Houdini Speaks to the Living
Houdini Speaks to the Living is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at theSpace on the Mile. It has 15 performances listed, running from Fri 7 Aug, 22:10 to Sat 22 Aug, 22:10. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
The year is 1924. Harry Houdini is at the peak of his fame, touring the country with performance-lectures that expose fraudulent mediums and challenge the growing Spiritualist movement. At the same moment, his friend (and eventual adversary) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is lecturing in passionate defense of Spiritualism, convinced it represents a profound philosophical and moral evolution for humanity. Watch these two legends battle out the true nature of magic, science and faith through a historically based, largely verbatim play from writer-director Beth Burns and writer-magician Patrick Terry.
Details
- Venue: theSpace on the Mile
- Space: Space 1
- Genre: THEATRE, Historical, Magic
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Running time: 55 minutes
- Room size: about 52 seats (Space 1) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 15, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Level entry through the reception of the Radisson Hotel. 5 steps lead to the Mezzanine level where the theatre is located. A platform lift is available for wheelchairs. Wheelchair access type:Lift (Platform Lift) Stairs: 6 - 10 Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.
What the reviewers said
We have captured 3 published reviews and 13 audience reviews for this show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s own listing. The excerpts below are the reviewers’ words, not ours — follow each link for the full review.
A solid, magic-centric piece of Fringe theatre.
— Read About Stuff (3 out of 5 stars)
A concise and dedicated exploration of the friendship and philosophical difference between two of the most famous men of the era, this show toes the line between both positions, covering the subject with a sensitivity…
— North West End UK (4 out of 5 stars)
A reimagining of the friendship and fallout between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini.
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Fri 7 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Mon 17 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 22:10 — Already performed — £12.00