A giant, man-eating plant slowly rises, while the audience’s gasps and applause merge into one. This is the scene at Harrow Shenzhen’s annual musical — The Little Shop of Horrors!
Following Shrek the Musical and All Shook Up, the stage has once again been set alight by the talent and passion of our students. Three performances, each to a full house. Behind the 90-minute spectacle lay six months of rehearsals and countless rounds of trial and error in prop making. It was also a journey for everyone involved,
from “I’m not good at this” to “I did it”.
From “Afraid of Being Watched”
to “Loving the Spotlight”
Ashley C. played the dentist — a narcissistic, aggressive, and strangely endearing villain. It was her first time on stage.
Ashley C.
My biggest challenge was overcoming my general fear of “being watched”. Playing such an overbearing character like “Orin” felt unimaginable, especially since I had spent most of my time trying to remain invisible. I had to push myself far beyond my comfort zone and fully embrace being an attention-seeking narcissist. I want to give out a huge shout-out to the incredible directors, Ms Park and Eleanor, whose profound insights helped me uncover the sadistic side of Orin. I also want to thank the entire cast—their passionate performances inspired me throughout the production. I couldn’t have done it without any of them. As a graduate, this experience feels like the perfect final chapter of my school life. I won’t forget this, ever
.
For Clovis P., who played Seymour, it was his first leading role. The character appears in nearly every scene and comes with a demanding script and intense emotional swings.
Clovis P.
I think the hardest part of playing the role of Seymour is maintaining the right energy. Seymour is a character who has a lot of energy throughout the entire play, and I often struggle with that. I’ve been told many times to keep up that level of energy.
Mia C. played the heroine Audrey — another firsttime lead.
Mia C.
When I step onto the stage, all my worries disappear. The bright lights, the audience’s energy, and the presence of my good friends on stage with me make every moment of nervousness feel worthwhile. I focus entirely on the present, let the character’s emotions guide me, and relish the joy of telling our story. It feels amazing and magical, and I am deeply grateful for this experience.
The Audience’s Tears and Applause Are the Best Reward
Hani W. played Ronnette. She joined the cast late after another student left and learnt the singing, dancing, and staging from scratch.
Hani W.
I had to learn all the singing, dancing, and staging from scratch, racing to catch up while the rest of the cast moved ahead. The expectations of our director, music director, and choreography teacher were high. However, with their guidance and belief in me, I grew far beyond what I thought were my limits. After our final performance, I cheered backstage, feeling utterly ecstatic. I enjoyed every moment on stage, every second the light shone on me so brightly my eyes ached, and the new friendships I formed meant everything to me. Amid the hundreds in the audience, I spotted the girl I had replaced. We tightly hugged each other and reunited – she had travelled all the way from Singapore to Shenzhen just to watch the final show. In that very moment, all the hard work felt completely worth it.
Chiara C., a new student at Harrow Shenzhen, bravely took on the role of the wealthy Mrs Luce.
Chiara C.
The hardest part for me wasn’t the singing or the staging. It was facing the audience, knowing my parents and teachers were watching. Once the performance began, I felt completely locked in. There was a quiet sense of satisfaction in what I was doing — knowing that all those months of rehearsal had led to this moment. I’m truly proud of what our entire cast accomplished together. Being part of this show taught me that stepping outside my comfort zone doesn’t have to be stressful. Instead, it can be a source of pride.
Meanwhile, Morris T. was performing in his third consecutive annual musical.
Morris T.
The biggest challenge was finding the balance between the heightened energy of a musical and my internal objective as Mushnik. He is a man desperate to save his business. To bridge the gap, I used the music as my ‘outward’ scale while keeping my ‘inward’ focus very small and specific. For example, during the more theatrical numbers, I made sure that the ‘largeness’ came from a place of desperation rather than just ‘showmanship.’ If my movements were big, it was because Mushnik was frantically trying to sell a dream. I learned that as long as my objective stayed rooted in a real need—money, security, or legacy—I could push the performance to a larger scale without losing the character’s integrity.
