Actress and Dancing on Ice finalist Clare Buckfield tells Kerry Ann Eustice how and why a forthcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors tempted her back into musical theatre.

After a sell-out, Olivier Award-nominated run at venue-of-the-moment Menier Chocolate Factory and then a West End transfer, Little Shop of Horrors is embarking on a national tour.

The sweet sci-fi spoof with the R&B-loving, man-eating alien plant, Audrey II — who’s arguably responsible for musical theatre’s most famous lyric, “Feed me Seymour!” — will be launching with an almost entirely new cast at The Churchill, Bromley.

Realising there was extremely successful shoes to fill, the casting had to be starry. And as such we’ve got Sylvester ‘Doctor Who’ McCoy, Alex ‘evil Trevor from EastEnders’ Ferns and Clare ‘Dancing on Ice’ Buckfield.

News Shopper: Interview: Clare Buckfield

“It’s practically a brand new cast, so it’s very exciting,” said Clare, during a lunch break from rehearsals.

“We’re all newbies. It’s been hard work but lots and lots of fun.”

Clare may be new to this production but she’s far from a stranger to the material. Not only is Little Shop Clare’s favourite musical, she’s played love interest Audrey before in a Jersey Opera House production.

“I performed in a completely different one five years ago,” she said.

“I thought, ‘oh yeah, I’ll be fine taking it on again’, but there’s actually loads of stuff I’ve forgotten.

“It’s a such a different production, I can’t go there with the same performance as before.”

News Shopper: Interview: Clare Buckfield

She added: “It’s an amazing musical, it’s my favourite. It is so true and honest. It’s a beautiful love story between Audrey and Seymour.

“I’ve kind of come out of retirement to do it. I wasn’t doing musical theatre anymore. But I just love the score and the whole piece.”

It’s little wonder Clare broke her musical theatre retirement (which she entered because she wanted to do more “straight theatre”) considering the team behind this show. The huge scene-stealing, anamatronic Audrey II (which Shopper readers have the chance to be ‘eaten’ by — see the links panel for more details) was created by hot young designer David Farley and is operated by puppeteer Andy Heath, who honed his skills with Jim Henson’s studio.

News Shopper: Interview: Clare Buckfield

There’s also best-in-the-business choreography from Lynne Page who’s CV reads like a roll call of greatest modern musicals.

If this team is anything to go by, Bromley audiences should be expecting very fine things indeed.

“Oh, the pedigree in this cast and team is phenomenal. It’s first class. Absolutely,” said an excited Clare.

“Our man-eating plant is absolutely amazing. It’s quite scary but it’s so cute as well. Kids are going to love it.”

Interestingly, starring alongside Sylvester now means Clare has worked with three Doctors - the others being Paul McGann and Colin Baker for the BBC Doctor Who audio series.

"Oh yes," she said. "Sylvester says we must do one together. We should. It’s great to finally work with him. He’s such a lovely, gorgeous man. He has fantastic stories."

Aside from the show, Clare is still skating regularly and in talks with Kieran Bracken about joining a touring skating show he's producing.

"It was a great career for two years," said Clare of the skating. "A gift and something I’ll never give up.

"Now I’m skating once a week now because of the show.

"It’s become part of my life now that will hopefully never leave me. Kieran Bracken does an ice show that he’s spoke to me about so that’s a possibility. I'm looking forward to it."

Little Shop of Horrors, The Churchill, High Street, Bromley. Feb 6 to Feb 14. 0870 0606620.