A work-in-progress performance of Lafayette: A New Musical will be presented at the Studio Theatre in Edinburgh on 9 May, revisiting the life and legacy of illusionist Sigmund Neuberger. This event offers a rare glimpse into the musical’s development and the personal cost of theatrical success.

Lafayette: A New Musical, inspired by the life of Sigmund Neuberger, known as The Great Lafayette, is set for a workshop performance at Edinburgh’s Studio Theatre on 9 May at 7.30pm. The production is presented by Helen Milne Productions and supported by Capital Theatres and Creative Scotland.

The musical examines the career and personal sacrifices of Neuberger, who tragically died in a theatre fire during a performance on 9 May 1911 at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, then known as the Empire Palace Theatre. The new work will be staged 115 years after his death in a nearby venue.

Written by John Binnie with music and lyrics by Richard Ferguson, the show incorporates illusion and puppetry design by Fergus Dunnet, reflecting Neuberger’s own craft as an illusionist.

The workshop presentation will include a question and answer session with the cast and creative team, allowing audiences to engage directly with the creators and better understand the process behind the musical’s development.

This performance offers a unique opportunity for Edinburgh theatre-goers to witness a work in progress that delves into themes of legacy and the personal cost of artistic success through the lens of one of the city’s historical performance figures.