eyed Cat (quirky bar where you can order pizza from nearby Firestone Pizza) or Wok Manifesto / Dough Daze / The Little Dumpling House on Ridley Place. ♿ Northern Stage is a fully accessible building with wheelchair spaces, Blue Badge parking, a changing places toilet, free assistant tickets and more. You can read more about access here: https://northernstage.co.uk/your-visit/access/ 🍧 There's a range of food & drink for sale inside the theatre at the cafe/bar and you can bring your own food & drinks from home as long as they are not distracting to others. Due to licensing restrictions, you can only consume alcohol which has been purchased on site so please don't bring any of your own to the venue. 💰 Tickets are super reasonable and usually available from £12. Members receive a 20% discount on tickets + a 10% discount at the CafeBar. Group bookings (10+) receive a 10% discount.

🌍 Haymarket to Northern Stage (easy 5 min walk)

What's Next at Northern Stage

Find out more and book here: https://northernstage.co.uk/

15 May 2026 - Long Day's Journey Into Night
16 May 2026 - Of Fire & Flame
20 May 2026 - The Other Side of Me
21 May 2026 - Haddaway & Write
24 May 2026 - Across the Universe
28 - 31 May 2026 - Tales from Acorn Wood
9 June 2026 - Maggie O'Farrell : Land
12 - 14 June 2026 - Horrible Histories (Tudors / Egyptians)
16 - 17 June 2026 - Interplay
19 - 20 June 2026 - The Complete Work of William Shakespeare (abridged)
5 July 2026 - Revolution
11 - 26 September 2026 - Othello
27 September 2026 - Sindhu Vee : Swanky
30 September 2026 - 5 Mistakes That Changed History
1 October 2026 - Jack Rooke's Good Grief
8 October 2026 - Hollie McNeash and Harry Baker
14 October 2026 - Kiell Smith-Bynoe : Kool Story Bro
17 October 2026 - Rosie Holt : The Illegal Aliens Have Landed
17 October 2026 - Ginger Johnson : Show Pony
11 November 2026 - Harriet Kemsley : Floozy
3 December 2026 - 2 January 2027 - The Snow Queen
5 December 2026 - Sooz Kempner : Imposter
6 February 2027 - Emma Doran : Immaculate