Newcastle Castle daredevil escapology stunt
North East's magician, Chris Cross, will be hung upside-down by his ankles, tightly tied up in a straitjacket, 80ft above ground level - and attempt to escape from a tightly tied straitjacket.
Chris Cross will be hanging from above the rooftop of Newcastle's iconic castle on 19 July at 3pm . He will be attempting an escapology stunt that the greatest escapologist of all time, Harry Houdini, did not even attempt whilst in the region.
Cross performed a similar escape stunt ten years ago this year and to mark the tenth anniversary of his daring escapology feat, he's now ten years older and will try to beat his previous record and escape ten seconds faster.
In April 1920, The Great Harry Houdini visited Newcastle for a performance at The Hippodrome Theatre (now since demolished) and whilst in the region, he took great interest in the Newcastle Castle. He visited and also climbed to the rooftop, where he dangled from one of its parapets.
Popular legend has it, however, that Houdini did not wish to perform an escape stunt at the castle and turned down a challenge made to him. Perhaps it was the castle's condemned cell or the accused witches of the 1600's once being imprisoned there, before their execution, that put him off. For Houdini to turn down a challenge, was very out of character. Something clearly didn't sit right with him - and he refused to perform any of his famous escapology stunts at the castle.
Fast-forward to 2016, Newcastle's own magician and escapologist, Chris Cross, decided he would perform an upside-down straitjacket escape from the rooftop of the castle. It was a success and he managed to escape from the restraint in one minute and thirty seconds.
Ten years have now past and Newcastle Castle will be hosting a collaborative event with a members-only group named 'The UK Escape Artists' on Sunday 19th, with live performances and demonstrations taking place throughout the day in the castle Garth and inside the Keep itself, in honour of the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death in 1926.
The UKEA group have challenged the North-East’s star magician, Chris Cross, to perform his stunt again, but ten seconds faster than his previous record - now that he is ten years older! Naturally, Cross has accepted their challenge and the date is set.
At 3pm on Sunday 19th July 2026, he will become part of Newcastle’s skyline and replicate his great escape. Everyone of all ages can watch his escapology attempt for FREE, simply by looking to the rooftop of the castle at exactly 3pm. Houdini meets Batman! The Newcastle skyline will be brought to life once again by Chris Cross. This is free public art and entertainment at its most thrilling.
