The Silence of the Lambs
Newcastle Theatre Royal
19th August 2026
Invited: I was very excited to see this adaptation of the Thomas Harris novel The Silence of the Lambs for several reasons. Firstly, I was fascinated to see how the production team would stage it. In 1991 it was famously adapted for the silver screen in a movie of the same name starring Jodie Foster as rookie FBI behavioural psychologist Clarice Starling and in an Oscar winning performance, Sir Anthony Hopkins as the brilliantly flawed Dr Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ Lecter.
Some of the scenes in the movie have quite rightly gone into cinematic lore and are much lampooned and this film has garnered cult status over the years. It is therefore a brave theatre production to take on such a well known story. I have to say that Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live in association with others have performed miracles with this stage interpretation.
Unusually, I am going to begin with the background soundscape which is present while the audience enters and takes their seats. There is a constant and psychologically foreboding drone – like that made by an over-working air conditioner. It is just loud enough to make to its presence felt and to add a distrubing atmosphere to unselttle the audience even before the show starts. It is this attention to detail that continues throughout the production and my hat goes off to sound designer Carolyn Downing.
The Set design (Michael Taylor) is also superb with a split level metallic bridge effectively forming a variety of locations for the story including Lecter’s prison, a shooting range, a police building, and anywhere else it needed to be. The star of the set has to be the cell (or cage) which housed the infamous Dr Lecter. Again the attention to detail here was evident. The style is very reminiscent of the film and it was used to exquisite dramatic effect giving a claustophobic feeling to the later discussions Lecter has with the inexperienced Starling. Being a mobile element of the set, the director (Nikolai Foster) utilised this brilliantly as it gave the opportunity to turn the cage affording the audience in most parts of the theatre a glimpse into the terrifying world of Dr Hannibal Lecter.
And so to the stars of this production of Harris’ tense psychological thriller. As the play begins Detective Jack Crawford (Oliver Farnworth) is hunting a particularly savage serial killer played by Sam Jackson. He decides that the now-incarcerated Dr Hannibal Lecter (John Partridge) may give him an insight or even the name of the miscreant he is seeking and enlists the help of rookie Clarice Starling (Mollie Galagher.) As the body count of the now nicknamed killer “Buffalo Bill” rises so does the pressure to stop him. The cat and mouse-style interviews with Lecter yield a drip-drip of clues and innuendo building to a dramatic climax. Harris’ book has been brilliantly adapted for the stage by Gina Gionfriddo ensuring each element of the award winning story is there, cranking up the tension and being faithful to the source material.
Farnworth gives a great performance as the tragic Crawford who is struggling with his own demons having recently lost his wife. Jackson is outstanding as the troubled serial killer effortlessly swapping from charming swagger to murderous intent to quite disturbing effect. The hard working ensemble cast were superb playing a multitude of additional characters and dealing smoothly with the slick scene changes. It was a masterclass in direction by Foster and mesmerising to watch.
It may have been tempting for Partridge to imitate or reproduce Hopkins’ stellar performance as the calculating Lecter. Instead, he opted for a more prowling caged tiger which worked exceptionally well. Where Hopkins brooded, taunted, and manipulated, Partridge played, toyed, and goaded his prey. There are parallels, inevitably, between the two performances but Partridge leans into a humerous yet unpredictable version which is equally as disturbing as he seeks to get into the very soul of Clarice Starling.
Gallagher is simply perfect as Starling – channelling Jodie Foster’s mannerisms and accent from the movie. In many ways this is as brave because when she starts off you may be concerned that she will not be able to maintain the character throughout the very wordy play – but maintain it she does. It really is an immense effort from Gallagher making her professional theatre debut.
My final accolade for this production goes to lighting designer Howard Hudson who has created something very special indeed. His design is subtle, it is unnerving, it provides texture, promotes the terror of the piece, and even causes a jump scare or two by itself.
The Silence of the Lambs is given new life with this production. It is certainly not for the faint-hearted and there is some strong language in places but it is brought to the stage by creatives who have problem solved, developed creative solutions, and a cast who have worked incredibly hard both in their research and physicality on the stage.
This is not to be missed for fans of the 1991 movie or for theatre people who want to be enthralled. The doctor will see you now…