The “Junior Force”: Growing Through Small Roles
This year, Lower School pupils also participated, taking on various roles. These young actors held their own alongside the older students.
“We hum the songs from the musical even during meals. We’re so excited to be on stage that we can’t wait to join the next production,” said some of the Year 6 cast members with a smile.
This is holistic education at Harrow Shenzhen in action — beginning with a small role and gradually stepping into the spotlight.
Student Leadership: The Unsung Heroes Behind the Scenes
This production showcased not only the actors but also the student’s leadership.
Angela H. served as the student set designer. She created a stage featuring an elegant wooden structure of a flower shop at its centre. The walls on either side were twisted and chaotic—symbolising both the world destroyed by the monster at the end of the story and the inner turmoil of Seymour’s desires.
Angela H.
This was my first time collaborating with multiple teams. I had to consider not only aesthetics but also budget, dimensions, and practicality. I adjusted the measurements six times. Through this process, I learnt how to communicate, compromise, and use set design to immerse the audience into the story.
The biggest technical challenge of the musical was the maneating plant — Audrey II. The giant plant was operated by Mr Gavin Martin, while student Elsa T. controlled the smaller version. Under the guidance of Ms Andrea Dramanican, the entire student props team spent two full terms creating these lifelike and wonderfully eerie puppets.
Three Years of Evolution on the Harrow Shenzhen Stage
Three years ago, Harrow Shenzhen’s first annual musical, Shrek, captivated the entire school. Last year, All Shook Up stole the show. This year, Little Shop of Horrors took things even further— darker, funnier, and more technically complex.
Stephanie Park, Director
After the success of the first two musicals, I felt that Harrow Shenzhen students were ready for a more technically demanding challenge. We chose this show because it’s fantastic. Everyone loves its elements— the giant plant, the playful puppets, and the brilliant characters and songs.
Yes, they were ready! Thousands of audience members, countless rounds of applause, nearly 50 Harrow Shenzhen cast and crew members, and endless moments of wholehearted rehearsal — together, they brought to life a real yet absurd “flower shop world”. This is the stage of Harrow Shenzhen — and the starting point where every child shines!
篇幅所限，遗憾未能采访所有剧组人员，
为每一位剧组成员感到骄傲！
Although we couldn’t interview every member of the production team due to limited space, we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them!
#Cast
Ashley C. – Dentist
Jasmine C. – Single Mom
Mia C. – Audrey
Benson C. – Businessman
Keira C. – Urchin
Chiara C. – Mrs. Luce
Eleanor C. – Audrey ll
Hugo G. – Man who lives on the Street
Gianna H. – Lady with a Shopping Cart
Cindy H. – Stressed Worker
Nicholas H. – Wino
Joanna K. – Skip Snip
Anson L. – Crystal
Joyce L. – Chain Smoker
Clovis P. – Seymour
Stella S. – Urchin
Amy T. – Chiffon
Morris T. – Mushnik
Hani W. – Ronnette
Lila W.-G. – Urchin
Kevin X. – Bernstein Customer #1
Dora X. – Urchin
Irene X. – Wino #1
Brian X. – Thief
William X. – Wino
Angela Z. – Urchin
Lily Z. – URCHIN
Aston Z. – Mr. Martin Customer #2
Chloe Z. – Waif
Jenny Y. – lady with pet rats
#Production Team
Director – Stephanie Park
Musical Director – Ricky Ware
Props Designer – Andrea Dramicanin
Dance Teacher – Miranda Zou
Student Director – Eleanor C.
Student Set Designer – Angela H.
Playbill Design – Elsa T.
Translations – Ingrid T.
#Stage Crew
Dizzie A. – Stage Crew
Diana C. – Stage Crew
August P. – Stage Crew
Cecilia C. – Stage Crew
Elsa T. – Stage Crew
Mill W. – Stage Crew
Luke S. – Stage Crew
#Props
Andrea Dramicanin
Elin H.
Angela H.
Elsa T.
#Puppeteers
Pod #1 – Elsa T.
Pod #3 #4 – Gavin Martin
