Little Shop of Horrors, the latest show for Wollongong-based So Popera Productions, will hit the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre stage next month with a fully-automated set and work from one of Australia’s leading musical directors.

Director Amy Copeland said the cult-classic musical, about a nerdy florist who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for something strange, was one of the longest-running on Broadway 

‘‘It’s a very well-known musical [and] hasn’t been done in the Illawarra for quite a number of years,’’ Ms Copeland said.

The lead character in the production, set in a flower shop in the back streets of New York, pricks his finger on a plant and feeds it blood.

The plant — named Audrey II — grows until it’s big enough to fit two people inside.

‘‘It’s all in good humour, it’s a black comedy; it’s not meant to be taken seriously, it’s not scary,’’ Ms Copeland said.

After the success of their previous award-winning production Avenue Q, So Popera has decided to ‘‘step it up a notch’’ in technical approach.

Ms Copeland said the set was fully-automated and part of the set uses technology that is the first of its kind in Australia.

Former musical director for the Ten Tenors Shannon Brown, who is currently musical director for Australia’s Got Talent winner Mark Vincent, will work on the production.

‘‘This is kind of a level of theatre that hasn’t been seen in the Illawarra before; it’s just one of those magical moments where the entire stage is moving by itself and you don’t see a single crew member,’’ she said.

Little Shop of Horrors runs at the IPAC from January 16-24.

Visit merrigong.com.au for more information.