Home
ABOUT
PRODUCTIONS
GRIMFEST 2025
Contact
Home
ABOUT
PRODUCTIONS
GRIMFEST 2025
Contact
More
  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • PRODUCTIONS
  • GRIMFEST 2025
  • Contact
  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • PRODUCTIONS
  • GRIMFEST 2025
  • Contact

Reality and illusion. truth and deception. THE true story OF A clairvoyant who STOOD TRIAL FOR FRAUD... AND WON.

A DECADENT YACHT PARTY. A DANGEROUS ALLIANCE. UNCANNY POWERS. DARK POLITICAL TIES. AN AMBITIOUS ARISTOCRAT IS DRAWN INTO THE ORBIT OF A MYSTERIOUS CLAIRVOYANT.

 During the 1920's, Erik Jan Hanussen was one of Europe’s most famous clairvoyants: a hypnotist, showman, and illusionist who could command crowds, seduce the powerful, and bend reality to his will. In 1929 he stood trial in a Czechoslovakian courtroom, accused of fraud. Instead of crumbling, he astonished the court by seemingly proving his psychic powers, turning scandal into celebrity.  But behind the glamour lay a dangerous bargain. As the world tilted towards fascism, Hanussen became entangled with the Nazi inner circle — in a chilling dance of ambition, illusion, and betrayal. 

LACED WITH GALLOWS HUMOUR, SHARP WIT AND GROTESQUE THEATRICALITY, 'IN LEAGUE WITH THE DEVIL' IS A PLAY THAT EXPOSES THE FRAGILITY OF TRUTH IN A WORLD CONSUMED BY AMBITION, FEAR AND SPECTACLE.

CURRENT DEVELOPMENT

'In League with the Devil' recently carried out a week-long R&D workshop which culminated in an invite only performance on Friday 14th November. The R&D was generously supported by the Arcola Theatre, the Czech Centre London and Simon Drake's House of Magic. 

PERFORMANCE PHOTOS

    If you're a theatre, investor or producer and would like to be involved in this exciting project please contact us directly via email on info@pitherproductions.com

    MEET OUR CREATIVE TEAM!

    Nina Atesh - Writer & Director

    Nina is a writer, director and producer who trained at Guildhall and Identity Drama School. She's artistic director of Pither Productions and co-curates and produces 'GrimFest' a fringe festival that celebrates horror theatre throughout the month of October. In 2022 her debut play 'The Drought' won the London Horror Festival Playwright competition, had dramaturgical assistance from Mark Ravenhill and premiered at the Kings Head Theatre where it went on to win an Offie Short-Run Commendation.

    Penny Black - Dramaturgy

    Penny is a dramaturg, writer and director who studied drama at the Schauspielschule Krauss in Vienna. She's translated and adapted over 40 plays for a variety of theatres such as the Royal Court, the Gate, the National Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, Arcola Theatre as well as venues in America and Australia. Between the years of 2015 – 2018 she was Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Oxford Brookes University and St Mary’s Twickenham, and president of the Dramaturgs’ Network 2015-2018. 

    Nathan Friend - Sound Design

     Nathan is a freelance Sound Designer and Stage Manager. Having graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama his credits in training include: Stage Manager on Fuente Ovejuna (Jim Manganello), Stage Manager on Richard II (John Haidar) and ASM on Curtains The Musical (Beth Wilkinson).  

    Khushboo Shah - Movement and Intimacy Co-ordinator

     Khushboo Shah is an Indian theatremaker. Her foundation in movement and performance stems from her training in Bharatanatyam (Indian Classical Dance form). She has directed and performed in several Indian dance-dramas reinvigorating mythological stories shedding light on feminist and environmental themes.  

    Simon Drake - Co Executive Producer & Illusionary Advisor

    Based in London and a pioneer of illusion, Simon is one of the most original and creative magicians alive. Throughout his illustrious 40 year career, he has consulted on numerous stage shows and films including Terry Gilliam's 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus', Cameron Mackintosh's West End production of 'The Witches of Eastwick' and assisted on Kate Bush's 1979 UK live tour for which he co-devised visuals and played several characters.

    Graham Jolley - Mind-Reading & Illusionary Advisor

     Graham Jolley is a leading mind-reader, psychologist, magician and entertainer.  With over thirty years experience, Graham has an enviable portfolio. He has played to packed business conferences, private dinner parties and even Premiership football teams - as well as having a string of TV appearances to his name.

    OUR CAST

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    TIM MYLECHREEST as Count Helldorff

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    NADIA LAMIN as Fritzi Steinschneider

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    NADIA LAMIN as Fritzi Steinschneider

    TOM RAINN as Emil Margulies

    SAUL BOYER as Erik Jan Hanussen / Hermann Steinschneider

    NADIA LAMIN as Fritzi Steinschneider

    ALICE MAYER as Rike Margulies

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    GABRIEL LUMSDEN as Tomasz Forster

    GABRIEL LUMSDEN as Tomasz Forster

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    GABRIEL LUMSDEN as Tomasz Forster

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    JOLYON WOLFIN as Judge Schalek

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    AKSHAY SHARAN as Ismet Dzino & Professor Seradzky

    A THANK YOU FROM WRITER/DIRECTOR NINA ATESH

     I started work on this play in September 2023, after I finished a book called 'The Nazi Seance' by Arthur Magida. It’s been the most incredible journey getting to this point and there are just a few people I need to thank whom without, I really wouldn’t have got this far. 


    First of all Simon Drake, who has supported the project in so many ways and was our magic consultant for the tricks Hanussen performed in court which I was able to incorporate into the script and then into the R&D performance. Graham Jolley who was also invaluable with his magic and mind-reading expertise. 


    I need to also thank Arthur Magida, not only for writing the book that ultimately inspired this whole project, but also for just being a great sport and reading my emails that waffled on and on about Hanussen and Helldorff, and for always replying with such insight and inspiration. 


     Gary Bart, my Hanussen expert across the pond who provided the most incredible research into this trial, a lot of which went into this play. 


    David Vaughan for his support and insight on Czech history. 


    The Litomerice court archives in the Czech Republic who informed me of Hanussen's lawyer's name after almost a year of trying to find it out, and also for providing hundreds of pages of documents including some hilarious correspondence between lawyers who wanted to defend Hanussen in 1928. 


    My dramaturg Penny who I cannot even start to thank in one sentence so I won’t even attempt it. 


    Anna Morrissey for her translations of Hanussen's autobiography and Helldorff's own trial after the failed coup of 1944. 


    Nathan our sound designer and Khushboo who managed to pull together some of the most intense movement segments I've ever seen in just one day (incredible!)


    And finally, to our amazing amazing cast, who have not only been an utter joy to be with, but who have done the most sensational work in just one week. They are astounding, they worked so hard, and I’ve loved every single second of working with them. 

    • Privacy Policy

    Pither Productions LTD

    Copyright © 2025 Pither Productions - All Rights Reserved.

    Powered by

    This website uses cookies.

    We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

    DeclineAccept