New Old Friends show coming to Garrick in 2024

Award-winning theatre company New Old Friends, in association with Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, is taking Houdini’s Greatest Escape on a UK tour – including a date Lichfield’s Garrick Theatre.

Almost 100 years ago, Harry Houdini performed his final disappearing trick.

Every year since, magic enthusiasts across the world have held Halloween seances in an attempt to solve the great escapologist’s last mystery.

Harry Houdini is the world’s greatest entertainer. Just as his death-defying escapology stunts have him, and his wife Bess, on the cusp of a career-defining performance for King Edward, he finds himself framed for murder by a gang of criminals in cahoots with the chief of police. Can Harry & Bess escape the plot and clear their names?

And how is their rival, The Superstar Spiritualist medium, Agatha, involved?

All will be revealed in this hilarious 39 Steps-esque thriller, played out in New Old Friends’ (Crimes on Centre Court) award-winning style of physical comedy, sparkling wit and just a touch of chaos.

Featuring a cast of four playing multiple roles, this show will have you laughing and gasping throughout at the magic of theatre and the ‘real’ magic of illusions designed by TV’s Pete Firman (Netflix Good Omen’s / BBC One’s The Magicians).

The cast includes Ben Higgins as Harry Houdini, Lydia Piechowiak as Bess Houdini,  with many other characters played by Kirsty Cox and Adam Elliott.

Feargus Dunlop-Woods said: “This is a show we have wanted to make for years and are over the moon that the company in finally in a position to realise the vision of blending our slightly chaotic ‘overtly theatrical’ nonsense with some genuine illusions.

“Researching and ‘getting to know’ Harry and Bess Houdini has been fascinating and this, entirely fictional, episode in their crusade against fraud mediums has been a huge amount of fun to create. We can’t wait to share it with the country.”

The show will be visiting the Garrick from 25 to 27 April, 2024.

For tour details and more information visit the website.