CHESTER'S Storyhouse will be warning audiences not to feed the plants as cult classic sci-fi musical Little Shop of Horrors takes to the stage.

The new production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's musical will run on the main stage from Friday, May 10 to Sunday, June 2, to mark the multi award-winning arts centre's second birthday.

The story follows floral assistant Seymour who stumbles across a new breed of carnivorous plant that promises to grant him fame, fortune and all his desires - as long as the blood keeps flowing.

Little Shop of Horrors is the latest show to be produced by Storyhouse and will feature the creative talent of Olivier award-winning director and choreographer Stephen Mear (Gypsy, starring Imelda Staunton, West End’s Mary Poppins with Sir Matthew Bourne).

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world.

Little Shop of Horrors is based on a Roger Corman thriller from the 1960s (which featured a young Jack Nicholson). As a musical it has enthralled audiences since its opening off-Broadway in 1982. The 1986 film adaption had an all-star cast featuring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin and Bill Murray.

Following in the success of The Beggar’s Opera and A Little Night Music (Sondheim), Little Shop of Horrors will be the third consecutive Made by Storyhouse summer musical and will play on the theatre’s more intimate thrust stage.

Alex Clifton, artistic director of Storyhouse, said: "This is a joyous musical, telling a story of young love and killer plants.

"It's a loving homage to the B-movie schlock genre, with music by the composer who defined Disney for a generation, writing the music for Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Enchanted, Tangled; it's very funny, whole-hearted and exactly the sort of good night out that we know our audiences will love."

  • Tickets go on sale on February 18, find out more at storyhouse.com.