Alistair McGowan is to make his West End stage debut as a sadistic dentist in rock musical Little Shop Of Horrors.

In March, the show will transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre following a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Southwark, where it opened in December. The original cast, led by Sheridan Smith and Paul Keating, will also transfer.

As well as the abusive dentist, TV impressionist McGowan will play a tramp and a female agent.

Little Shop Of Horrors is based on the 1960 film that helped launch Jack Nicholson. Last staged in the West End in 1983, it tells the tale of socially inept florist's assistant Seymour, who enlists the help of a talking plant to win the love of his colleague.

Big Impression star McGowan, 42, who appeared in 2005's acclaimed BBC1 adaptation of Bleak House, said: "It was always a dream to do a West End musical.

"I saw the film of Little Shop Of Horrors when I was at drama school and immediately bought the soundtrack. My first audition after drama school was for the role of Seymour.

"As a musical it's slightly surreal and otherwordly but it's also a wonderful love story. It has such wonderful, funny songs. I think the dentist song is one of the best musicalnumbers in a comedy ever." McGowan will be in the show for six months after acting with Dame Judi Dench in the musical version of Shakespeare's Merry Wives Of Windsor in Stratford, panned by critics.

The transfer marks the latest triumph for the Menier, winner of the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Newcomer in 2005.

The show is designed by David Farley, who won an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Sunday In The Park With George. The carnivorous plant will be operated by puppeteer Andy Heath.

"She's pretty large - really quite something," said McGowan.

• Little Shop Of Horrors previews at the Duke of York's from 6 March.