Number 736 - 2nd August 2014
Pete
Firman will tour his brand new show ‘Trickster’ in September. The show
which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last Wednesday continues through
until August 24th. Starting in September it will tour the UK: "After sell-out
performances on his 2013 tour ‘the UK’s leading comedy magician’ (Time Out) hits
the road again with his astonishing new show. Star of BBC1′s ‘The Magicians’ and
special guest on countless other TV shows, which recently included BBC2′s ‘The
Sarah Millican Television Programme’, BBC1′s ‘Celebrity Mastermind’ and Channel
4′s ‘Comedy Mash-Up’. Expect Pete’s trademark blend of crowd-pleasing comedy and
jaw-dropping magic. This is a show not to be missed!" See
www.petefirman.co.uk
for dates and to book. "Magician Pete Firman to Bring New Show Trickster to
Swindon"
Click Here. "Easy card tricks you can impress your friends and family with
this summer"
Click Here.
2.8.14
Kidology
and Ventarama convention updates. Kidology, the UK Children's Entertainer
Convention (8th & 9th September 2014) have a host of lecturers lined up (no less
than nine in fact) covering all aspects of entertaining children. This year
headlined by top children's ventriloquist Mark Wade from the USA, talking about
comedy writing for children. Mark will be sharing his venting skills with the
delegates at co-convention
Ventarama, taking place the following day also in Wolverhampton. Ventarama
is the first convention in the UK solely for Ventriloquists with workshops for
all levels from beginner to advanced. In addition there will be an exhibition of
vintage Ventriloquist figures provided by the British Puppetry Guild and this
will include Ray Allen's Tich & Quackers. There is a special discount for those
booking for both conventions. The Kidology Children's Entertainer of the Year
competition will be taking place the night before Kidology (Monday evening 8th
September) and this will be followed by a cabaret featuring Mark Wade and Danny
Hunt's Amethyst. For full details visit
www.kidologyuk.co.uk
and keep up to date with developments by joining KidologyUK and/or Ventarama on
Facebook. Alec Powell.
2.8.14
Magic
Night at Madame
JoJo's - London. Friday, 15th August. From the organisers: Magic Night
Juggles beer tricks, puts things in places they should not be and performs some
slippery and anarchic magic that will leave you breathless with laughter. Tall,
lanky wizard, Pete Heat takes time to tell you about his dreams involving you
(don’t be fooled by this comic - this is mind control at its best), whilst Lee
Hathaway places your objects in the most obscure places... caution, don’t trust
him with your valuables! Matt Barnard (photo) does stuff with beer that throws
health and safety to the wind and clown like Steven Barry has an unusual effect
on objects that is almost superhuman. All compered by Tommy Cooperesque
Christian Lee who could be levitating tonight. Magic Night at Madame JoJo's. Doors open 7.00pm.
Show starts at 7.45pm. Tickets £12 including entry to Good Foot. £14
OTD. Show
ticket plus dinner: £27.
Madame JoJo's,
8-10 Brewer Street,
London W1F 0SE (Map).
Tickets and more info:
www.magicnight.co.uk.
2.8.14
The Magic Night Artists: Pete Hathaway - Surreal, irreverent, and downright amazing, lanky
charmer 'Pete Heat' will read your mind, steal your watch and entrance your
mother-in-law, all in the same breath… like Derren Brown crossed with Russell
Brand – in the words of the NME, Pete is “the rock & roll magician”; Matt
Barnard - Matt has performed across the world as a compere, actor, musician, and
as a comedy juggler in his unique one man show. He has been seen on TV shows, at
comedy clubs, variety cabarets and at street theatre festivals across Europe, in
Canada, Singapore, Australia and uncountable appearances here in the UK. He has
won awards for his show including, 'Best Solo Act' at the Feldkircher Theatre
Festival in Austria; Steven Barry - Stephen Barry is a multi award winning
magician, mind reader, hypnotist and pickpocket who shatters all the cheesy
clichés of a typical magician. His performance style, sleight of hand, and
audience interaction has made him a favourite amongst audiences; Lee Hathaway -
Award winning Lee is a dynamic, fast paced and hilarious act and one of the
greatest inventors of magic tricks around, not to mention one of the top poker
trick experts in the UK; Christian Lee - An award winning, comedian/magician,
finalist of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year, Grand Finalist of Britain
Does Variety 2012 and nominated Best Host 2014 at the London Cabaret Awards!
