RYEDALE Youth Theatre will feed the need for daft but dark humour in Little Shop Of Horrors, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's deviously delicious sci-fi rock musical, at the Milton Rooms, Malton, from tomorrow to Saturday.

Presented in association with Kirkham Henry Performing Arts, the comedy horror show with the blood-lusting, man-eating plant is an all-singing, all-acting, all-dancing showcase for Chloe Shipley's multi-talented young charges.

Chloe is directing and choreographing the show with assistance from North Yorkshire professional actress Lauren Hood, her fellow former Ryedale Youth Theatre member.

York Press:

Ryedale Youth Theatre's full cast for Little Shop Of Horrors

In Menken and Ashman's B-movie spoof, Seymour Krelborn, a meek assistant at Mushnik's Flower Shop in downtrodden Skid Row, becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers a strange and exotic plant.

He names it Audrey II in order to impress Audrey, the glamorous colleague with whom he is secretly in love, but when the plant starts to wilt, Seymour’s job and dream future with Audrey is put at risk.

York Press:

The Ronettes in Ryedale Youth Theatre's Little Shop Of Horrors: Abi Rennison, left, Evie Jones, Matilda Gledhill, Charlotte Kirk and Charlie Armstrong

Accidentally pricking his finger, Seymour discovers Audrey II needs rather more than plant food to thrive. The plant promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Seymour but only as long as he keeps feeding it blood.

Audrey ll grows into a bad-tempered, foul-mouthed, rhythm & blues-singing carnivore whose voracious appetite becomes increasingly difficult to satisfy. Over time, Seymour discovers the plant’s out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination, but how far will Seymour go for the woman of his dreams?

York Press:

Lucy Peel as Mrs Luce, centre, with Kyle Cass as Snip, left, and Sam Piercy as Bernstein in Little Shop Of Horrors

Little Shop Of Horrors is a charmingly tongue-in-cheek comedy and brazen musical cult classic that has grown into one of the most popular shows in the world, with music by Alan Menken, best known for his Walt Disney film scores, such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman.

The musical was inspired by Roger Corman's 1960 American black comedy The Little Shop Of Horrors, which spawned Frank Oz's 1986 musical film Little Shop Of Horrors, and the stage show subsequently became one of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time.

Tickets for this week's 7.15pm evening shows and Thursday and Saturday's 2pm matinees are on sale at £14, concessions £12, at Number One Health & Beauty, Market Street, Malton, or on 01653 600149.