A Canberra theatre group will present its latest production with a new twist to an iconic film character.
Dramatic Productions’ showcase of Little Shop of Horrors runs at Gungahlin College Theatre from 11-26 October.
Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy rock musical about a meek and mild florist shop assistant who raises a blood-eating, R&B-singing, foul-mouthed plant he names Audrey II, after the co-worker he is secretly in love with.
Little Shop of Horrors was originally released as films in 1960 and 1968 and presented as a theatre show in New York in 1982.
Dramatic Productions’ managing director Richard Block said Audrey II, a puppet, was the star of the show.
“Where people hire previous ones that have already been made, our director (Marty King) has a different vision,” Mr Block said.
“(He) wants to create something really unique.”
Mr Block said creatives had spent the past three months bringing the puppet to life.
“It’s a new twist of the traditional Audrey II,” he said.
Mr Block said another change was a shift in the era of the show, including the props and costumes, from the 1960s to the 1980s, with a Halloween theme.
“They’re leaning into the horror element,” he said.
Mr Block said he has wanted to put on this show since Dramatic Productions’ inception in 2014.
“It’s really exciting to be able to bring what is a really hilarious, fun and enjoyable show to the Canberra audience and the Canberra stage,” he said.
Mr Block said more than 100 people auditioned in June for the eight lead roles.
The show marks the 10th anniversary of Dramatic Productions, with Little Shop of Horrors being its 12th production.
Mr Block said 243 performers have graced the stage with a further 334 people behind the scenes.
He said while it was hard to pinpoint memorable moments of the past decade, there were a few highlights.
“We’ve had some big names work on and perform in our shows, including (Australian stage and television performer) Rachael Beck, who directed The Producers (in 2019),” he said.
“She also got Daryl Somers involved as the lead for the show.”
Mr Block said another special guest was former National Party of Australia leader Alistair Coe, who cameoed in the company’s 2017 production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Tickets for Little Shop of Horrors are available online at StageCenta.com or at the theatre box office up to an hour before each performance, with 10 per cent of ticket sales going to various local charities.
The production runs at Gungahlin College Theatre from 11-26 October.
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