Kiss of the Spider Woman opens to four star reviews at Curve, Leicester
Kiss of the Spider Woman has opened at Curve Theatre, earning glowing four-star reviews. The production runs until Saturday 26 April, with tickets available now via curveonline.co.uk.
From the celebrated creators of Cabaret musical and Chicago musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman returns in a powerful new co-production by Curve Theatre Leicester, Bristol Old Vic and Mayflower Southampton.
Set inside a harsh prison, the story follows Molina—imprisoned because of his sexuality—and Valentin, a political prisoner, as they form an unexpected bond while sharing a cell. To escape their grim surroundings, Molina imagines vivid scenes from glamorous films, weaving stories about the alluring and dangerous Spider Woman. As their situation deteriorates and the boundary between fantasy and reality begins to dissolve, the two men develop a profound connection—one that may come at great cost.
The musical is adapted for the stage by Terrence McNally from the novel by Manuel Puig. Its original Broadway production was a major success, winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
This marks the first major UK revival since 1992. The production is directed by Paul Foster and stars Anna-Jane Casey as Aurora, alongside Fabian Soto Pacheco as Molina and George Blagden as Valentin.
Reviews have been highly positive. WhatsOnStage awarded the show four stars, praising it as “a strikingly intimate and emotionally grounded revival” that strips the musical back to its political and emotional core for a raw, immediate impact. East Midlands Theatre described it "as a deeply human story about love, identity and belonging, elevated by strong performances, compelling music and a narrative that remains both moving and unsettling.
Ticket Information
Discounts*
£25 tickets* for ages 16–26 and/or students (with a free 16–26 & Student Loyalty Pass), and Curve Connect
£20 tickets* for under 18 school groups
£2 off* groups of 6+
£3 off* groups of 8+
£5 off* groups of 10+
£5 off + 1 free organiser ticket* for groups of 20+
15% off for Loyalty Pass holders on selected performances
Reduced price preview tickets available online or via the Box Office
*Discounts apply to selected performances only
Access Performances
Captioned: Saturday 18 April, 7:45pm (Captioner: Jenny Skene, Theatre Captioner Network)
BSL Interpreted: Friday 24 April, 7:45pm (Interpreter: Stacey Green, positioned stage left from the audience’s perspective)
Audio Described: Saturday 25 April, 2:30pm (Touch Tour at 1pm; Audio describers: Nadine Beasley and Kate Taylor-Davies, Talking Sense Audio Description)
Tickets can be purchased via curveonline.co.uk.