'Will make you laugh, sigh, gasp, then laugh again'
'Captivating and enthralling'
'[Caroline O'Connor is] demanding, seductive, imperious, irresistible. As is the production.'
More Information
In a dark South American prison, two very different men share a small cell. Valentin is a Marxist revolutionary who refuses to betray his comrades. Molina is a window dresser who distracts himself by escaping to a fantasy world of movies starring the glamorous diva, Aurora. Valentin can’t stand Molina’s cinematic fantasies and so draws a line on the floor to stop Molina from coming near him. Surely that will keep them apart.
From Kander & Ebb, the team behind smash-hit shows Chicago and Cabaret, and acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally (Master Class), comes a provocative tale of love, imagination, and the friendship that develops when humanity is pushed to its limits. It’s a powerful and emotive story made famous by the original novel and an Oscar-winning film, brought to life here as a dazzling major musical production for the first time ever in Australia.
Musical legend Caroline O’Connor (Bombshells) returns to MTC to take on the role of exotic film goddess, Aurora, in a show that’s set to sizzle and surprise, directed by Helpmann Award-winner Dean Bryant (Sweet Charity).

The cast of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Photo by Theresa Harrison.
Accessibility
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Hearing Assistance
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Audio Described
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Tactile Tour
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Open Captioning
Performance Type | Performance Date(s) |
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Audio Described | Saturday 7 December at 2pm Tuesday 10 December at 6.30pm |
Tactile Tour | Prior to the Saturday 7 December performance at 1pm |
Open Captioning
via screen |
Saturday 14 December at 2pm |
Credits

Caroline O'Connor
Spider Woman / Aurora

Jakob Ambrose
Ensemble

Blake Appelqvist
Esteban / Ensemble

Elandrah Eramiha
Marta / Ensemble

Adam-Jon Fiorentino
Valentin

Natalie Gamsu
Molina's Mother / Ensemble

Joe Gaudion
Marcos / Ensemble

Ryan Gonzalez
Gabriel / Ensemble

Bert LaBonté
Warden / Ensemble

Ainsley Melham
Molina

Lyndon Watts
Ensemble

Dean Bryant
Director

Jack Earle
Musical Director & Orchestrator

Andrew Hallsworth
Choreographer

Alicia Clements
Set & Costume Designer

Matt Scott
Lighting Designer

Nick Walker
Sound Designer

Jamie Clennett
Projection Designer

Leith McPherson
Voice & Dialect Coach

Luca Dinardo
Assistant Director & Assistant Choreographer

Darryn Farrugia
Musician (Drums)

Patrick Schmidli
Musician (Bass)

Ioana Tache
Musician (Violin)

Paul Zabrowarny
Musician (Cello)
Learn more on Backstage
Read more about the show-
Interviews
Her name is Aurora
Caroline O’Connor has played many leading ladies throughout her illustrious career, so the role of Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman – the embodiment of a multitude of leading lady archetypes – seems tailor made for her.
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Feature
The dirty truth of Argentina’s Dirty War
Kiss of the Spider Woman is set in an unnamed South American jail cell, seemingly sometime in the 20th century, but the political and social reality that inspired its setting is stark: Argentina’s Dirty War.
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Interviews
Creating the universes of the Spider Woman
Award-winning set and costume designer Alicia Clements discusses the ‘marathon’ journey of bringing Kiss of the Spider Woman to life through costume.
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Feature
Kiss of History
Kiss of the Spider Woman has had at least four different lives over its four-decade history. We take a look back at its often groundbreaking journey from page to stage to silver screen and Broadway.
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Programme
Kiss of the Spider Woman Programme
Learn more about Kander & Ebb's provocative tale of love and imagination in our production programme, which can be purchased at the theatre for $2 or downloaded for free online.