For a theatre show with a twist, The Silence of the Lambs is an excellent choice.
We went and reviewed it on its press night at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. It is touring the UK until June 2027 (silenceofthelambsplay.com).
If you’re looking for September events in Nottingham, The Silence of the Lambs is playing at the Theatre Royal until September 19 (from £22pp, trch.co.uk). For more reviews like this, subscribe to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
The Silence of the Lambs at Theatre Royal, Nottingham: “Deliciously dark” — theatre review
★★★★★
By Charlotte Brudenell
Photos by Marc Brenner
“I do wish we could chat longer, but I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
The Silence of the Lambs is an absolute triumph. It is a near-perfect stage adaptation of the 1988 novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, and subsequently the 1991 horror film.
The plot follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Mollie Gallagher), who must interview Hannibal Lecter (John Partridge), an imprisoned cannibal, to help catch a serial killer nicknamed ‘Buffalo Bill’ (Sam Jackson).
I went and reviewed this show on its premiere national tour, and I sure hope that it gets a permanent residency somewhere when the run is over. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole performance. There is never a dull moment; it’s spine-chilling the whole way through, and I was absolutely gripped.
I truly believe anyone with a taste for horror would love this. There are plenty of jump scares and gory moments, and for those who are fans of the original movie, yes, it stays true to the plot. I was delighted to be able to see one of my favourite films on stage.
Gina Gionfriddo, who adapted the piece, wrote the script wonderfully. Nikolai Foster, the director, certainly made sure to recreate the film (or book) that all horror fans know and love. I must admit, though, I am rather sad they cut the famous line from the film: “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.” It really would have made it for me, in a not-too-morbid way.
One thing I love about the production is that it was created by the team at The Curve Theatre in Leicester, who create and produce many amazing shows. I love how somewhere so close to the city can create theatre which can go on to be a national (and sometimes international) success.
It cannot go without saying that John Partridge’s portrayal of Hannibal Lecter was deliciously dark. Of course, Anthony Hopkins made the role so iconic, and I loved how Partridge channelled all that creepy, unsettling energy into his own version of the character. If I may say so myself, he somehow made the character almost seductive and suave, making the audience realise just how easily Clarice was drawn to him. His line delivery was pure perfection, speaking his comedic lines just well enough to give that fleeting moment of comedic relief.
As if it couldn’t get any scarier, Sam Jackson hit the jackpot. His portrayal of ‘Buffalo Bill’ was absolutely frightening. Whenever he was on stage, I was gripping the arms of the chair; his presence on stage was enough to give me the shivers. In the film, I never felt frightened by his character, so Jackson clearly hit the mark in delivering every note in his portrayal of a spineless serial killer. As well as that, he also perfectly showed how broken that character was, but not so much that the audience would feel remorse.
The set design was stunning. Michael Taylor did a wonderful job. Having just one major set piece but managing to utilise it for every scene was executed incredibly well. Lecter’s cell was the set piece that stole the scene, though. It worked so well – it didn’t feel as though it took up too little or too much of the stage, and how they got the sound to work perfectly with Hannibal locked in the cell, I don’t know.
Another thing I loved about the staging was managing to condense different plot points into one scene. For example, when Clarice was interviewing Hannibal, there would be scenes including Buffalo Bill happening simultaneously. This ensures that the whole original plot could be put into this stage adaptation without missing any major details. This is great because with some adaptations, they do tend to leave parts out to condense it for the stage, but this method worked surprisingly well. It isn’t distracting; you can easily focus on both points that are happening.
This show may not be for everyone. For those who may have sensory issues, there are a lot of loud bangs and unexpected noises, such as gunshots and bangs during dramatic moments and scene changes. It is also quite gory in parts, showing dead bodies and being rather graphic with Hannibal maiming people. The subject matter is not light either, so take care to research the show if you do intend on seeing it.
However, for those who love horror, crime, or thrillers, this show is most definitely for you. For those who are fans of the movie, it’s like watching the film but with the added joy of it being in a theatre, a live re-enactment of an iconic piece of media. This is not one to be missed; I can see it becoming a staple of British theatre. For someone who generally sees musicals over plays, this was truly captivating, and I look forward to seeing where it goes after this tour.
The Silence of the Lambs is playing at the Theatre Royal until September 19 (from £22pp, trch.co.uk) and touring the UK until June 2027 (silenceofthelambsplay.com).
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