Hannibal Lecter heads to Nottingham stage
Theatregoers in Nottingham will come up close to Hannibal Lecter when The Silence of the Lambs takes to the stage next year.
Acclaimed television writer and playwright Gina Gionfriddo is bringing Thomas Harris’ gripping literary masterpiece to the stage in a new adaptation directed by Nikolai Foster.
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 sadistic 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?
Gina Gionfriddo’s theatrical adaptation delves into the psychological tension of Thomas Harris’s landmark novel, drawing the audience deep into Clarice and Lecter’s intelligent, intricate, and bone-chilling game of cat-and-mouse. Gionfriddo’s screenwriting credits include Law & Order, House of cards and Cold Case. Her plays Becky Shaw and Rapture, Blister, Burn were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama 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 have influenced countless modern thrillers. Famed for his sharp prose, Harris created in Hannibal Lecter an erudite and urbane serial killer who continues to fascinate the cultural imagination. Harris’ four novels have been adapted into multiple film and TV adaptations featuring acclaimed performances by Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore and directorial masterclasses by Jonathan Demme and Ridley Scott.
Gina Gionfriddo said: “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.”
Nikolai Foster added: “We are honoured Thomas Harris has trusted us to adapt his incredible novel for the stage and Pulitzer nominated playwright Gina Gionfriddo has delivered the most extraordinary adaptation of the novel.
"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 and we can’t wait to see it burst to life onstage.”
The Silence of the Lambs runs the Theatre Royal from Tuesday September 15 to Saturday September 19. It is recommended for ages 15 and above. Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.