The Silence of The Lambs

 

Review by Paul Towers, 5/8/26

The Silence of the Lambs by Gina Gionfriddo, novel by Thomas Harris

Directed by Nikolai Foster

Produced by Crossroads Live, Indigo Productions and Curve

At Curve til Saturday 15^th August 2026 and then touring

Stunning production, great acting and an amazing set. Yet again Curve’s co-productions lead in ground breaking new work.

The Silence of the Lambs was written by Thomas Harris in 1988 and made into an iconic film in 1991 starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.

For the very first time a stage version has been written by Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Curve’s own Nikolai Foster. Launched at Curve before an extensive national tour it stars John Partridge (ex-Eastenders) as Hannibal Lecter and Mollie Gallagher (ex-Coronation Street) as Clarice Starling.

Clarice is detailed by her boss Jack Crawford (Oliver Farnworth) to try and get some information out of notorious cannibalistic serial killer Lecter who is kept in a very high security prison. On the loose and prolific killer Jack Gumb aka Buffalo Bill (Sam Jackson) is flaying women to satisfy his very warped relationship with his late mother.

Starling and Lecter also have a very complicated relationship. Separated by unbreakable glass Clarice has to try and pick Hannibal’s brains to try and identify Buffalo Bill. Lecter, on his part, uses the insight and information he has in order to leverage a move to a prison with a view.

Partridge makes no effort to emulate Sir Anthony Hopkins and makes the role of the sadistic killer all his own. Confined to a glass box he exerts control over all around him while Gallagher, in her first professional stage role, holds her own as her character wrestles information from her nemesis.

An amazing soundtrack designed by Carolyn Downing superbly ramps up the tension as the action escalates. The set by Michael Taylor reaches high up on the stage and features Lecter’s glass cell wheeling in and out of the wall.

There are still some tickets available but you should be aware that there are a whole load of trigger warnings and it is not suitable for those of a nervous disposition.

The Silence of The Lambs is at Curve until Saturday 15^th August and then tours nationwide

Pics: Marc Brenner

Tour details

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/