Stuart Brennan Officially Joins Evanna Lynch in 2013 UK Tour of HOUDINI, Kicking Off Sept 9

'HOUDINI', a dramatic, darkly comic new play about two of the greatest performers the world has ever known - the Houdini Brothers: stuntmen, illusionists, magicians - will premiere at Stoke on Trent Repertory Theatre on September 9th before touring the UK throughout September and October.

Featuring a dynamic script, sharply drawn characters and breathtaking live stunts, 'Houdini' was written by BAFTA award-winning actor ('Risen') and filmmaker Stuart Brennan who also stars as Theo Weiss. Theatre Giant's creative director Peter Snee will direct the production with a creative dream team that includes film and TV production designer Danny Rogers, costume designer Fraz Roughton, sound designer Daffyd Gough, and composer Tord Brudevoll.

Concept artwork has been developed with multi-Oscar winning design studio WETA Workshop who are based in New Zealand and whose multiple credits include Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, X-Men, Chronicles of Narnia, and many more.

Principal casting is currently underway to find the perfect Harry; starring alongside Stuart Brennan as Theo Weiss is Evanna Lynch, well known for her role as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, who will be taking the role of Bess, Harry Houdini's wife and stage assistant.

'Houdini' has wide appeal; its extraordinary subject matter and true life story coupled with a great script, a nine-strong cast, thrilling stunts, inventive lighting and design, an original music score, plenty to thrill and promises entertainment for all. Families, theatre and film fans, girls and boys, old and young will be drawn in by the incredible story of this extraordinary man who became the most famous performer of his day and whose legend has endured for more than a century.

TOUR DATES:

September 9th - 14th
Stoke on Trent Repertory Theatre
www.stokerep.org.uk *

September 16th - 21st
Blackpool Grand Theatre
www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

September 24th - 28th
Swansea Grand Theatre
www.swanseagrand.co.uk

September 30th - October 5th
Windsor Theatre Royal
www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

October 7th - 12th
Dublin Gaiety Theatre
www.gaietytheatre.ie

From May 6th - tickets for Stoke on Trent can be obtained from Cafe Divine, 493-495 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6AA - Cafe Divine will also have an exhibition of the concept artwork from the WETA Workshop (see above) Tickets are priced from £15 to £20 and can be purchased by calling 020 7378 7840, online www.houdinitheplay.com or directly from Cafe Divine.

Synopsis: To be the greatest, you have to be prepared to sacrifice everything. Harry Houdini was the greatest performer who ever lived, but fame and fortune do not come free. For his brother Theo and his wife Bess, the price may have been too high. This intricate look inside the gripping life story of Houdini explores the devastation that is reaped by ambition, love and jealousy. Witness the birth of a star. Marvel at his death-defying feats. Prepare to be amazed. Discover the legend. Believe in the magic.

Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz in Budapest 1874, died in Detroit 1926) was an American stunt performer noted for his sensational escape acts. He first attracted attention on a tour of Europe where he challenged the local police force to try and keep him locked up; audiences were simultaneously enthralled and entertained and Houdini's flair for comedy, gimmickry and breathtaking nerve developed quickly and soon informed all his work. He extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water and even holding his breath inside a sealed milk can! In 1904 thousands watched as he tried to escape from special handcuffs commissioned by the Daily Mirror in London and although some suspected his increasingly complicated escapes were fabricated, they remained in the small minority. As President of the Society of American Magicians, Houdini was keen to uphold professional standards and expose fraudulent artists. He died in 1926 from a ruptured appendix, possibly the result of a fatal blow...but mystery and legend still surround the facts...

For more about the production, go to: www.houdinitheplay.com.

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