Thrilling news is the Masque Theatre’s staging of the hit Broadway musical, Little Shop of Horrors, from August 22 until September 6, 2025. Direction is by Jeffrey Johnson who hails from the USA. He is also choreographing and performing in the production. Musical direction is by John McGuiness. Read on for more. Info as supplied:

The Masque, by arrangement with DALRO (Pty) Limited, is proud to present !

This hit Broadway musical will be performed from

The cult classic features popular songs written by Howard Ashman with music by Alan Menken, such as Suddenly Seymour, Feed Me and Dentist.

Join the team for a hilarious musical romp as they delve into the world of the hapless Seymour, the down-trodden Audrey and the fiendishly delightful carnivorous plant Audrey II!

“We are absolutely thrilled to be presenting this iconic musical,” says . “We have a phenomenal team in place to bring it to life, and we can’t wait to see you there.”

Little Shop of Horrors is with with

We want audiences to feel like they are seeing this iconic musicalfor the first time – again,” says “Our production is a bit more 2025 – a bit darker, a bit scarier and still a lot of fun!”

The Masque’s cast features as as ; as ; as ; as andand as

Jeffrey Johnson is from the US and makes his South African debut as actor, choreographer and director with Little Shop of Horrors. Favourite roles include Philip/Harry (Harry Clarke), Louis (Angels in America), and Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). He’s directed The Rocky Horror Show, Falsettos, Gypsy and many more. As founding artistic director of Ganymede Arts, Washington D.C.’s first LGBT theatre company, he worked with legends like Charles Busch and Karen Black. His original Edie Beale show toured LA, San Francisco and Philadelphia as well as playing the famous 54 Below at Studio 54 in NYC. His character, Special Agent Galactica, was featured at NYC’s historic Stonewall Inn. He’s thrilled to lead this beloved show with such a dedicated, talented team.

John McGuiness has been involved in around 30 musicals in various roles including musical director, pit musician and performer. Notable productions include Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Me & My Girl (ensemble, keyboards – Reps & 7 Arts Theatre, Zimbabwe), Into the Woods (assistant MD, piano – Columbia Union College, USA), and Cabaret (assistant MD, additional arrangements, keyboard & violin – Hexagon Theatre, Pietermaritzburg). He has worked on school, amateur, university and fringe productions, and composed/arranged music for small ensembles, including for a short film. He also conducted the Rhodes University Chamber Choir in 2010, and greatly enjoys making music with singers and instrumentalists.

Little Shop of Horrors will be performed from August 22 until September 6.

Tickets cost R180

Age restriction: No under 13s

Bookings can be made at Quicket

Performances are on:

August 22, 23, 27,28, 29, 30 and September 3, 4, 5 and 6 at 19h30

August 23, 24, 30, 31 and September 6 at 14h30

The Box Office at The Masque is open three days a week.

Visit them on Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays between 9am and 2pm.

The Masque is situated at 37 Main Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7950, South Africa.

Parking is available at the venue. Wheelchair Access and Facilities available.

The Masque has a back-up generator so the show will go on, even when there is load shedding!

*Join The Masque community! Become a member and have your say in the theatre. You can also sign up as a volunteer to participate on stage or behind the scenes, from stage management to archiving the wardrobe department! 

Sign up here https://www.themasque.co.za/volunteer

About the Masque

The Masque is an iconic cornerstone of Cape Town’s cultural landscape, celebrating over six decades of fostering creativity, inclusivity and community spirit. Founded by the visionary Bertie Stern, The Masque boldly stood as a beacon of inclusivity, one of only two theatres at the time that welcomed participants of all backgrounds through its doors. 

Home to many amateur theatre societies over the years, it was forced to close in 1997 following a devastating fire. It reopened in 1999,largely thanks to the generosity of the late Joan St Leger-Lindberg. This enabled The Masque to carry on with its work as a vibrant and resilient community-driven venue, encouraging voluntary participation in all forms of theatre by all people. 

Today, under the dedicated stewardship of the Stern Masque Theatre Trust, The Masque continues to thrive, curating high-quality amateur productions, promoting skills development, providing a service of artistic engagement with the community, celebrating diversity and building on the theatre’s reputation as a sought-after professional venue-for-hire.

Through innovation, growth and creativity, as well as the support of volunteers and members, The Masque remains an important part of the social fabric, welcoming audiences of all backgrounds to experience the magic of live theatre.

The Masque offers a wide range of projects and programmes, including:

*Annual productions such as its holiday season fairytale and Valentine’s Soiree;
*The Youth Theatre Club running for 8 – 16 year olds in term time;
*The chance for people to learn about theatre with The Masque’s workshops, covering topics such as set design, sound and lighting and directing;
*The Play Reading Programme, which provides the chance for writers to have their new scripts brought to life, as well as the opportunity for the public to be part of the development process. Selected plays are presented as part of The Masque’s One-Act Play Festival.

Invest in the future of The Masque, donate here.

✳ Featured image: Andrew Munnik and Ethan Wilton in Little Shop of Horrors at The Masque. Photo credit Clive Myburgh and Christine Kaye. Sponsored content. Pics: Suppplied.