The shopping list for Lewes Old Grammar School’s latest stage production included four oversized ‘talking’ plants and a dentist’s nitrous oxide mask. But if the cast and crew were looking for retail therapy, The Little Shop of Horrors definitely wasn’t the place to find it!

The musical schlock horror, featuring a 33-strong line-up from Year 7 and above, proved to be one of the most demanding productions ever staged by the school.

“The main challenges were teaching three-part harmonies to all the students, some of whom had never been in a musical before; staging it on a relatively small stage, which had to incorporate a street scene and a flower shop; and sourcing endless props, including a dentist’s mask and talking plants,” said director and music teacher Rachel Munro.

“Audrey II [the wisecracking hosta with a huge appetite for human flesh] was hired from a place called Little Shop of Hires in Norwich – it was far too difficult to make! But getting the plant operator (Jacob Stammers) to move the plant in time to the voice of Audrey II (Jack Bree) was a whole other ball game. They did a brilliant job, but it did involve Jacob coming to many of the rehearsals and really getting to know Jack’s lines.”

It was the demonic dentist and arch villain Orin played by Sasha Budnik-Grantham, sounding suspiciously like Donald Trump, who stole the show, though.

“It was Sasha himself who came up with the idea of basing his character on Donald Trump,” said Rachel. “He had the voice nailed by the end of rehearsals and brought the house down.

“I must admit, this is the part of my job that I enjoy above everything else,” she added. “The journey from learning a few songs in harmony to staging a show with lights, sound and set, plus a professional band, is stressful but hugely rewarding. And I know I say this every time, but this really was the best bunch of students I have ever worked with! They represent every quality that I always thought LOGS stood for – kindness, enthusiasm, hard work, humour and, above all, a sense of community, the older ones looking after the younger ones and everybody working together.

“Sometimes the most life-changing experiences don’t come from academic achievement but from being part of something that increases your whole confidence as a young person. I have seen students in this cast blossom and grow in confidence, so they can walk onto the stage and sing and dance as though their lives depended on it.”