HOUDINI: HANDCUFFS & HUBRIS Auditions
Project Overview
From the award‐winning team behind THE QUALITY OF MERCY (Scenesaver Best Playwright Award; Off‐West End nominations for Best New Play, Best Solo Performance and Best Director) and produced by David Furlong with Exchange Theatre (award‐nominated company behind WHO IS CLAUDE CAHUN? [Southwark Playhouse], MISANTHROPE [CPT] and twenty years of landmark bilingual productions) comes a new theatrical epic to the OMNIBUS THEATRE, CLAPHAM for a 3 Week Run from late October 2026. This production is directed by Bernie C Byrnes (NT, Globe, RSC).
Playwright Edwin Flay tells the true story of Erik Weisz, better known as Harry Houdini: a Hungarian immigrant raised in crippling poverty who achieved worldwide fame through his discovery of a whole new discipline of magic, and found a second career exposing phony mediums. Houdini’s is not merely an American success story; his Hungarian heritage is at the centre of his journey as a migrant.
HOUDINI: HANDCUFFS & HUBRIS explores the showmanship that made Houdini famous and the rampant narcissism that drove it; the grief that guided his evolution into a crusader against spiritualism; and the hubris that compelled him to destroy every challenger, including Bess, his long suffering wife; Theo, his younger brother; and, eventually, himself.
The play is a mix of traditionally staged scenes and free verse direct address to audience in the style of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, spiced up with escapes, magic and archival footage. We're seeking experienced actors and credible emerging individuals with recognisable credits. Experience in musical theatre, physical theatre or mime is welcome.
We are open to all types of diversity and are interested to hear from performers of Hungarian descent or origins.
Casting Details In-person auditions will be a group workshop in the morning followed by immediate individual recalls in the afternoon.
Equity - Fringe Agreement £3,000 for 6 weeks
Skill Set
Essential
Strong US accents
Good sense of rhythm in text
Versatility and multi-roling ability
Desirable
Sleight of hand skill (not Bess)
Familiarity with German, Yiddish (Not Theo)
Range of accents
THEO (30-50) Min. 5'10". Ehrich's long-suffering younger brother. Physically larger, but more reserved. Kinder, a gentle soul, but mischievous. Must be comfortable with handcuffs!
BESS (30-50) Max 5'8". Physically very slight. Needs to sing. Harry Houdini's wife. Feisty performer, frustrated at being relegated to Ehrich's helpmeet. A drinker, becomes progressively more bitter.
CECELIA/DAISY (30-60) Cecelia: Houdini's mother: elderly, miserable. Longs for the home she left behind in Budapest. Daisy: Magician's assistant turned magic shop counter girl. Wise beyond her years, very self-assured. Briefly becomes Ehrich's lover, befriends Bess after his death
Auditions: 27 June
R&D: 1st week of Sept 2026
Rehearsals: 28 Sept - 17 Oct
Get In Tech: 19 Oct
Production: 20 Oct - 7 Nov
Submissions and enquiries until 12th June 2026 : info@exchangetheatre.com
