Full cast confirmed for Kiss of the Spider Woman – with Layton Williams withdrawing

The full cast has been announced for the revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, co-produced by Curve, Bristol Old Vic and Mayflower Southampton.

Joining the previously announced George Blagden as Valentin and Anna-Jane Casey as Aurora will be Fabian Soto Pacheco as Molina.

He replaces Layton Williams, who has withdrawn from the production. Also in the cast are Gabriela Garcia as Marta, Tori Scott as Molina’s Mother, Jay Rincon as the Warden and Damian Buhagiar as the Guard. Ensemble members are Jess Buckby, Alex Pinder and Davide Fienauri.

Curve chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster, on behalf of the co-producers, said: “We are thrilled to share news of our full company. Rising star Fabian Soto Pacheco joins Anna–Jane Casey and George Blagden to lead this beautiful show, a rare opportunity to see one of the great landmark Broadway musicals from Kander and Ebb.

“Acclaimed director Paul Foster and his team have brought together a phenomenal company and whilst we are sorry to see Layton leave the production, we wish him every continued success. Layton has enjoyed a long relationship with our audiences and we very much look forward to welcoming him back to Curve in the future. In the meantime, we are proud to share this extraordinary production with audiences in Leicester, Bristol and Southampton”

Williams added: “Walking away from this production was an incredibly tough decision, and not one I made lightly. What Director Paul Foster and the team are putting together is truly magical, but an opportunity arose that I simply couldn’t turn down.

“While I’m sad to be leaving the show, I know the production is going to be absolutely incredible, and I’m sending all my love to the company, including Fabian, who is going to make a remarkable Molina.

“Finally, I’d like to say a huge thank you to the teams at Curve, Bristol Old Vic, Mayflower Southampton, and everyone who has helped me navigate this situation. I’ll forever be indebted to you and hope we can collaborate again in the future.

“To everyone else: please make sure you book tickets to see Kiss of the Spider Woman! It really is going to be an unmissable show.”

Directed by Foster, the revival marks the first major UK revival of the musical since 1992. The production will run at Curve’s Studio Theatre from 3 to 25 April, at Bristol Old Vic from 29 April to 16 May and at Mayflower Studios from 2 to 6 June.

Based on the novel by Manuel Puig, with a stage adaptation by Terrence McNally, Kiss of the Spider Woman premiered on Broadway in 1993, where it won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. The story follows two prisoners, Molina and Valentin, who form a bond while sharing a cell, with Molina recounting fantasies about film star the Spider Woman as their relationship develops.

The creative team includes choreographer Joanna Goodwin, set designer David Woodhead, costume designer Gabriella Slade, orchestrator and arranger Sarah Travis, lighting designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Matt Peploe and casting director Stuart Burt. Musicians for the production are sponsored by music licensing company PPL.