DISABLED actor – and trained hypnotist – Paul Henshall is about to mesmerise audiences in his new starring role at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Paul plays Simon LeStrange, a Victorian Steampunk wide-boy intent on making as much money as possible with as little effort as necessary, in the new comedy, The Marvellous Mechanical Mesmerist.
And hypnotising members of the audience is all part of the fun.
One of Britain’s busiest wheelchair-using actors, Henshall was awarded an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University for Services to Acting and the Promotion of Disabled Actors – and is the first disabled actor to gain certification in armed and unarmed stage combat.
He is soon to appear in the ITV comedy smash hit Off their Rockers – Blue Badge Special.
Playing LeStrange’s wife is Anna Scutt, who has also appeared in film and on stage, although she is more usually seen singing in Gilbert and Sullivan concerts around her Cornwall home.
The show is written and directed by Jonathan Chase (who will cameo as LeStrange’s father-in-law), award winning stage hypnotist and cabaret comedy writer, founder of the production company, Academy of Hypnotic Arts.
As the cast and director use wheelchairs, the costs involved in taking the show to Edinburgh are higher than normal.
To get the show on the road, they have set up a campaign on crowdfunding website Indiegogo, where you can buy DVDs, t-shirts, and even the opportunity to learn stage hypnosis.
The show goes on at The SpaceUK @the Symposium Hall – Venue 43 – from Monday to Saturday 24-29 August at 7:20pm.
Tickets, £8 and £7
