Simon Painter and Tim Lawson
Producers
SIMON PAINTER
Simon Painter is a creative producer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, who has been at the forefront of live entertainment for 2 decades. Hailing from London, he began his career as a classical violinist and fiddler in Spirit of the Dance, but soon transitioned to managing major performance venues and creating commercial theatre. His first production, Le Grand Cirque, smashed box office records at the Sydney Opera House, selling over 40,000 tickets in ten days. He enjoyed continued success with his high-octane spectacle Cirque Adrenaline, and the decadent theatrical experience Le Noir – The Dark Side of Cirque. In 2012, Simon cofounded The Works Entertainment (TWE) in partnership with Tim Lawson. Their creation The Illusionists became the best-selling magic show in Broadway history, expanding into a global franchise with The Illusionists 2.0, The Illusionists 1903 – The Golden Age of Magic, and the Lionsgate collaboration Now You See Me Live. Simon’s turn-of-the-century spectacular Circus 1903 premiered in December 2016 and toured internationally, captivating audiences with magnificent elephant puppetry. In 2019, Simon sold The Works Entertainment to global circus powerhouse Cirque du Soleil and continued to serve as TWE’s President and Chief Executive Producer. In 2022 he created Cirque du Soleil’s Mad Apple, which has been lauded as the new gold standard for Las Vegas shows. During this time he also secured collaborations with such entertainment giants as Disney, America’s Got Talent, and George R.R. Martin, who personally entrusted him to bring an original Game of Thrones epic to the stage which is due to open in London in 2026. Simon is currently developing many groundbreaking new productions including the soon to open Cirque Alice in Australia in 2025.
TIM LAWSON
Tim Lawson creates, produces and presents first class musicals and family entertainment in over 450 cities in 45 countries, smashing box office records across Australia, on Broadway, London and beyond.
Tim is thrilled to reunite with his producing partner Simon Painter on Cirque Alice. They previously created and produced the world’s moist successful magic show The Illusionists and it’s spin offs The Illusionists 2.0, The Illusionists 1903 – The Golden Age of Magic and The Magic of Christmas. These shows broke box office records in such prestigious venues such as The Sydney Opera House, The Palace, Marquis and Neil Simon theatres on Broadway and The Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Audiences were enthralled by Le Noir, The Unbelievables, Cirque Paris, Cirque Stratosphere, Lionsgate’s Now You See Me and Circus 1903 a show that boasted life sized elephants created by the puppeteers from War Horse that enjoyed several sold out seasons on London’s West End as well as a Las Vegas residency.
Tim’s Australasian, London and UK touring theatrical credits include Sweet Charity, Buddy – The Musical, Spirit of the Dance, Oh! What A Night, It’s A Dad Thing!, Weary – The Life of Sir Edward Dunlop, Shout! The Musical, Brave Men Run In Our Family, Fiddler on Roof, Jekyll and Hyde, The Rocky Horror Show, A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Wedding Singer, Alice in Wonderland ,The Lyin’ Queen and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Tim recently co created and presented Disney – The Castle, a 20,000 sqm music experience celebrating the Disney songbook, set around a life size Disney Castle, and is currently co producing George RR Martin’s The Iron Throne with Simon, set to open in London early 2026.