2.8.14
The
Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year competition 2015 will take place at
The Magic Circle Headquarters in Euston early next year. Heats will take place
on Sunday 15th February 2015 with the Final on Sunday 29th March 2015. Part of
The Magic Circle's youth initiative, the competition, which is held every other
year, attracts entries from some of the finest young magicians in the country,
competing for what many regard as the best prize in British magic: the title
'Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year', four years free membership of The
Magic Circle (on reaching their eighteenth birthday), attending The Mystery
School and the award itself, The Derrick Speight Magic Circle Young Magician of
the Year Trophy. Recent winners include Ben Hart, Paul Dabek, Steve Dela,
Michael Jordan, Ben Proos and current holder, Sebastian Walton. Application
forms will be available shortly and their availability will be announced on
MagicWeek and The Magic Circle's website.
2.8.14
Enterteasement:
Comedy Magic Burlesque - Glasgow, Saturday, August 9th, 8pm - 10.30pm.
"Enterteasement's Comedy Magic Burlesque show features Gary Dunn, a professional
magician and funny man from Newcastle, together with: Michael Redmond - Irish
Comedian who played Father Stone in Father Ted; Billy Kirkwood - Scottish
Compere of the Year 2014; Graham Mackie - 2 x Scottish Comedian of the Year
Finalist; Vendetta Vain - World Burlesque Games Star; Daiquiri Dusk - Received a
standing ovation on BGT. Tickets £10 / £14 via
www.enterteasement.com.
Venue: Admiral Bar, 72 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 7DA (Map).
2.8.14
Champions
of Magic - Autumn 2014 Tour. "Join our award winning team of tricksters, swindlers and cheats for a
spectacular night of mystery you'll be trying to work out for a very
long time to come.
Audiences will witness mastery of card manipulation, death defying
stunts, mind boggling sleight of hand and spectacular illusions from
some of the foremost performers in magic including:
Young & Strange - Grand Illusionists 'Fantastic, just amazing' Jonathan
Ross;
Fay Presto - Queen of Close-up 'Incomparable' The Stage;
Alex McAleer - Master Mind Reader 'Phenomenal' BBC;
Edward Hilsum - Magic’s Latest Sensation 'A great act' Derren Brown.
Champions of Magic includes 5 world class, award winning entertainers
performing everything from stage-filling illusions to magic right in the
palm of spectators’ hands. Along with a live video feed, fiery
pyrotechnics and stunning lighting, the show is an immersive experience
in the art of magic." September, October, November - see
What's On for venue
information and to book.
2.8.14
The
Order of the Magi (Manchester) presents a lecture by their PRO Geoffrey
Newton MIMC on Tuesday 12th August. The subject is ‘Paper Magic’ and having seen
the lecture material I note it details a fair number of tricks, puzzles,
origami, paper folding and paper cutting items all of which you should be able
to do with ease and are suitable to include in most magical performances. This
is going to be a ‘hands on’ night so you will be able to work through the items
as the lecture progresses. All Geoff asks is that you bring with you a pair of
scissors. It starts at 8.00pm at the New Irish Centre off Queens Road Manchester
M8 0AE (Map).
Directions are on
www.orderofthemagi.org.uk. Door charge for non members. Mike Sharples –
Secretary.
2.8.14
Mark
Leveridge's Lecture Milestone! Mark writes: This year I am celebrating the
fact that I have been presenting lectures to magic clubs all around the world
for 35 years. From the very first lecture (The Low Down On Close Up) which was
presented to the Zodiac Magical Society in 1979 until the present day, not a
single year has gone by without me being out and about taking lectures to
clubrooms large and small, and it's always been one of my favourite things to
do! My latest lecture is entitled E-Club Pro - Live and it brings to life some
of the elements available to members of my online club and information resource.
