The first casting has been announced for the world stage premiere of The Silence of the Lambs which opens in August and visits various theatres including Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Nottingham.
Donning the iconic mask as the refined and sadistic Dr Hannibal Lecter is British actor, singer, presenter, writer and director John Partridge. Known for his long-running role as Christian Clarke in BBC 1’s EastEnders, Partridge’s extensive range of West End credits include CATS and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Directed by the Curve Theatre’s artistic director Nikolai Foster (Law & Order (NBC), House of Cards (Netflix), Becky Shaw), the multi-million-selling novel by Thomas Harris has been adapted for the stage by celebrated playwright Gina Gionfriddo. Opening at Leicester’s Curve theatre in August, the production will tour the UK until June 2027.
Tour dates include Milton Keynes Theatre (28th September - 3rd October), New Theatre, Hull (2nd - 7th November), Theatre Royal, Brighton (2nd - 6th March, 2027) and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (30th March - 3rd April, 2027).
Psychological tension; how the story unfolds
When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to interview the psychiatrist and infamous murderer Hannibal Lecter, it’s hoped his brilliant mind will help catch the sadistic new serial killer, Buffalo Bill.
Another girl is missing, and time is running out. But Dr Lecter has questions of his own, and now Clarice must decide: keep a safe distance, or let Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ into her head?
Gionfriddo’s theatrical adaptation delves into the psychological tension of the landmark novel, drawing the audience deep into Clarice and Lecter’s intelligent, intricate, and bone-chilling game of cat-and mouse, as the FBI scramble to catch Buffalo Bill, a serial killer still at large.
A huge honour: John Partridge on the iconic role
John Partridge said: “How often does an actor get to play a role that by simply saying the character’s name, it takes your breath away. It’s a huge honour, and I intend to savour every morsel of it!’’
Director Nikolai Foster added: “Taking on a role like Hannibal Lecter requires real guts, tenacity and an appetite to confront the darkest depths of the human condition. Working with John on the role has been incredibly inspiring - his instincts are razor sharp - and there is no finer actor to bring to life Thomas Harris’ most chilling creation in our world premiere stage adaptation.”
About John Partridge
At just 16, John Partridge left college to join the original UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS, later transferring to the West End production at the New London Theatre to star as Rum Tum Tugger.
He reprised the role in the official filmed version opposite Elaine Paige and John Mills.
John’s extensive West End, touring and international theatre credits include: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Peacock Theatre); A Chorus Line (London Palladium); The Drowsy Chaperone (Novello Theatre); Notre-Dame de Paris (Dominion Theatre); The Fix (Donmar Warehouse), directed by Sam Mendes; Tommy (Shaftesbury Theatre); Grease (Dominion Theatre) and Starlight Express (Apollo Victoria Theatre).
“How often does an actor get to play a role that by simply saying the character’s name, it takes your breath away.”
Actor John Partridge
On screen, John is widely known for his long-running role as Christian Clarke in EastEnders (BBC, 2007-2016). His screen work also includes Involuntary Activist (Iris Prize/BBC) and Cleopatra (Netflix).
A well-known television personality, John won Celebrity MasterChef (BBC) and has appeared on The Real Full Monty (ITV), Taking The Next Step (CBBC), Tumble (BBC) and Battlechefs with Marco Pierre White (Watch). He has also served as a celebrity judge on Over the Rainbow (BBC), guest-hosted The National Lottery Draws (BBC), and is a regular contributor on Jeremy Vine (Channel 5).
Full creative team and further casting for the show will be announced in due course.
For more information, including all tour dates, and tickets visit silenceofthelambsplay.co
