Jessie Elland to Play Audrey in Liverpool's Little Shop of Horrors
Jessie Elland will take over the role of Audrey in the Liverpool season of Little Shop of Horrors from 3 December 2026 to 9 January 2027. The revival will transfer to Liverpool Playhouse, meaning the production moves to a new theatre for its run. WhatsOnStage published the casting news and a video of Elland performing the show's best-known song on 6 November 2026.
Elland's video shows her singing "Somewhere That's Green", the number in which Audrey dreams of a small house away from the city's grim streets. Elland is known to television viewers for her part in Emmerdale, and her credits include 101 Dalmatians. Earlier, Maisie Smith had performed the same song in a video released ahead of the revival.
The show is directed and choreographed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. Jed Berry plays Seymour, the shop assistant who finds the plant, and Benjamin Yates plays Orin Scrivello, the dentist. Michael Starke appears as Mr Mushnik, the shop owner, at both venues. Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid plays Crystal, Gabrielle Davina Smith plays Ronnette and Rio Maye plays Chiffon, the three singers who narrate the story.
The plant itself, Audrey II, is voiced by Marcus Ayton. The ensemble includes Ella Howlett, Joseph Peacock, Nathen Scott and Kai Cameron Jay.
Morgan Large designed the set and costumes. Paul Schofield is musical supervisor and arranger, Rory Beaton is lighting designer, and Kelsh Buckman Drage is sound designer. Rob Kelly is casting director.
The Elland video was recorded at Noatune Studios, with Ronan as engineer and Adam Nightingale as videographer. Schofield also appears in it.
The story has an anniversary attached. December 2026 marks 40 years since the release of the 1986 film version, which starred Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene and was based on the 1982 stage musical. The Liverpool season opens in the same month.
For Liverpool audiences, the run gives a fixed window to see the production. Tickets, prices and booking details for the Playhouse season have not been included in the announcement.
