Rufus Hound brings lost legacy to life in THE MESMERIST at Watford Palace Theatre
Photo credit: Watford Palace Theatre
Prepare for magic, mystery and unforgettable theatre as multi-talented actor, comedian and presenter Rufus Hound (One Man, Two Guvnors, National Theatre; A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, Birmingham Rep) will take centre stage in The Mesmerist, the headline production of Watford Palace Theatre’s spring season, from 2-21 March.
Rufus Hound said: “The last five years have been absolutely dizzying for everyone, but the death of my estranged granddad has been the cherry on the cake for me personally. I don't think anyone was asking for this show - least of all me - but I'm very grateful to The Palace for allowing me to put a full stop to a very odd familial sentence. Trust me. I'm as weirded out by this as anyone, but the result is something I hope no one will ever forget.”
The production is a collaboration between Rufus and Watford Palace Theatre, as they take his family history and weave in the discovery of multiple boxes belonging to his estranged grandfather - that were on their way to landfill. In The Mesmerist, Rufus discovers that his grandad had been a magician - stage name of The Mesmerist - and the boxes are filled with old illusions, journals and props from his final magic show, previously performed in its entirety only once. Intrigued, fascinated, out of work and looking for a new project, Rufus learnt the show. This is that show. That labour of rediscovery and reinvention is uncovered and ready to be shared, as The Mesmerist is born from a legacy, resurrected from a forgotten past.
The Mesmerist is a spellbinding fusion of theatre and magic: a heartfelt story brought to life through illusions, audience interaction and an unforgettable finale. With echoes of music-hall mystique, séances and Victorian spectacle, the show conjures a world where the past is never truly gone and no secret stays buried for long.
The Mesmerist is a love letter to live performance, a journey through memory and identity and a resurrection of magic and family secrets.