A Monster of a Musical Lands in Whitley Bay – Grace Delivers the Gossip on Little Shop of Horrors
Darlings, you’ll want to hold on to your gardening gloves for this one — because Whitley Bay is about to sprout something rather sinister (and no, I don’t mean the chrysanthemums on Marine Avenue). From 22nd–25th October 2025, Little Shop of Horrors is setting up shop at The Playhouse, and let me tell you, Audrey II has already wriggled into my satchel. Cheeky plant!
This one’s being brought to life by the fab folks at Whitley Bay Musical Theatre Company, and oh, what a treat they’ve planted for us. Matthew McGuire takes the lead as hapless Seymour, while the wonderful Sarah McKinnell will be pining (and belting!) her heart out as Audrey. Stu Liddle pops up as Mushnik — the boss who’s not quite as shrewd as he thinks — and keeping the beat and sass are the Ronettes, sung and strutted by Nicola, Emma and Sophie. I’ve already got goosebumps just thinking about Suddenly Seymour echoing through that glossy Playhouse auditorium.
Now, if you haven’t popped into The Playhouse since its big glow-up, here’s your reminder. An £8.5 million facelift has made it the coastal jewel of North Tyneside. We’re talking 638 plush seats, a glass foyer that lets the seaside sunlight pour in, sea-view bars (yes please, I’ll take my interval gin with a splash of ocean), and a slick auditorium that makes every local company feel like West End royalty. Honestly, it’s so swish that Audrey II might think twice about spitting blood on the upholstery.
Director Carl Luke-Flanders has promised a show that’s equal parts horror, hilarity, and heart. In his words:
“This show is horror, comedy and heart all rolled into one. We can’t wait to bring Audrey II to life in a venue as spectacular — and community-focused — as the Playhouse.”
If you’re new to the tale, here’s the dirt (pun intended): Little Shop of Horrors, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, follows Seymour, a down-on-his-luck florist who discovers a plant with a taste for blood. Cue Motown bops, doo-wop harmonies, and songs you’ll be humming all the way down the promenade — Skid Row (Downtown), Somewhere That’s Green and, of course, the iconic Suddenly Seymour. First staged off-off-Broadway in 1982 before taking New York by storm, it’s been a cult classic ever since. Oh, and if you’ve seen the 1986 Frank Oz film, you know this plant doesn’t mess around.
Performances run nightly at 7:15pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2:15pm on 25th October. Tickets are already sprouting fast, so don’t be the one left wilting — grab yours now via The Playhouse website.
Whitley Bay Musical Theatre Company are local legends, giving community talent the chance to shine brighter than the lights on the pier. And with Little Shop of Horrors, they’re proving yet again that North Tyneside can put on a show that’s every bit as thrilling as the big city stages.
So polish your plant pots, sharpen your secateurs, and maybe hide your housemates (just in case). I’ll see you at the Playhouse — I’ll be the one feeding Percy the potted plant from my satchel while squealing along to Suddenly Seymour.