Opening at Curve 1 – 15 august
Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live, in association with Curve, are delighted to announce full casting for the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, as the global cultural phenomenon prepares to make its world stage play premiere. Mollie Gallagher (CORONATION STREET) will make her professional theatre debut as ‘Clarice Starling’, Oliver Farnworth (EMMERDALE)will star as ‘Jack Crawford’ alongside Sam Jackson (Skins) as ‘Buffalo Bill’, when the electrifying new production opens at Leicester’s Curve theatre on Saturday 01 August 2026, ahead of a major UK and Ireland tour.
Also joining the ensemble are Minal Patel as ‘Frederick Chilton’; Jo Mousley as ‘Senator Ruth Martin’;Lottie Amor as ‘Catherine Martin’; Mark Peachey as ‘Pilcher’; Andrew Joshi as ‘Peterson’; Jonny Magnanti as ‘Wertimer’, with Mary Timbrell Hill completing the company, all taking on a variety of roles.
They join previously announced British actor, singer, presenter, writer and director, John Partridge. Best known for his long-running role as Christian Clarke in BBC 1’s Eastenders and extensive range of West End credits from CATS to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, John will don the iconic mask as the refined and sadistic Dr Hannibal Lecter.
Mollie Gallagher makes her professional theatrical debut as Clarice Starling. Mollie is an award-winning actor (Serial drama performance, National Theatre Awards) best-known for her role as Nina Lucas on ITV long running soap, Coronation Street. Mollie joined Coronation Street straight out of drama school and has since been central to some of the show’s biggest storylines, including the powerful ‘Nina’ and ‘Seb’ hate crime storyline, based on the attack of Sophie Lanacaster. In 2023 Mollie took part in ITV’s DANCING ON ICE in which she reached the semi-finals. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is Mollie’s professional theatre debut.
Oliver Farnworth is Jack Crawford. His theatre credits include: 42ND STREET (Sadlers Wells); FATAL ATTRACTION(Tour); THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Tour); THE MARILYN CONSPIRACY (Tour); DOWN THE DOCK ROAD (Theatre Royal Liverpool); DOBBO(Royal Court Liverpool); INHERIT THE WIND (New Vic Theatre); BEAUTIFUL THING (Arts Theatre / UK Tour); SANTA CLAUS THE MUSICAL (Grand Theatre Singapore); THE WIDOWING OF MRS HOLROYD (New Vic Theatre);A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (Theatre By The Lake); HOLDING THE MAN (Trafalgar Studios);KES (Liverpool Playhouse & UK Tour); MERCHANT OF VENICE (Changeling Theatre); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (British Shakespeare Company); SATURDAY NIGHT, SUNDAY MORNING(Harrogate Theatre / Oldham Coliseum); LONDON PLAYS: LONDON TONGUE (Old red Lion); UNDER MILK WOOD(New Vic Studio); THE ROARING GIRL(New Vic Studio) and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Redgrave Theatre). Television includes: EMMERDALE, ENDEAVOUR VI, CORONATION STREET, MR. SELFRIDGE, DOCTORS XIV, THE ROYAL AND HOLLYOAKS. Films include LOVE TYPE D.
Sam Jackson is Jame Gumb (Buffalo Bill). His theatre includes: Ichabod Crane in THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW (UK Tour), Jamie in BEAUTIFUL THING (UK Tour), Haemon in ANTIGONE (Eagle’s Nest Theatre) and Billy in KES(Derby Playhouse). Television includes: Sean Crimp in FATHER BROWN (BBC), James in DRIFTERS(E4), Cameron Pollins in HOLBY CITY (BBC), Ryan in HEARTBEAT (ITV), Jonathan in THE SYNDICATE (BBC), Alex Henley inSKINS (E4). Film includes: Adam in THE DROWNING OF ARTHUR BRAXTON (Firefox)
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 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?
Two-time Pulitzer finalist Gina Gionfriddo (LAW & ORDER(NBC),HOUSE OF CARDS (Netflix), BECKY SHAW, whose recent Broadway debut earned two Tony nominations and one win,brings Thomas Harris gripping literary masterpiece to the stage in a bold adaptation directed by the Curve’s Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster. Gionfriddo’s theatrical adaptation delves into the psychological tension of Thomas Harris’s 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.
The tour’s award-winning creative team is completed by acclaimed theatre Designer, Michael Taylor (THE LADYKILLERS(Olivier-nominated), BILLY ELLIOT(Leicester Curve); Sound Designer, Carolyn Downing (award-winning credits include her Olivier forCHIMERICA and Tony Award for LIFE OF PI); Projection Designer, George Reeve (2025 Tony Award recipient for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, Disney’s HERCULESand OLIVER(West End and Chichester Festival Theatre); Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award-winning Composer, Grant Olding, whose theatrecredits include numerous collaborationswith Nicholas Hytner at both The Bridge and National Theatres, including ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS; Tony and Olivier-nominated Lighting Designer, Howard Hudson (STARLIGHT EXPRESS,Troubadour Theatre,& JULIET,Broadway, West End, International and UK tours) and Casting by Harry Blumenau CDG CSA. Julia Thomas is Associate Director.
The Silence of the Lambs is produced by Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live in association with Curve.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS will open at Curve in Leicester from 1 – 15 August 2026. Tickets are on sale now. To find out more and book, visit www.curveonline.co.uk, call 0116 242 3595 or visit Curve’s Box Office in-person.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
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Curve
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About Curve
Curve is an award-winning producing theatre with a commitment to ensuring as many people as possible can access great art and culture. Each year, over two million people engage with Curve through performances in Leicester, across the UK and internationally. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve has developed an international reputation for producing, presenting and touring a bold and diverse slate of musicals, plays, new work, and dance, which sits alongside a vibrant community and learning programme.
