Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester – until Saturday 16th May 2026
Reviewed by Sally Lumley
4****
Illusion, grief, and belief collide in Magic, a compelling new play written by and starring David Haig, premiering at Chichester Festival Theatre as part of Festival 2026.
Telling the fascinating true story of the friendship, and very public falling out, between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, this production explores the tension between faith and fact. In the shadow of the first world war, where spiritualism offered hope after huge numbers of fatalities, Conan Doyle, struggling with personal grief, is a firm believer in the ability to communicate with the dead. Houdini meanwhile, mourning his mother, longs for it to be true. However, when doubt creeps in Houdini sets out to uncover the truth, no matter the cost to their friendship.
It’s a gripping premise, and one that feels very relevant. In a modern world where we constantly question what’s real and what’s fake, Magic cleverly holds up a mirror to our own uncertainties. The script is thought provoking, weaving ideas about belief and truth through an engaging and emotionally driven plotline. It is fascinating to learn more about the lives of two very famous figures outside of the field for which they are most famous.
Hadley Fraser is dynamic as Houdini, bringing both charisma and sensitivity to the role, balancing showmanship with raw vulnerability. David Haig is the perfect counterpoint in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as a man full of conviction but tinged with an underlying desperation. The internal conflict that is shown in both men is genuinely moving. Jenna Augen as Bess Houdini and Claire Price as Jean Conan Doyle shine in their roles as women supporting their husbands in their obsessions, while struggling with their own beliefs.
This production is unsettling at times. The séance sequences, with Jade Williams as sinister medium Mina Crandon, are genuinely chilling, with lighting and sound used to great effect to ramp up the tension in the theatre. However, moments of vaudeville and theatrical magic bring welcome moments of lightness and fun. The immersive seating, placing audience members among the action, is inspired, further blurring the lines between what is real and what is spectacle.
Magic is a thought-provoking and thoroughly engaging night at the theatre. With strong performances, clever staging, and themes that left me thinking long after the play ended, this is a production that will leave audiences questioning what they believe and whether they really want to know the truth after all.