Get yourself downtown to Skid Row, because once word spreads how good this show is tickets will disappear faster than visitors to Mushnik’s flower shop.

The theatre’s first musical for many years, it proves passion and hard work can make anything possible.

For those not familiar with either the stage version of the rock horror cum comedy or the movies, florist assistant Seymour longs for a new life with the girl of his dreams Audrey. Everything he ever wanted is soon within his grasp when he finds a strange and interesting plant. Unfortunately, the newly christened Audrey II has some special dietary requirements.

It’s deftly directed by John Hales, who’s never directed a musical before; with superb support from musical directors Rebecca George Broom and Francesca Warren.

Inspired by 1950s’ B movies, Secret Cinema and the Museum of the Moving Image, the foyer was transformed into a vintage cinema foyer with cast in costume and popcorn on sale. It’s a clever touch that really got the sell-out audience in the right mood for what was to come.

Delightfully dark but still fun, this is my favourite musical. I’ve seen it performed countless times so there was lot to live up to. Nobody disappointed.

My foot was tapping from the start. I saw people mouthing the words to the songs and dancing in their seats. We were laughing so hard you’d think depraved dentist Orin’s nitrous oxide tank was leaking into the audience.

The Seagull’s a small theatre but every inch was used well and the set and special effects were great. The Don’t Feed the Plants finale was especially good; cleverly choreographed and featuring some wonderfully inventive touches.

The occasional first night nerves aside, the performances were practically flawless. Everybody held their accents, the acting was great and the singing sublime - particularly Michelle Long as Audrey, who brought a lump to our throats during Somewhere That’s Green.

The chemistry between her and John Jones as Seymour was amazing. It needed to be, if you don’t buy into that relationship everything falls down.

If I had one niggle it was we sometimes struggled to hear the dialogue over the, albeit excellent, band; but I’m splitting hairs.

A victory for all involved and an early contender for one of my shows of the year. Find out more about the show here.

Wayne Savage