Cries of “Feed me!” will be heard from Dartford’s Orchard Theatre for the next few days as youngsters put on a musical performance about a bloodthirsty plant.

Little Shop of Horrors will be the eighth annual show by the theatre’s Summer Youth Project and 130 youngsters have been busily preparing for the past two weeks.

Aged between eight and 19, the young actors, singers and dancers will tell the terrifying tale of down-on-his luck shop worker Seymour, who thinks a fascinating plant is about to turn his life around.

But then Seymour discovers the plant, which he names Audrey II in honour of a co-worker he is in love with, has a taste for human blood.

Producer Terri McCann said the youngsters, from all over Kent and as far away as Essex, cannot wait to get on stage for the show, which is supported by the Messenger and our sister radio station kmfm.

She said: “They come together for two weeks and then put on the show. The youngsters playing the principal parts have the scripts two weeks before that.

“We’re using the whole auditorium and we’ll be singing all the songs from the musical. Everyone is doing really well and working brilliantly together and it’s looking fantastic.”

Little Shop of Horrors was originally a low budget 1960s black comedy horror film, then it became a musical theatre show, which was made into a film in 1986, starring Rick Moranis as Seymour.

Favourite songs from the show include Grow For Me, Feed Me, Suddenly Seymour and Mean Green Mother From Outer Space.

Little Shop of Horrors by the Summer Youth Project will be on at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford, at 7.30pm today (Thursday), Friday and Saturday as well as 2.30pm on Saturday. Ticket prices start at £18 for adults and £12 for under 18s with concessions available.