Cast announced for Magic at Chichester Festival Theatre, led by David Haig and Hadley Fraser

Magic, a new play by David Haig about the relationship between Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle, will receive its world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre.

The show will be running from 24 April to 16 May, with a press night on 5 May. The production is directed by Lucy Bailey and stars David Haig as Conan Doyle and Hadley Fraser as Houdini.

The play is based on historical events and is presented in the year marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Houdini.

Haig’s previous play Pressure premiered at Chichester in 2014 and later transferred to the West End and internationally. A film adaptation is scheduled for release this year, starring Andrew Scott. .

The cast also includes Jenna Augen as Bess Houdini, Ben Jones, Claire Price as Jean Conan Doyle, Marc Serratosa, Ella Tekere, François Testory, Jade Williams and Kristin Wei Wong.

Bailey returns to Chichester following her work on The Other Boleyn Girl and Tonight at 8.30. The creative team includes designer Joanna Parker, lighting designer Aideen Malone, illusion designer John Bulleid, composer Orlando Gough, sound designer Beth Duke, video designer Dick Straker, movement director Georgina Lamb, associate movement director Ayse Tashkiran, fight director Kate Waters and casting director Ginny Schiller.

See the venue’s full season announcement