Number 245 - 5th March 2005

Congratulations to Mark Shortland this year's British Magical Comedy Champion 2005 and British Magical Grand Prix Champion 2005 seen here with American illusionist Rick Thomas at the Blackpool Convention last weekend. Mark's original comedy magic act resulted in him taking not one but two awards in the Saturday night competition - top stuff! www.markshortland.co.uk. 5.3.05

Rick Thomas's levitation sequence at the close of the Sunday night gala show was one of those rare magical moments that will embed itself into the memory of just about every magician in the audience I am sure. It was pure magic. The twist at the end catching most of us completely off-guard and drawing an audible gasp that swept across the 3,000+ seat theatre. Rick received a standing ovation and I was reminded of what drew me to magic in the first place. This was the perfect ending to a show that had featured many a highlight... including one of the very finest specialty acts in the world, Sabrina Fackelli and Blub, who were simply stunning.  www.rickthomas.com www.blubshow.de. Convention organiser Derek Lever and the entire Blackpool Magicians' Club who put so much work into this event each year really pulled it out of the hat. 5.3.05

Marc Oberon won the European Magical Close-up Championships 2005. Unfortunately I missed the competition but heard that the standard was very high and that Marc's work was excellent. He was clearly delighted with the award and wanted to pass on his thanks to all his friends in magic for their insight, support and encouragement. Marc also presents a cabaret/theatre act (see the video clip on his website) www.marcoberon.com. The only close-up I saw this year (there was lots on but I missed it all!) was the brilliant Shoot Ogawa lecture www.holyshoot.com. 5.3.05

Congratulations to Steve Faulkner - the first recipient of the new British Champion Street Entertainer award introduced at the Blackpool Convention this year. Six performers took part, spread over two days, and Steve presented his straight jacket/chain escape, taken from his longer show that normally features the Cups & Balls and more. I saw some of the competition but for me the venue didn't work, the atmosphere was more "underground car park" than street or green park which is where street performers typically work. Also the audience were sitting on chairs preventing the performers from creating their own "edge" - it will be interesting to see how this competition develops. Perhaps a tie-in with one of the shopping arcades on the Saturday would offer more real-world conditions, would allow the performers to work to a lay audience, and would also allow the judges to see them at their best. 5.3.05

The University of Nottingham Magic Society presents a gala show at 7pm on Saturday, 12th March at the Portland Building Ballroom, University Park Campus. Featuring Pete Firman, just back from filming for 'The Secret World of Magic' for SkyOne, together with Brian Sefton, Bunny Neill and Barrie Perkins. Price: £9.50, which includes a glass of sparkling wine at the pre-show reception. For further details and to book email sumagicsoc@nottingham.ac.uk or telephone Chris Martin on 07916 162485. 5.3.05

Jon Allen lectures at The Mystic Ring on Thursday March 10th at 7.45pm at the Dunstable Conservative Club, 49 High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. This lecture will feature some brand new effects, and Jon's new lecture DVD will be available for the first time. For further information email: Steve Milroy, Secretary, The Mystic Ring themysticring@hotmail.com. 5.3.05

Illusion act Viva, Richard Pinner and ventriloquist Steve Hewlett appear in Klub Magic at the Komedia, Brighton, on Wednesday 9th March. Tickets are available from the box office on 01273 647100. For more information visit the website: www.klubmagic.co.uk.

Tony Curtis Magic offer a range of custom made leather goods for magicians. Tony now lives in Thailand but all the prices on the website are in pounds sterling and include worldwide shipping. Visit www.tonycurtismagic.com today! (Wholesale enquiries also welcomed). 5.3.05

Derren Brown has actually been nominated for two Royal Television Society awards, not one as we reported last week. They are Best Entertainment Series for Trick of the Mind, and Best Entertainment Performance for Séance. And Trick of the Mind has also been nominated for a Rose d'Or by the Festival Rose d’Or, Switzerland. An incredible achievement. 5.3.05

The Sussex Magic Circle Annual Dinner and Awards night takes place next Saturday, March 12th, from 7pm, at the White Hart Hotel, Lewes. There's a five course meal, cabaret with Roy Davenport and Fluke (photo), and dancing. Tickets are available from Mark Worgan at £30.00 each, telephone 01273 401841 email info@markworgan.co.uk. 5.3.05

The Merlin Magical Society meet on alternate Thursdays and welcome prospective members and visiting magicians. This year they celebrate their 75th anniversary and will be having a dinner with special guest magicians on Saturday 23rd April at Old Fold Manor Golf Club, Old Fold Lane, Hadley Green, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 4QN (Map). Tickets are £20.00 each from Mike Penn, telephone 01707 654606. 5.3.05

