Samuel Barnett is to play Molina opposite Declan Bennett as Valentin in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Manuel Puig’s Kiss Of The Spider Woman when it opens in March 2018.
A provocative tale of love, victimisation, fantasy and the friendship that develops between two strikingly different men imprisoned together in a Latin American jail.
Samuel Barnett plays Molina – he returns to the Menier Chocolate Factory having previously appeared in Dealer’s Choice (also West End). His theatre credits for the National Theatre include The Beaux’ Stratagem, Women Beware Women, The History Boys (original cast, also Broadway – Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play), His Dark Materials. Other theatre work includes Twelfth Night, Richard III (Shakespeare’s Globe/Apollo Theatre/Belasco Theater), The Way The World (Sheffield Theatres), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Chichester Festival Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket), 66 Books, The Whiskey Taster, When You Cure Me (Bush Theatre), Accrington Pals (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Notes From New York (Arts Theatre). His television credits include the title role in Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Penny Dreadful, Twenty Twelve, Endeavour, and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps; and for film, The Lady in the Van, Jupiter Ascending, Bright Star, The History Boys and Mrs Henderson Presents.
Declan Bennett plays Valentin. His theatre credits include the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Once (Phoenix Theatre – originating the role of Guy), American Idiot (St. James Theatre, Broadway/Berkeley Rep), Rent (Nederlander Theatre, Broadway/US tour), Taboo (The Venue/UK tour), It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow and Our Day Out (Belgrade Theatre). For television his credits include as series regular Charlie Cotton in EastEnders; and for film, Inside Llewyn Davis.
Kiss Of The Spider Woman is adapted by Jose Rivera and Allan Baker and Directed by Laurie Sansom. It is designed by Jon Bausor, lighting design by Paul Anderson, sound by Philip Pinsky, and projection design by Andrzej Goulding.
Kiss Of The Spider Woman runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 8 March – 5 May 2018.
