The Dunmow Players are limbering up for their production of Little Shop of Horrors, a musical which will include a gigantic man-eating plant that will take up half of the stage when fully grown.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Rehearsals are in full swing. Picture: ERIN MAY PHOTOGRAPHYRehearsals are in full swing. Picture: ERIN MAY PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Archant)

The Dunmow Players are limbering up for their production of Little Shop of Horrors, a musical which will include a gigantic man-eating plant that will take up half of the stage when fully grown.

Little Shop of Horrors, which features music by Alan Menken, known for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, will run from October 23 until October 27, at the Foakes Hall, in Dunmow.

With four weeks left to go until show time, the 14 cast members are rehearsing for five hours a week, which will increase to 13 hours a couple of weeks before the show.

Jessica Daniel, who is playing Audrey in the production, which is based on the film by Roger Corman, said: “You would think we are putting on a West End show, rather than performing at Foakes Hall.”

During last year’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert production, a kaleidoscope of costumes were used and one cast member had 40 different outfit changes.

This year, the costumes are supplied by a St Elizabeth Hospice charity shop, which specialises in vintage clothing, to capture the 1950s and1960s feel.

The story follows down-on-his-luck florist Seymour whose fortunes turn around when he buys a mysterious plant which feeds on blood and flesh. However, Seymour’s new found success turns sour when the plant’s appetite becomes out of control.

Little Shop of Horrors is sometimes confused with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Jessica says: “We are so worried that people are going to turn up in fish nets and a basque!”

The plant, known as Audrey II, is a puppet which will be operated by one cast member and will be half the size of Foakes Hall stage at its largest. Currently, the cast member is rehearsing with a sock on her hand.

During show week the Dunmow Players will be fundraising for Isabel Hospice, a charity close to all members hearts as the hospice helped a cast member through a difficult time.

Performances at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2.30pm on October 27.

Tickets £17.50, concessions available.

Tickets can be boughts at: www.thelittleboxoffice.com/dunmowplayers