Bolton Octagon's 'Little Shop of Horrors': A Ghoulishly Great Production You Can't Miss!

Little Shop of Horrors is on at Bolton Octagon until the 18th of May, and it must be the best thing I’ve seen this year. Acting, dancing, singing, music, set: tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Everything is great.

Everyone involved gives their all to deliver an outstanding evening that’s superbly ghoulish. The whole production is slick and except for the 3 main characters everyone doubles up in roles and/or plays guitar or keyboards. It’s all very polished and the energy of the whole cast is palpable.

The plot is well known, revolving round a carnivorous plant that becomes ever more demanding in its feeding requirements that soon outgrow the odd drop of blood. It’s very well done, and in the second act what was once a small plant in a pot becomes, well, a much larger plant in a much bigger pot, that can now speak. “Feed Me” becomes its wonderfully creepy refrain and it doesn’t just bite the hand that feeds it, it soon devours whole people. Things draw on to the nicely grim conclusion, as, one by one, the cast diminishes, and the plant is the only thing left in the shop.

If you’ve seen the 1986 film version you’re in for a surprise as the ending is rather different (and the cast is much smaller) but I won’t spoil it for you. Just go to Bolton and have a great time.

Paul Schofield for Canal Street Media

Published: 26-Apr-2024 (7458)