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 Repertory Theatre) will take centre stage this March in the lead role of The
Mesmerist, the headline production of Watford Palace Theatre’s spring season.
Rufus Hound is widely recognised for his versatility across stage, screen and television. On stage
he is known for starring in the acclaimed West End and UK-tour production of One Man, Two
Guvnors as well as leading roles in theatre hits such as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre)
and The Wind in the Willows (London Palladium). On screen, Rufus is a familiar face from his
early work hosting shows such as Top of the Pops and Glastonbury coverage, to a long stint as a
regular panellist on the irreverent comedy panel show Celebrity Juice.
Rufus Hound in his role as The Mesmerist comments, 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
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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 show marks Rufus reuniting with CEO/Head of Programming of Watford Palace Theatre,
Steve Marmion, who last worked together during Rufus’s stage debut over a decade ago. The
show will be Steve Marmion’s first production at the helm since his appointment in 2023.
Formerly Artistic Director of Soho Theatre, Marmion brings an acclaimed, boundary-pushing
vision to this ambitious premiere.
The Mesmerist is a love letter to live performance, a journey through memory and identity and a
resurrection of magic and family secrets.