Free!! The Phil Blackmore Show features juggling, magic and daredevil stunts live on stage and on Friday March 18th at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm - the show runs for one hour) you are invited to a free presentation at the Putney Arts Theatre, London. Phil is recording a promotional video of his live show and would welcome you as his audience (bring your friends too!). The only stipulations being 1. No children, and 2. By attending you agree to being filmed. Dress: smart/smart casual. If you'd like to see the show contact Phil Blackmore directly and let him know how many people you'd like to bring, and he'll add your name to the guest list. Email phil.blackmore@blueyonder.co.uk telephone: 07771 638 265. PDF information and map, Click Here. 5.3.05

The Surrey Society of Magicians Annual Dinner 2005. The Surrey Society of Magicians will be holding their annual dinner on Saturday 19th March at the Reigate Manor Hotel, Reigate Hill, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9PF (Map) 7pm for 8pm. With a three course dinner (vegetarian option available) and cabaret at 9.30pm with Duncan Trillo, Richard Pinner, Tensai and compere Scott Penrose. (Broomsticks at 1pm). For more information, and to book, contact James Fortune, 32 Plough Lane, Purley, Surrey CR8 3QA telephone 020 8763 1995 james@magicfun.co.uk. 5.3.05

Mark Worgan has been invited to perform as the only British entrant in the Cosmopol Magic Tournament, run by the Swedish Magic Circle. The first heat takes place in Gothenburg on April 21st and the final on the 24th in Stockholm. The acts will be judged by one magician and two lay people in front of an audience of 200. Also competing from abroad: Manuel Muerte, Hayashi, Kenny Quinn and Ferenc Galambos. Mark will also be lecturing in Oestersund. 5.3.05

The Young Magicians of Mann are staging their annual 'It's Magic!' show at Douglas Youth Centre, Kensington Road, Isle of Man, at 2.30pm on Sunday 20th March. Tickets are £4 each in advance, telephone 01624 686057. 5.3.05

The Cambridge Pentacle Club presents An Evening of Magic and Illusion in aid of Comic Relief, starting at 7pm on Saturday 12th March at Swavesey Village College, Cambridge. Featuring Claude Perry, Alan Maskell, Chris Wardle, and Chris Kostecki among others, including the teenage TV winner of the "Ministry of Mayhem" show, Josh Miller. Email Ian Thomson for more details: ian@magic-ian.co.uk. 5.3.05

The Peter Masters 'Magic Collection' Sale and Auction Day takes place on Sunday May 15th at the Colbury Memorial Hall, Hunters Hill, Hounsdown, Totton, Hampshire. Featuring Lectures, Demonstrations, Close-up, and a Gala Show with Terry Seabrooke, Playtime Balloons, Michele, Peter Scarlett, Mike Austin, John Gordon, Joan & Alan Wright, David Gemmell, Robbie 'K', Shadowlands and Roger Perkin. The day costs £20 on the door or £15 in advance. Gala Show only Adults £5 under 14's £3, to book make cheques payable to Peter Masters and send to Thistledown Magic, 24 Burns Road, Southampton SO19 6QL enclosing an SAE. 5.3.05

Cape Town Magic Festival. Wolfgang Riebe emails from Cape Town, South Africa: "I have my own 2nd prime time TV series and was recently approached by a marketing company who would like to host a Magic Festival for one week, for the public, here in Cape Town, towards the end of the year. They are currently looking at the financial feasibility of the project. It would be held in conjunction with the Tourism Board and we would try arrange TV coverage as well. We are looking at a theatre show in the evenings and maybe one or two guest appearances during the day. I need to hear from well known stage and comedy magicians who would be interested in coming down to Cape Town." In the first instance please email Wolfgang (with a CV) for more information: wolfgang@theriebeinstitute.com Website: www.theriebeinstitute.com. 5.3.05

Teller, of Penn and Teller, reviews Peter Lamont's 'The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick' in The New York Times Click Here. To order a copy from Amazon.co.uk Click Here • Magicseen launched with a solid 72 page full colour first issue at the Blackpool Convention - for subscription details visit www.magicseen.co.uk • "Derren Brown might be successful as an illusionist but, with only two parrots for company, what about the rest of his life?" Jan Moir meets him in the Arts Telegraph Click Here • That's it for thie week, next week we'll bring you a new DVD clip, see you then, Duncan. 5.3.05

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