A REGULAR LITTLE HOUDINI
A Regular Little Houdini
A Regular Little Houdini
by Daniel LLewelyn-Williams
Folk story telling at it’s most real! A One Man Show written and played by Daniel LLewelyn-Williams. Set in Newport docks between 1905 and 1913, we follow a boy, obsessed with Houdini. The Escapologist visited Britain twice in the Edwardian period sparking huge controversy with his cunning self-promotion stunts. On both occasions, run-ins with Newport police eventually lead to arrest and a court case. We see an eight year slice of Edwardian Welsh dockland life, book ended by Houdini’s two visits. The boy tells first hand of the massive industrial growth of South Wales, the building of the famous transporter bridge, The dock disaster of 1909, which killed 39 people. Growing to adulthood, measuring himself against the real working class heroes in his family, he holds on to the ultimate dream of emulating his fantasy hero, Houdini and becoming an escapologist. Through magical stories of cyclops, escapism and amazement, the boy conjures up a moving, fantastical slice of history. The imagination and spirit of youth, versus the cynicism of adulthood, in a ruthless, industrial Britain.
This show is accessible to people of all ages, particularly ten years and above. The Whole story is told through a child’s eyes and the informative historical element of the piece is delivered with the magic and enthusiasm of youth. The show is very moving but also hugely optimistic. There are magic tricks and fantastical stories of monsters and Cyclopes and even an appearance by Houdini himself.
The Show features music specially written by the child prodigy, 13 year old Celtic fiddler Meg Cox.
Daniel has woven a magical thread of fiction based on his own family’s history in the docklands of Newport.
Please visit the website www.aregularlittlehoudini.co.uk
Daniel LLewelyn-Williams is a welsh actor, Newport born and bred. He has spent the last 15 years in theatres all over Britain, including the West End, in various tv shows and recently won Best Actor in the Wales Theatre Awards. A Regular Little Houdini is directed by Joshua Richards (fringe first winner and winner of best of the festival award for Playing Burton and Rosebud).
