Alexis Michalik is a Franco-British actor, scriptwriter and director. His plays include Le Porteur d'histoire, Le Cercle des illusionnistes, Edmond and Intra Muros.

Le Cercle des illusionnistes was staged in an English version by Waleed Akhtar, The Art of Illusion, at Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2022.

Waleed Akhtar is a writer and actor. His plays include: The Real Ones (Bush Theatre, London, 2024); The P Word (Bush Theatre, 2022); Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan (Brixton House, London, and tour 2022); Sholay on the Big Screen (Bush Theatre, London, 2021); and I Don't Know What To Do (VAULT Festival 2020, Evening Standard Pick of the Fest).

His English translation of Alexis Michalik's play The Art of Illusion was staged at Hampstead Theatre in 2022.

His short film Lost Paradise was produced by UK Film Council and he has contributed material for BBC Radio 4's Sketchtopia and Newsjack.

He was named Most Promising New Playwright at the 2023 OffWestEnd Awards.

Author photo by Dan Pick