Theatre News

Derren Brown Enigma Follows Joseph at Adelphi

Television magician and mind control expert Derren Brown will return to the West End this summer, with his new live show Derren Brown: Enigma. Following a 41-date regional tour, the production will play for 30 dates only, from 17 June to 28 July 2009 (previews from 15 June), at the Adelphi Theatre. Tickets go on sale next Thursday, 12 March.

Derren Brown’s unique style of performance, which combines psychological illusion, perceptual manipulation and persuasive technique, has made him a star of both stage and screen. In 2006 his stage show Something Wicked This Way Comes (See News, 13 Apr 2005), won an Olivier Award in the Best Entertainment category. For his last stage show, Derren Brown Mind Reader: An Evening of Wonders, which had a West End run at the Garrick Theatre last May (See News, 27 Feb 2008), he was nominated for Best Solo Performance in this year’s Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards.

On screen Brown has provoked much debate and controversy with his mind-bending television specials. On 5 October 2003 Brown made world television history and triggered an international outcry when he played Russian Roulette live on Channel 4. The programme was watched by 3.3 million people in the UK.

Speaking about Enigma, Brown said: “Like previous shows, I will absolutely push myself to the limit. The challenge is to create new material that shocks, delights and defies explanation. The audience will be taken for a theatrical rollercoaster ride, and I hope it’s an experience that they will never forget.”

Enigma will be directed by Brown’s long-time collaborator Andy Nyman, with whom he’s currently putting together the new material. The show is designed by Will Bowen, lit by Tim Mascall and produced by Michael Vine, Andrew O’Connor and Corrie McGuire for Objective Talent Management.

Currently at the Adelphi, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is now due to close on 30 May (See News, 4 Mar 2009). The musical revival, which has been running since 17 July 2007 (previews from 6 July), stars Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, who inherited the Dreamcoat from original Joseph and Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead last month (See News, 26 Nov 2008).

– by Terri Paddock