Layton Williams and George Blagden have joined the cast of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, set to be revived in the U.K. in 2026.

Curve, Bristol Old Vic, and Mayflower Southampton’s co-production will be the first major U.K. revival of the musical since 1992. The production will be directed by Paul Foster, and will run in Curve’s Studio Theatre April 3-25, 2026; at Bristol Old Vic April 29-May 16, 2026; and at Mayflower Studios June 2-6.

Williams (Titanique, Everybody's Talking About Jamie) and Blagden (Versailles, Les Misérables) will join the previously announced Anna-Jane Casey (Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club, Girl From The North Country), who will play Aurora. Further casting will be announced at a later date.

Based on Manuel Puig's 1976 novel, Kiss of the Spider Woman centers on a pair of cellmates in an Argentine prison. Valentin (Blagden) is a political revolutionary, while Molina (Williams) is a gay window dresser who takes care of him by telling him the stories of his favorite films, many of which star his favorite movie star of all, Aurora. But the one story he fears telling is Aurora's greatest role: The Spider Woman. 

Adapted for the stage by Terrence McNally, the 1993 Broadway production 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, was released October 10. Read the reviews for the film by clicking here.

Foster will lead a creative team that also includes choreographer Joanna Goodwin, set designer David Woodhead, Olivier and Tony-winning costume designer Gabriella Slade, Tony-winning orchestrator and arranger Sarah Travis, lighting designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Matt Peploe, and casting director Stuart Burt. 

Visit CurveOnline.co.uk, BristolOldVic.org.uk, or Mayflower.org.uk.