New Blood and Casualty star Matt Bardock will head the cast of The Disappearing Man, which will play Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch this October before a UK tour.
A washed-up magician endeavours to reclaim the spotlight in a story of legacy, illusion, and second chances with live onstage magic.
Written by Kenny Emson and directed by Alex Thorpe, The Disappearing Man is a new drama about legacy and second chances, with magic performed live onstage.
Returning to the once-glittering Clacton-on-Sea, Bazza Cadabra (Bardock) is ready for a final comeback, determined to reclaim the spotlight and prove he’s still got what it takes 20 years after his prime. But at the heart of his ambition is something far more fragile: his re-kindled relationship with his son. As Bazza faces a flashy young magician, a no-nonsense new manager and the family he left behind, their reunion sparks hope, rivalry, and the possibility of something extraordinary.
Debra Baker (Unforgotten) plays Barry’s sharp-witted ex-wife Wendy, the mother of his son. Further casting is to be announced.
The creative team includes set and costume design by Sarah Beaton, illusion design by John Bulleid and Gareth Kalyan, lighting design by Matt Haskins, composer Eamonn O’Dwyer, dramaturg Titilola Dawudu, fight and intimacy director Ruth Cooper-Brown of Rc-Annie, casting director Matilda James, costume supervisor Kira Tisbury and casting associate Hannah Dunne.
Produced in collaboration with HighTide, The Disappearing Man will premiere at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from October 15-31, 2026, before weeklong runs at Blackpool Grand Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guilford and Key Theatre Peterborough in November.
Tickets here.
Top image: The Disappearing Man artwork (image supplied)