Who will run this Little Shop of Horrors?

“I feel we are fortunate to have so much experience in our cast,” director Helen Janke said.

“(There are) many people returning to the stage after a long break, bringing a refreshing energy.”

Creative director Marc McIntyre said he was excited about the show.

“Little Shop is a celebration of silliness and fun, and the show can actually work well with an average cast. But we have an exceptional cast, and suddenly, every possibility becomes amplified, so it’s very exciting,” he said.

Mr McIntyre also said that while the cast was integral to any good musical, the backstage crew and community involvement was what breathed life into the theatre.

One way the team has involved the community is through weekly prop-building workshops.

“Everyone has come away feeling like they’ve learnt a new skill and tried something new, in a safe and comfortable environment,” Mr McIntyre said.

“We’ve got some pretty incredible and diverse people involved in the workshops, from cosplay enthusiasts to first-timers and a guy from Thailand who built the puppets for the professional Thailand production of Little Shop in 2019, but mostly, it’s just fun.”

Props sessions are every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm at The Bakehouse Shed, 17 Wheeler St, Shepparton, and are free for anyone to attend.

Local artist Tank has also been involved in the production and creation of the show’s poster art.

“When we decided on Little Shop, Tank seemed like the perfect fit,” Mr McIntyre said.

“His work is exciting, vibrant and playful, but it also has an edge to it, just like the show.

“When I tentatively asked Tank if he would consider creating an image for us, his response was ‘When do you need it, brother?’

“It was a nice reminder that artists are constantly supporting other artists.”

But it doesn’t end there, with community involvement being the roots of this plant-themed show.

“Collaborating with people, art and community is the way to go,” Mr McIntyre said.

Little Shop of Horrors will premiere at Riverlinks this September and more details will be revealed in the coming months.