Rivington & Blackrod High School: Little Shop of Horrors – a monstrous success!
As an NSTA representative, I had the pleasure of attending the school’s latest musical production of Little Shop of Horrors on Wednesday 22nd October 2025. The show was skilfully produced by the Drama Department, led with precision by Director Mrs Eames, featuring fantastic live musical accompaniment, and dynamic choreography by Miss Hewitt. The auditorium was buzzing with excitement as the audience took their seats. Upon entry, the stage was already set for Act I, immediately immersing us in the world of Skid Row: a bare flower shop, with the name “Mrs Mushnik’s Florist” visible on the door.
Little Shop of Horrors is set in the run-down, impoverished urban neighbourhood of Skid Row. We are introduced to Seymour Krelborn, a meek, awkward, and desperately poor young man who works as an assistant at Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist, a failing flower shop. Seymour harbours a secret crush on his co-worker, the sweet but fragile Audrey, who is trapped in an abusive relationship with a sadistic, leather-clad dentist, Orin Scrivello. One day, Seymour discovers a plant that boosts sales at the florist’s and changes his life forever. The plant, Audrey II, has an unusual appetite – it survives on human blood. Audrey II promises Seymour fame, fortune, and love in exchange for more substantial meals, leading him down a dark and desperate path.
The opening number immediately established an immersive atmosphere, with the cast’s vocals ringing through the auditorium. The ensemble entered directly through the aisles of the audience as the residents of Skid Row – a directorial decision that worked incredibly well. In numbers such as “Skid Row (Downtown)”, this approach put the oppression of Skid Row front and centre, as performers’ hands reached out in desperation, directly confronting the audience. This was not just a song but a plea, effectively setting the stakes for the entire show.
Taking on the iconic role of Seymour Krelborn, Tom made an outstanding debut performance – one that could not have been more perfectly cast. He captured the essence of the tragic hero with remarkable skill, embodying Seymour’s initial nervous energy and hopeless vulnerability beautifully, making his gentle, burgeoning relationship with Audrey truly endearing. It was this core desperation to please – to finally be worthy of Audrey’s love and Mrs Mushnik’s respect – that Tom portrayed so compellingly. We watched his moral compass unravel with each feeding of the plant, as he transitioned masterfully from an innocent nobody to a man trapped by his own ambition, culminating in a genuinely heartbreaking end.
Audrey, played by Zoe, was a perfect blend of vulnerability and optimism. She portrayed the ditsy, loveable character longing for a life outside Skid Row with warmth and sincerity. Her performance truly soared during “Somewhere That’s Green”. Zoe left the audience in hushed silence; her beautiful, heartfelt vocals were utterly captivating, transporting everyone into Audrey’s romantic dream of a life far from Skid Row.
Balancing the dreaminess of Seymour and Audrey was the grounded, cynical reality of Mrs Mushnik, played by Eleanor. Eleanor brilliantly captured the character’s stress and nagging nature, ruling with an iron fist and keeping Seymour constantly working. The chemistry between these three actors was a standout feature; their interactions felt authentic and brought the central narrative vividly to life.
Taking on the twisted and dark role of Orin, the dentist, Jammal gave a truly memorable performance. He brought this sadistic character to life, fully committing to the part with an intimidating voice and confident, aggressive body language. His high-energy rendition of “Dentist!” was a real standout, capturing the character’s unhinged glee. This commitment carried right through to his final scene. Jammal’s performance was so compelling that it left the audience conflicted – unsure whether to feel sorry for him or to believe he got what he deserved after the way he treated Audrey.
While the human cast demonstrated fantastic characterisation, the show truly hinges on its star – Audrey II. The plant’s journey was brilliantly realised, starting in Act I as a small, deceptively simple hand puppet, which grew larger as Seymour fed it blood. The unveiling of the massive “super-sized” Audrey II in Act II was a genuine theatrical surprise for the audience, and huge congratulations must go to the puppetry team. To control and manipulate such a large prop with believable, synchronised movements – reacting to the cast on stage and dominating the space – takes immense skill and precision. This incredible physical performance was given its soul by Harry, who provided the voice of Audrey II. He did a fantastic job, delivering the plant’s deep, demanding, and soulful lines with perfect menace. He truly shone in the iconic song “Feed Me”, perfectly capturing the character’s terrifying charm. Harry also received a well-deserved opportunity to take to the stage himself in a fabulous green suit at the end of the show.
Guiding the narrative as the show’s street-smart chorus, Ronnette, Crystal, and Chiffon were played by the fantastic trio of Evie, Maya, and Ashleigh. They took to the stage as the sassy, all-knowing narrators, chronicling the story through impressive, soulful vocals and sharp, synchronised choreography. Evie as Ronette brought a bubbly and at times comical energy to the stage and showed a wonderful ability of engaging the audience through her physical reactions, adding to the storyline through her interactive presence. Maya as Crystal delivered a strong performance complimented by her vocals and dance ability. Ashleigh delivered the role of Chiffon with an engaging performance with well executed choreography and harmonies in the group numbers. The trio’s unified performance brought a vibrant, girl-group energy to the stage, underscoring every dramatic moment with style and flair.
The production was packed with ensemble choreography, making the most of every opportunity to fill the stage with life and movement. This gave the school a great chance to showcase some excellent dancers, who truly shone and brought a professional polish to the show. This was especially evident in the title number, “Little Shop of Horrors”, which burst with energy and precision from the entire ensemble – including some remarkably confident performances from the youngest cast members.
This was a brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable school production that clearly held a special place within the school community. Its success was a testament to a whole-school effort, made possible not only by the performers but also by the equally impressive teams behind the scenes. The technical team did a fantastic job, using lighting to enhance the atmosphere and mood of each scene perfectly. The sound was a particular strength, anchored by a superb live band of talented Year 13 students. The hard work of the stage management and backstage crew was evident in the smooth, seamless flow of the entire performance. This was a true testament to the collaborative spirit and talent of everyone involved. A monstrous success all round!
National School Theatre Awards
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