It's usually exams or cross-country in the rain that high school students fear the most.

But pupils at a Dereham school have another reason to be fearful – a huge man-eating plant.

For students at Northgate High School, however, the blood-thirsty intruder with the insatiable appetite is only in school for a brief visit because it is taking centre stage in their musical theatre performance, Little Shop of Horrors, which runs from Wednesday, March 5 to Saturday, March 8.

Little Shop of Horrors is a much-loved classic story of love, life, murder and world domination.

Set in downtown New York in the 1960s it follows the misfortunes of ill-fated Seymour Krelbourn and his downright dastardly new plant 'Audrey 2'.

It was brought to the silver screen in the 1986 movie starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene and featuring the incredible voice of Levi Stubbs from The Four Tops as the mean green weed from outer space who eats its way through half the cast.

This production boasts the versatile talents of over 40 students from both Northgate High School and Dereham Sixth Form both on and off stage who have worked tirelessly over the last five months to put it together.

Avalon Murfet and Jordan McElwee take on the lead roles of Audrey and Seymour with Cathy Brooks as musical director (also leading the band). Carmel Hannant is the choreographer.

This show marks the Northgate directorial debut of Chris Dilley, teacher of drama and former member of the Dereham Operatic Society.

Mr Dilley trained as a professional actor in London, going on to perform in national tours before returning to his home county of Norfolk and landing a job at Northgate in September last year.

Little Shop of Horrors features the music of Alan Menken, who also wrote the music for Disney's Little Mermaid and Hunchback of Notre Dame as well as many other classics.

From power ballads such as Suddenly Seymour to the doo-wop style of the Ronettes, this performance will offer something for everyone.

* Little Shop of Horrors will be at Northgate High School nightly at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £8 for adults and £6 for U18s and OAPs. The box office is open from 10am during normal school hours on 01362 655555.

* Is your school putting on a show? Email kathryn.cross@archant.co.uk