‘The new Houdini’ was left high and dry in Stafford this week when a mix-up with a water company scuppered his bid to recreate the world famous magician’s water torture trick.

Performer Yuriy, billed as the new Houdini, has performed the death-defying stunt for crowds all over the world with The Great Continental Circus Royale, but a water bill was one thing the daredevil couldn’t escape when Severn Trent failed to connect his water supply.

Carolyn Roberts, producer of the circus at Stafford Common, said: “We held a circus here last year and the water was ready for us on arrival. When we got here we called Severn Trent, thinking it would be a case of them just switching the water back on, but it wasn’t.

“One of our drivers had to travel 40 miles to pick up a standpipe. Even then the water still didn’t come on right away”. 

The water torture act sees Yuriy escape a locked glass cabinet full of water.

Carolyn said: “It has been very disappointing, Yuriy has been doing this for quite a while. The tank holds 2,000 litres of water, so takes a lot of time to fill from a standpipe – and it takes 12 hours to heat up after that. 

“The circus has been a great success overall, but we feel very let down by Severn Trent.”

Alison Foo, of Severn Trent Water said: “When a circus is coming to an area we need to be given prior warning so that we can make the necessary arrangements and arrange for a standpipe to be put in place.” The circus ends its run at the Common tomorrow with shows at 2pm and 5pm.