Bournemouth Pavilion will be one of a handful of venues to host the world stage premiere of The Silence of the Lambs in 2027, marking a thrilling new chapter in the legacy of one of the most influential psychological thrillers ever written.

Produced by Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live in association with Curve, this electrifying new adaptation is written by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Nikolai Foster.

When FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to interview psychiatrist and infamous murderer Hannibal Lecter, it is hoped his brilliant mind might help capture a new, sadistic serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Another girl is missing. 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?

Gionfriddo’s gripping adaptation plunges audiences deep into the psychological tension of Thomas Harris’ landmark novel, drawing them into Clarice and Lecter’s intelligent, intricate and bone-chilling game of cat-and-mouse, as the FBI scramble to catch a killer still at large.

Gionfriddo’s extensive screenwriting credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Cold Case, House of Cards and The Alienist. Her plays Becky Shaw and Rapture, Blister, Burn were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Thomas Harris’ quartet of Lecter novels — Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising — have sold over 50 million copies worldwide, shaping the modern thriller genre and introducing one of fiction’s most fascinating villains. His scalpel-sharp prose created in Hannibal Lecter an erudite and urbane serial killer who continues to captivate global audiences. Clarice Starling remains one of literature’s most compelling heroines — stepping into darkness armed with intellect, empathy and unshakable resolve.

Harris’ novels have inspired multiple acclaimed film and television adaptations, featuring celebrated performances by Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Brian Cox, Mads Mikkelsen and Julianne Moore, with visionary direction from Jonathan Demme and Ridley Scott.

Playwright 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.”

Producers James Lane and Ed McGovern for Indigo Productions and Crossroads Live added: “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.”

The Silence of the Lambs will be at Bournemouth Pavilion from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 April 2027. Tickets are on sale now via the Bournemouth Pavilion website from £37.50.