Recent Made at Curve productions and co-productions include: BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL (World Premiere), KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, KINKY BOOTS (London Coliseum, UK and Europe tour); INSIDE AMERICAN PIE; LEGALLY BLONDE (UK and Ireland tour); THE SOUND OF MUSIC; ALIENS LOVE PANTA CLAUS; WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF; LOST ATOMS (UK tour); A CHORUS LINE (Sadler’s Wells, UK and Japan tour); MURIEL’S WEDDING; SISTER ACT (Dominion Theatre, Eventim Apollo, UK, Ireland and Australian tours); MY FAIR LADY; PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS (UK tour); THE MOUNTAINTOP (UK tour); THE WIZARD OF OZ (London Palladium, UK and Ireland tour); MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (UK tour); THE LION INSIDE (UK tour); COME FROM AWAY (UK tour); GREASE (Dominion Theatre and UK tour); EVITA; THE OWL WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS (UK tour); AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL (UK tour); 42ND STREET (Sadler’s Wells, UK tour and Toronto); WHITE CHRISTMAS (Dominion Theatre and UK tour); RIDE; BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL; BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (UK tour); THE COLOR PURPLE (UK tour); CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (UK tour); METAMORPHOSIS (UK tour); SUNSET BOULEVARD (UK and Ireland tour); THE JUNGLE BOOK (UK and International tour); THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER; GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE; WEST SIDE STORY; ON YOUR FEET! (London Coliseum and UK tour) and THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13¾ – THE MUSICAL (The Ambassadors Theatre). Streamed productions include THE COLOR PURPLE and SUNSET BOULEVARD.
Curve is supported using public funding by principal funder Arts Council England.
Gina Gionfriddo’s screenwriting credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC), Cold Case (CBS), House of Cards (Netflix) and The Alienist (Netflix). Her plays Becky Shaw and Rapture, Blister, Burn were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Becky Shaw’s recent Broadway debut, which played at the Hayes Theatre earlier this year, was nominated for ‘Best Revival of a Play’ and wonAlden Ehrenreich ‘Best Featured Actor in a Play’ at the 2026 Tony Awards.
Thomas Harris’s quartet of Lecter novels, Red Dragon (1981), The Silence of the Lambs (1988), Hannibal (1999) and Hannibal Rising (2006) have sold over 50 million copies worldwide and have influenced countless modern thrillers. Famed for his scalpel-sharp prose, Harris created in Hannibal Lecter an erudite and urbane serial killer who continues to fascinate the cultural imagination. Clarice Starling remains one of our most compelling fictional heroines — a woman who steps into the darkness to see justice served, armed with intellect, empathy, and unshakable resolve. Harris’s four novels have been adapted into multiple film and TV adaptations featuring acclaimed performances by Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore and directorial masterclasses by Jonathan Demme and Ridley Scott.
Nikolai Foster is Artistic Director at Curve, Leicester, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres, described as “world class” by The Daily Telegraph and a “powerhouse” by The Times. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Nikolai grew up in North Yorkshire and trained at Drama Centre London and at the Crucible, Sheffield. He has created work for many of the UK’s major producing theatres, touring houses and international venues.
Nikolai has been director on attachment at the Sheffield Crucible, the Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre Studio and served as an Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse. In 2024, Nikolai was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the Arts by Leicester’s De Montfort University for his contribution to theatre in Leicester.
At Curve, Nikolai has worked on numerous musical revivals, new plays, musicals and championed emerging artists. Many of the Made at Curve productions Nikolai has directed have transferred to London, toured the UK and internationally.
About Indigo Productions
Indigo Productions is a theatre development company for the live entertainment industry, led by James Lane & Ed McGovern. Indigo sits at the centre of a broad network of live entertainment practitioners, working closely with the industry’s most inspiring creatives to explore and realise the live content potential across a wide range of media.
With a development slate of new musicals, plays and live events that reimagine world-class music catalogues and existing IP, through to alternative live content for online content creators and new media influencers, Indigo is a commercial development vehicle focused on creating a new generation of cutting-edge live entertainment and works to engage younger, more diverse, modern audiences.
Indigo Productions is a strategic development partner of Crossroads Live, a global leader in the production of theatrical entertainment.
About Crossroads Live
Crossroads Live (CXL) is a leading global theatre producer, presenting world-class entertainment across its core territories of the United Kingdom, North America, and Australia, with an extensive presence throughout Asia, the Middle East, China and Europe.
Through its production offices in London, Sydney, and New York – and its network of producing partnerships worldwide – CXL collaborates with the foremost creative talent, rights-holders, and investors to bring the most celebrated titles from Broadway and the West End to audiences across the globe.
Under the leadership of Group CEO David Ian, Australia CEO John Frost and North America CEO Angela Rowles, CXL’s current and recent productions and co-productions include Anastasia, Annie, Back to the Future, Beetlejuice, The Bodyguard, Cats, Chicago, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cluedo, Dear Evan Hansen, Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Elf: The Musical, Grease, Hamilton, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kinky Boots, Magic Mike Live, Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, The Silence of the Lambs, Sister Act, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Waitress and Wicked.
Led by Michael Harrison, Crossroads Pantomimes is the world’s largest producer of pantomime, staging over 20 spectacular productions each year across the UK, including the legendary London Palladium pantomime, and entertaining more than two million people every festive season.
Crossroads Live, connecting with audiences worldwide. www.Xroadslive.com