The transfer of Matthew White's production features actor, comedian and impressionist Alistair McGowan, who takes over from Jasper Brittain in the role of the sadistic dentist. Sheridan Smith plays the lovelorn flower shop assistant Audrey, and Paul Keating is her nerdy co-worker Seymour.

Smith is best known for her appearances in British television sitcoms and was also featured in this summer's Open Air Theatre productions of The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Joining Smith and Keating (Tommy, Don Carlos, Closer to Heaven) is Barry James, who played Seymour in the 1983 West End version at the Comedy Theatre. This time James plays the role of Mushnik.

But the star of the show may be Audrey II, Seymour’s all-dancing, eating and singing (voice Mike McShane) carnivorous plant. The plant, which gets progressively bigger throughout the show until it dominates the stage, is created by designer David Farley, realized by animatronic pioneers ARTEM and operated by puppeteer Andy Heath.

The 1982 musical by Alan Menken (music) and the late Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) glories in the triple genres of cult, spoof and horror.

Ashman's book is based on Roger Corman's 1960 movie "The Little Shop of Horrors" in which floral shop assistant Seymour discovers an exotic plant with a ravenous appetite for blood. The transfer from the Menier's Southwark venue follows the production house's Olivier Awards triumph for the revival of Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George, which transfers to Broadway’s Studio 54 in the fall.

For more on Little Shop of Horrors, which is booking until June 2, call (0)870 060 6623.