Two theatres, one killer musical: Derby Theatre and Northern Stage collaborate
to produce Little Shop of Horrors
For spring/summer 2026, Derby Theatre and Northern Stage join forces to unleash the cult musical sensation, Little Shop of Horrors, putting creative captions at the heart of the production so more people can enjoy this cult musical sensation. Packed with dark comedy, killer tunes and a man-eating plant with an appetite for fame, the show opens at Northern Stage on Friday 8 May – Saturday 23 May 2026, before heading to Derby Theatre from Saturday 30 May – Saturday 20 June 2026. All performances will include creative captions. The production will also be part of the programme for Derby Theatre’s 50th anniversary year.
With music by Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast) and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors is a madcap mash-up of sci-fi, Motown and B-movie horror that’ll come to the main stage auditorium.
Seymour Krelborn, a hapless flower shop assistant, discovers a mysterious plant with a deadly secret – it feeds on human blood! As the creature’s hunger grows, so too does Seymour’s success and notoriety… but how long before the price becomes too high?
Packed with unforgettable songs like Skid Row (Downtown), Suddenly Seymour, and Feed Me (Git It!), this outrageous musical promises killer tunes, unexpected laughs and larger-than-life characters.
Sarah Brigham (Artistic Theatre and CEO, Derby Theatre and Director of Little Shop of Horrors): “I am really excited to bring the fantastic and iconic musical, Little Shop of Horrors to our audiences next year. My immediate thought was: how do we make this as accessible as possible to as many people as possible? I’m delighted that the talented artist Ben Glover will be working with us to create B-movie-inspired integrated captions, building on the work we have been doing to support our Deaf and hard of hearing community.
We’ll also have a talented company of actor-musicians performing those catchy, feel-good songs we all know so well; and it’s really exciting to be co- producing with Northern Stage for the first time.”
Ben Glover (Creative Captioner)
“I’m thrilled to be bringing creative captions to Little Shop of Horrors. These captions won’t just sit quietly at the side; they’ll become part of the show’s world, playful, bold, B-movie inspired themed. The creative captions will help make the performances more accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing audiences while adding a whole new layer of fun for everyone. Making sure everyone can enjoy the show… before the plant enjoys them!”
Natalie Ibu (Artistic Director, Northern Stage):
“We’re really excited to be co-producing Little Shop of Horrors with Derby Theatre. It feels so important to see creative representation from both Newcastle and Derby at the heart of this production and together, we’re bringing fresh energy and perspective to an iconic musical, with a talented company of actor-musicians and integrated design that builds on our shared commitment to accessibility and representation. This collaboration not only connects our audiences across the country but also celebrates the creativity of both our cities. We can’t wait to see it come to life on stage.”
Auditions will take place in Newcastle, Derby and London in October with the aim of securing representation from both the North-East and the Midlands within the cast. More details to follow.
Accessible performances
All performances will include creative captions, where captions are integrated artistically into the performance.
Advisories
Age guidance: 13+. Contains comic horror violence, mild language, sex references and mature themes including domestic violence.
On sale, tickets and how to book
Tickets go on priority booking for Northern Stage members on Thursday 23 October at 10am.
Tickets go on general sale at Northern Stage Thursday 30 October at 10am.
Become a member to enjoy priority access
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a first-time visitor to Skid Row, don’t miss your chance to experience this riotous theatrical treat at Derby Theatre.