Image of Layton Williams
Producers Mayflower Southampton, Curve and Bristol Old Vic have revealed Layton Williams and George Blagden will join the cast of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s ground-breaking musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Obsession or salvation? one kiss from the spider woman can change everything.
In a brutal prison, Molina – condemned for his sexuality, and Valentin – a political prisoner, are forced into an unlikely friendship in the cell they share. To escape their harsh reality, Molina conjures dazzling fantasies of glamorous movies, spinning tales of the seductive and dangerous Spider Woman.
As their conditions worsen and the line between truth and fiction blurs, the two men find a deeper connection – one that could cost them everything.
Layton Williams will play Molina and George Blagden will play Valentin. 
Layton made his west end debut at the age of 12 when he starred as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical, he has since become a permanent fixture of stage and screen and earlier this year won the Olivier award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his part in Titanique.
In 2023 he reached the final of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Layton’s tv credits include Beautiful People, The Cleaner, Benidorm, and Bad Education.
George is best known for roles, including Louis XIV in Versailles and Athelstan in Vikings. His tv and film credits also include Les Miserables, Black Mirror, and Wrath of the Titans.
Layton and George join the previously announced Anna-Jane Casey who plays aurora, the legendary actress who embodies the spider woman of Molina’s fantasies.
Mayflower Southampton, Curve and Bristol Old Vic’s co-production of Kiss of the Spider Woman is the first major UK revival of the musical since 1992. The production will be directed by Paul Foster and will run in Curve’s Studio Theatre 3 to 25 April, at Bristol Old Vic 29 April to 16 May and at Mayflower Studios 2 to 6 June.
Based on the novel by Manuel Puig and adapted for the stage by Terrence McNally, the 1993 Broadway production of Kiss of the Spider Woman received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. A new film adaptation of the musical, starring Jennifer Lopez, will be released soon.
Kiss of the Spider Woman has choreography Joanna Goodwin, set designer by David Woodhead, costume design by Gabriella Slade, orchestra and arrangement by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Matt Peploe, and casting direction by Stuart Burt CDG, Further casting will be announced in due course.
Musicians for this Made at Curve production are sponsored by music licensing company, PPL
Tickets for Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 June 2026) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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