The Silence of the Lambs Set for Milton Keynes Theatre 2026🦋

Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live, in association with Curve, are excited to announce a new chapter in the legacy of The Silence of the Lambs, as the global cultural phenomenon prepares for its world stage play premiere in 2026.

Acclaimed television writer and playwright Gina Gionfriddo (Law & Order (NBC), Rapture, Blister, Burn) brings Thomas Harris’ gripping literary masterpiece to the stage in a bold new adaptation directed by Nikolai Foster. This electrifying production will play at Milton Keynes Theatre from Mon 28 Sep – Sat 3 Oct 2026, as part of a major UK and Ireland tour.

When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is tasked with interviewing psychiatrist and infamous murderer Hannibal Lecter, it’s hoped his brilliant mind will help capture the sadistic serial killer, Buffalo Bill. With another girl missing and time running out, Clarice must navigate a chilling psychological game. But Dr Lecter has questions of his own, forcing Clarice to decide: keep him at arm’s length, or let Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ into her mind?

Gina Gionfriddo’s adaptation explores the intense psychological tension of Thomas Harris’ landmark novel, pulling the audience deep into Clarice and Lecter’s intricate, bone-chilling cat-and-mouse dynamic, as the FBI scrambles to stop Buffalo Bill.

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 Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalists in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Thomas Harris’ 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 influenced countless modern thrillers. Known for his scalpel-sharp prose, Harris created Hannibal Lecter, an erudite and urbane serial killer who continues to captivate audiences. Clarice Starling remains one of the most compelling heroines in fiction – a woman who confronts darkness with intellect, empathy, and unwavering determination. Harris’ novels have inspired multiple films and TV adaptations, featuring acclaimed performances by Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Jodie Foster, and Julianne Moore, with masterful direction 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 and raised in North Yorkshire, Nikolai trained at Drama Centre London and the Crucible, Sheffield. He has directed productions at many of the UK’s major theatres and international venues, served as Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse, and has directed numerous productions at Curve that have gone on to London, UK, and international tours. In 2024, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the Arts by De Montfort University for his contributions to theatre in Leicester.

Playwright Gina Gionfriddo says: “Thomas Harris’ novel speaks so eloquently to the interior terrors that fuel his iconic characters - both the monsters and the heroes who slay them. What a privilege it has been to bring these stories to the stage.”

Director Nikolai Foster continues: "We’ve long wanted to present a Made at Curve thriller onstage in Leicester, and The Silence of the Lambs is surely the most electrifying and frightening of this genre. At the heart of this play is the remarkable relationship between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter; through their gripping meetings, these two fascinating characters develop a compelling relationship. Harris’ novel is filled with stunning iconography and imagery that is ripe for theatrical invention. We can’t wait to see it burst to life onstage.”

Producers James Lane and Ed McGovern for Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live add: “We are deeply honoured to have been entrusted with Thomas Harris’ seminal story and iconic characters. Gina and Nikolai have crafted something truly thrilling for the stage, and we cannot wait to welcome audiences into Hannibal Lecter’s cell to witness it first hand for the very first time.”

Full creative team and cast to be announced.

The Silence of the Lambs is produced by Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live in association with Curve.