Hannibal Lecter sits beside the glass wall of his cell, with his reflection visible beside him.

Suspense, terror and an underlying sense of menace fill the stage production of The Silence of the Lambs, now at Oxford’s New Theatre.

The atmosphere was set before the show had even begun. As we took our seats, the suspenseful music was already building, leaving us with a tiny sense of dread as we waited for the infamous Dr Hannibal Lecter to come to life.

Adapted by playwright Gina Gionfriddo from Thomas Harris’s multi-million-selling novel, the story follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is sent to interview the brilliant psychiatrist and serial killer Lecter. She hopes his mind will help her catch another sadistic murderer, Buffalo Bill, but another girl is missing and time is running out.

Lecter gives nothing away for free. It’s quid pro quo, and he has questions of his own for Clarice. How much is she prepared to reveal, and can she keep a safe distance from a man who seems determined to get inside her head?

John Partridge, Mollie Gallagher and the cast

John Partridge, known for his long-running role as Christian Clarke in BBC One’s EastEnders and his extensive West End credits, did not disappoint as Lecter. He was charming, calculating and genuinely frightening. There were several moments that made us jump, while the prison guard scene had us squirming in our seats.

Sam Jackson was equally unsettling as Buffalo Bill, using his physical presence to create an aura of menace and danger. As the production progressed, the threads of the two stories began to come together. With Clarice, Lecter and Bill sharing the stage, each playing out their own part of the story, the tension built as their worlds moved towards an inevitable collision.

A special mention must go to Mollie Gallagher, making her professional theatre debut as Clarice Starling. Best known for her role as Nina Lucas in ITV’s Coronation Street, she convincingly adopted Clarice’s American accent and brought confidence to the role.

Clarice Starling holds a handgun, with ear defenders around her neck and shooting targets behind her.
Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. Photo: Marc Brenner.

The set and our verdict

The set is also worth a mention. Highly adaptable, it moves swiftly between scenes while creating different spaces, from Lecter’s cell to Buffalo Bill’s lair. Lecter’s cell is particularly effective, with stark lighting and glass walls adding to the sense of danger and making his presence all the more unsettling.

Hannibal Lecter stands inside a glass cell while Clarice Starling sits outside on the darkened stage.
Lecter’s glass-walled cell in The Silence of the Lambs. Photo: Marc Brenner.

There’s no escaping the fact that this is a grim story, and the production doesn’t shy away from its more gruesome moments. But it is brilliantly brought to life on stage, keeping us on edge throughout.

We left feeling an equal measure of terror and delight. Go and see it if you dare!

Oxford dates, running time and audience guidance

The Silence of the Lambs runs at New Theatre Oxford from 19 to 24 October 2026. The theatre is at 24–26 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AG. The adaptation is directed by Nikolai Foster.

Running time: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, including an interval.

Age guidance: 15+. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Content guidance: the production includes threats, violence and murder, depictions of human remains, very strong language including homophobic language, sexual references, sexual harassment and sexual violence. It also uses flashing lights, haze and loud noises, including gunshots.

A captioned Oxford performance is listed for Thursday 22 October 2026 at 7.30pm. Check the official Oxford booking page for tickets, individual performance times and availability.

Full tour dates after Oxford

The following are all announced UK stops after the Oxford run, as listed on the production’s official tour website and checked on 21 October 2026. Dates refer to venue runs, rather than a performance every day. Cast and schedules can change.

The Silence of the Lambs: all announced UK stops after Oxford, 2026–27. All runs below are upcoming as of 21 October 2026.
DatesTown or cityVenue and official bookingStatus
27–31 October 2026PeterboroughNew TheatreUpcoming
2–7 November 2026HullHull New TheatreUpcoming
10–14 November 2026BelfastGrand Opera HouseUpcoming
5–9 January 2027BirminghamThe AlexandraUpcoming
11–16 January 2027BlackpoolGrand TheatreUpcoming
26–30 January 2027MalvernFestival Theatre, Malvern TheatresUpcoming
9–13 February 2027Stoke-on-TrentRegent TheatreUpcoming
15–20 February 2027SwanseaGrand Theatre: official tour listingUpcoming
22–27 February 2027ChesterStoryhouseUpcoming
1–6 March 2027BrightonTheatre RoyalUpcoming
9–13 March 2027Tunbridge WellsAssembly Hall TheatreUpcoming
15–20 March 2027YorkGrand Opera HouseUpcoming
31 March–3 April 2027CoventryBelgrade TheatreUpcoming
5–10 April 2027RichmondRichmond TheatreUpcoming
12–17 April 2027CheltenhamEveryman TheatreUpcoming
19–24 April 2027BournemouthBournemouth PavilionUpcoming
26 April–1 May 2027WolverhamptonGrand TheatreUpcoming
4–8 May 2027SheffieldLyceum TheatreUpcoming
10–15 May 2027CardiffNew TheatreUpcoming
17–22 May 2027BuxtonOpera HouseUpcoming
31 May–5 June 2027WokingWoking TheatreUpcoming
15–19 June 2027LiverpoolEmpireUpcoming
21–26 June 2027SunderlandEmpireUpcoming

Also in Ireland: the tour visits Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, from 24 to 28 November 2026. This Republic of Ireland engagement is listed separately from the UK dates. See the official tour website for booking.

Advertisement

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR