John Partridge to take on Hannibal Lecter in the Silence of the Lambs

Acclaimed stage and screen actor John Partridge is set to take on one of the most chilling roles in modern fiction, starring as Hannibal Lecter in a gripping new stage production of The Silence of the Lambs, coming to Bournemouth Pavilion in April 2026.

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 the 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?

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 Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster. Gionfriddo’s theatrical vision delves into the psychological tension of Harris’s landmark novel, drawing audiences 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: “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.”

At just 16, John Partridge left college to join the original UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS, later transferring to the West End production at the New London Theatre to star as Rum Tum Tugger. He reprised the role in the official filmed version opposite Elaine Paige and John Mills.

John’s extensive West End, touring and international theatre credits include: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Peacock Theatre), A Chorus Line (London Palladium), The Drowsy Chaperone (Novello Theatre), Notre-Dame de Paris (Dominion Theatre), The Fix (Donmar Warehouse), directed by Sam Mendes; Tommy (Shaftesbury Theatre), Grease (Dominion Theatre), and Starlight Express (Apollo Victoria Theatre) amongst many others
On screen, John is widely known for his long-running role as Christian Clarke in EastEnders (BBC, 2007–2016). His screen work also includes Involuntary Activist (Iris Prize/BBC) and Cleopatra (Netflix).

A well-known television personality, John won Celebrity MasterChef (BBC) and has appeared on The Real Full Monty (ITV), Taking The Next Step (CBBC), Tumble (BBC) and Battlechefs with Marco Pierre White (Watch). He has also served as a celebrity judge on Over the Rainbow (BBC), guest-hosted The National Lottery Draws (BBC), and is a regular contributor on Jeremy Vine (Channel 5).

Full creative team and further casting to be announced.

The Silence of the Lambs arrives at Bournemouth Pavilion for one week only from Monday 19 - Saturday 24 April 2027, with tickets on sale now.