Infamous Brothers Davenport, The

It is 1862 and the gaslights are flickering... Welcome to an evening of magic and illusion with the infamous brothers, Willy and Ira Davenport.

Inspired by the true story of the Davenport Brothers, this amazing play promises to be a true theatrical treat. Read more …

Join us to witness the wonder and mystery of the Davenports' dramatic demonstrations. In their presence, furniture dances, bodies levitate and the voices of the dead resonate through the theatre.

Discover the dark undercurrent to their Victorian world as the showmanship and drama of the brothers' onstage presence contrasts with their cruel and curious childhood.

More information on this production is available at www.voxmotus.co.uk.

The critical consensus

The end result is a production that is great fun. The Infamous Brothers Davenport does have its flaws...but it is rich in atmosphere and theatrical delights.

Michael Cox, Across the Arts, 26/01/2012

It's ambitious, it's spectacular, it’s incredibly rich in theatrical texture, and it tussles mightily with some of the great themes of human civilisation; yet it’s sometimes just a little bit dull.

(*) (*) Joyce McMillan, 26/01/2012

From a frothy recreation of Victorian subterfuge, Arnott and the Lyceum and Vox Motus teams have created a profoundly resonant and deeply human play.

(*) David Kettle, The Edinburgh Reporter, 26/01/2012

This rings true as magic spectacle but doesn’t quite have enough meat to sustain its plot as theatre. Peter Arnott’s script is clever in its interweaving of seance and story but needs to develop the latter more satisfyingly.

Thom Dibdin, The Stage, 26/01/2012

The show dazzles and delights, makes us laugh and jump, but stops short of giving us the insight into mortality it promises. And that may be the point.

(*) Mark Fisher, The Guardian, 25/01/2012

The Infamous Brothers Davenport is an ambitious production which mostly hits the magical mark it sets itself.

(*) Edinburgh Spotlight, 25/01/2012

Vox Motus have created a spine-tinglingly serious treatise on what the imagination might be capable of if we only let our demons out.

(*) Neil Cooper, The Herald, 26/01/2012

It’s a perfect show for Vox Motus to tackle.

(*) Andrew, TV Bomb, 27/01/2012

The actors, led by neatly cast brothers Ryan and Scott Fletcher, give strong performances, but – even for those in the audience with a strong interest in the somewhat tired subject of spiritualism – one fears this production lacks the dramatic momentum which is the real magic of theatre.

Mark Brown, Sunday Herald, 29/01/2012

I’s all done with enough wit and technical flare to make it an enjoyably distinctive night out.

Francis McLachlan, Northings, 31/01/2012

As well as delivering theatrical entertainment as we know it, it also provides the sense of awe that always accompanies the unknown.

(*) Francesca Parker, The Journal, 01/02/2012

Writer Peter Arnott and his collaborators have undoubtedly done their research into the phenomenon of the Victorian public séance, but while the production captures the excitement of such stage spectacles the sparseness of the plot makes it rather unsatisfactory as theatre.

(*) (*) Allan Radcliffe, The List, 01/02/2012