John Partridge to star as Hannibal 'The Cannibal'

Newcastle Theatre Royal is delighted to announce that acclaimed stage and screen star John Partridge will take on the iconic role of Dr Hannibal Lecter in the gripping new stage adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs (Tues 18 – Sat 22 Aug).

Partridge returns to Newcastle having dazzled audiences as Billy Flynn in Chicago in 2016, and more recently as Hugo/Loco Chanelle in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie during its run at the Theatre Royal in January 2024.

This electrifying production marks the world premiere stage adaptation of the global cultural phenomenon. When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to interview 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. With another girl now missing and time running out, Clarice must decide: keep a safe distance, or let Hannibal ‘The Cannibal’ into her head?

Adapted for the stage by acclaimed television writer and playwright Gina Gionfriddo (Law & Order (NBC), House of Cards (Netflix), Becky Shaw) brings Thomas Harris’s gripping literary masterpiece to the stage in a new modern adaptation directed by Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director at Curve Theatre. Gionfriddo’s theatrical adaptation delves into the psychological tension of Thomas Harri’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.

John Partridge said of his casting in the upcoming tour: “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’s most chilling creation in our world premiere stage adaptation.”

Widely known for his long-running role as Christian Clarke in EastEnders, Partridge’s extensive theatre career spans productions from Cats to Cabaret and La Cage Aux Folles, alongside numerous West End, touring, and international credits.

The Silence of the Lambs plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tue 18 – Sat 22 Aug 2026. Tickets can be purchased here or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.