In 2020, Rufus Hound learnt of the death of his estranged grandfather. The last five years have been a dizzying journey of discovery for Rufus, which culminates in the headline production of Watford Palace Theatre’s spring season, The Mesmerist.
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| Photo by Ross Kernahan. |
The production is a collaboration between Rufus Hound and Watford Palace Theatre, as he takes his family history and weaves in the discovery that his granddad had been a magician with the stage name The Mesmerist.
Old boxes Rufus inherited were filled with illusions, journals and props from his grandfather’s final magic show, previously performed in its entirety only once at Watford Palace Theatre – in 1983.
Intrigued, fascinated, out of work during lockdown and looking for a new project, Rufus learnt the show.
Intrigued, fascinated, out of work during lockdown and looking for a new project, Rufus learnt the show.
This is that show.
Rufus Hound sat down for this syndicated interview.
You’ve worked across comedy, drama, presenting and now you’re performing magic. What is it like learning a new skill for The Mesmerist?
I'm not sleeping much, put it that way! The thing with magic is that there's no room for error - a trick either works or it doesn't. There's no talking your way out of it. In that way, its the closest thing I've done to stand-up. If a joke doesn't land, there's no point pretending it did. Audiences have incredibly attuned nonsense detectors, so the pressure to get it not just ‘good’ but ‘great’ is enormous.
I'm not sleeping much, put it that way! The thing with magic is that there's no room for error - a trick either works or it doesn't. There's no talking your way out of it. In that way, its the closest thing I've done to stand-up. If a joke doesn't land, there's no point pretending it did. Audiences have incredibly attuned nonsense detectors, so the pressure to get it not just ‘good’ but ‘great’ is enormous.
The Mesmerist was inspired by discovering your estranged grandfather’s boxes filled with magic and performance material. What was it like opening those up?
The man smoked like a chimney, so the first thing that hit me was the smell. I was really only going through everything to see what I could sell on to other magicians and realising it all reeked of fags made my heart sink a bit. However, once its been aired for a few days and I’d seen what was there, the realisation started to dawn that, rather than just “a few magic props” he’d accumulated more than enough gear to build an entire show around. That's when it started getting exciting.
The man smoked like a chimney, so the first thing that hit me was the smell. I was really only going through everything to see what I could sell on to other magicians and realising it all reeked of fags made my heart sink a bit. However, once its been aired for a few days and I’d seen what was there, the realisation started to dawn that, rather than just “a few magic props” he’d accumulated more than enough gear to build an entire show around. That's when it started getting exciting.
You’ve said that you didn’t really know your grandfather. Did creating The Mesmerist feel like a way of starting a conversation with that part of your family history?
I’m largely avoiding answering this question, because I'm worried that it makes me sound like I'm on an episode of The X Factor. Let’s just say that it’s hard to go through a in estranged relatives belongings and /not/ see the ties that bind that one may, hitherto, have been blind to or ignorant of.
I’m largely avoiding answering this question, because I'm worried that it makes me sound like I'm on an episode of The X Factor. Let’s just say that it’s hard to go through a in estranged relatives belongings and /not/ see the ties that bind that one may, hitherto, have been blind to or ignorant of.
You’ve spent years working across theatre, TV and live performance. What keeps theatre exciting for you at this stage of your career?
In 2026, what keeps me excited is the prospect of getting to actually do any. The industry has been absolutely hammered since 2020 so trying to make a living ‘treading the boards’ is becoming nigh on impossible.
In 2026, what keeps me excited is the prospect of getting to actually do any. The industry has been absolutely hammered since 2020 so trying to make a living ‘treading the boards’ is becoming nigh on impossible.
That said, every play/musical/show is an opportunity to give an audience a night they'll never forget, and that's a drug that's hard to put aside. When I saw Rylance in Jerusalem, Gough in People Places Things, Matilda, Groundhog Day The Musical… those are gifts from the universe that I was given. The idea of being part of that gifting for someone else? Unquittable.
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| Photo by Ross Kernahan. |
When audiences leave The Mesmerist, what do you hope they take away from the show?
I want them to keep saying “Wow!” all the way home. And to think: “I bet he was better at this than his Granddad was”!
I want them to keep saying “Wow!” all the way home. And to think: “I bet he was better at this than his Granddad was”!
You’ve worked with Steve Marmion, Chief Executive and Director of Programming for Watford Palace Theatre, on a show in Soho Theatre before. What is it like reuniting fourteen years later to work on The Mesmerist?
We drink a lot more tea than we used to, and out knees make louder noises when we stand up, but other than that, no real difference. Steve still has the sense of humour of a twelve year old boy.
We drink a lot more tea than we used to, and out knees make louder noises when we stand up, but other than that, no real difference. Steve still has the sense of humour of a twelve year old boy.
The show mixes storytelling, theatre and magic. How did you work together to find the right balance between performance and illusion?
Trial and error. We’ve probably written and rewritten the script six times since we started and I don't think that’ll stop, even once we're open.
Trial and error. We’ve probably written and rewritten the script six times since we started and I don't think that’ll stop, even once we're open.
What does Watford Palace Theatre offer as a place for magic, and why does it feel like the right home for a show like The Mesmerist?
This is the theatre that my Granddad tried his show out in over forty years ago. It’d feel wrong performing it lethally anywhere else!
This is the theatre that my Granddad tried his show out in over forty years ago. It’d feel wrong performing it lethally anywhere else!
Family lies at the heart of the story. Why do you think this theme is particularly relevant to audiences today?
What we want to feel is that we belong - especially in a social media driven world that's forever highlighting our differences. My Granddad was family that I never really knew, so do I feel that I owe him something, or we had a connection?
What we want to feel is that we belong - especially in a social media driven world that's forever highlighting our differences. My Granddad was family that I never really knew, so do I feel that I owe him something, or we had a connection?
You’ll have to come and see the show to find that out.
The Mesmerist runs at Watford Palace Theatre from 2nd until 21st March 2026. Tickets are available from https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/the-mesmerist/
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| Steve Marmion and Rufus Hound. Photo by Ross Kernahan |
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