The new play, , parodies the flamboyant Las Vegas illusionists Siegfried and Roy. Branagh resumes directing duties, while David Pugh will again produce. In The Play What I Wrote The Right Size paid manic tribute to the legendary comedy act Morecambe and Wise. Surprise guest stars were welcomed each night. Those who volunteered for the treatment included Ralph Fiennes, Roger Moore, Glenn Close, Jude Law, Minnie Driver, Ewan McGregor, Nathan Lane, Liam Neeson and Branagh himself. The show played the West End, Broadway and toured extensively.

Siegfried and Roy have been one of the best-known acts in the magic business for more than thirty years. They’re noted for their use of animals in their shows. And events took a horrific turn when in 2003 Roy Horn was severely injured by a tiger in his act (although Siegfried Fischbacher claimed that the animal was trying to help Horn, who had fallen, by lifting him with its teeth, and underestimated its own strength). There won’t be any such accidents in Ducktastic!; as the title suggests, the actors will be using ducks instead of Siberian tigers.

The show will depict the world famous illusionist Cornelius Ursula Sassoon who loses his license to perform in Las Vegas after an accident with an emu. So he joins Roy de La Rue, who owns a pet shop in Portsmouth, to become Sassoon and Roy. They set out to put on a West End show.

The production will open at London’s Albery Theatre on October 17 (previews from October 11). There will be a warm-up run in Newcastle in September.

For more information on the London run, call (0)870 060 6621.