There will be new routines performed and explained, some great moves taught,
advice segments, fun stories from my pro life and the chance to buy selected
products at 40% off the normal retail, a privilege normally only available to
members of the club. Full details of this latest lecture can be found at
www.markleveridge.co.uk/lectures.php.
2.8.14
Fry's
English Delight - 'Magic'. Stephen Fry celebrates the mind-altering
and mysterious language of magic. Language and magic have a mysterious
relationship, which is explored in this programme by Stephen. It's a
beguiling, secret world in which magicians and psychologists feel
equally at home. The common factor – nobody knows exactly how either
works. Derren Brown, illusionist and mentalist, is Stephen’s guest. He
describes how the idea of magic features in his work, how the art of
persuasion is akin to magic, and how some people are more susceptible
than others to this mysterious - largely verbal - art. Derren also
exerts an amazing power over Stephen, despite them being 200 miles apart
and he does it using words alone. 9am and again at 9.30pm on Monday 4th
August on BBC Radio 4. See
TV Magic.
2.8.14
Peterborough
Society of Magicians Annual Day of Magic. Peterborough Society of Magicians
have changed the date for their next Annual Day of Magic to Sunday, 14th June
2015. It will then be held on the second Sunday in every June thereafter. This
is to try and avoid clashing with other magic events and also to avoid the
variation of dates caused by Easter etc. The society will strive to make this
one of our best annual conventions to date! John Learoyd.
2.8.14
London Presents... Laura London will be hosting a series of unique workshops at London's Hippodrome
Casino, bringing you the best sleight of hand artists,
magicians and industry consultants to talk intimately about what they do
and to teach you what they know.
The first, for 2014 is An Intimate Evening with Dani DaOrtiz and Christian Engblom
on
13th & 14th August.
For a lucky few, Dani and Christian will be sharing
some of their closely guarded secrets. In great detail, you will learn
some incredible feats and unpublished effects. Their magic is ingenious
and exciting. Rarely have these two presented a workshop together.
Drinks and Canapé reception. Only 25 seats available each evening.
Over 18 only.
For more info and to buy tickets
Click Here.
2.8.14
Summer
at The Magic Circle. "A chance for all the family to visit The Magic
Circle, mix, mingle and marvel at some of the club's finest magicians,
tour the Museum and HQ before going to The Magic Circle Theatre for some
magical entertainment. Sunday 3rd August at 2.30pm (doors open 1.30pm) and 7pm
(doors open 6pm), Sunday 10th August at 2.30pm, Sunday 17th August at
2.30pm and 7pm, Sunday 24th August at 2.30pm and 7pm. Tickets (£25 each)
via
seetickets.com/tour/summer-at-the-magic-circle. Venue: The Magic
Circle, 12 Stephenson Way, Euston, London NW1 2HD (Map).
More info:
www.themagiccircle.co.uk/public-events.
2.8.14
Alakazam
Vlog Wallet Special. Join Peter and Dave from Alakazam Magic as they take a
weekly look at what's hot in magic. Last week they ran a very useful wallet
special,
Click Here. Visit
www.alakazam.co.uk to find out more.
2.8.14
Smoke
& Mirrors, Bristol's Boutique Pub & Magic Theatre. Want to receive updates
of what's coming up at Smoke & Mirrors? Sign up at
www.smokeandmirrorsbar.co.uk.
2.8.14
Breaking Magic,
all weekend long... 22 editions of
Breaking Magic will be shown back-to-back next weekend on Discovery
Science starting at 12 noon on Saturday 9th August. "Get ready to learn the chemistry, physics
and biology powering the world's greatest illusions. Breaking Magic
fuses the showmanship and mystery of street magic with the raw power of
science. Watch as each trick surprises unsuspecting bystanders with
mystifying results. Starring Billy Kidd, Wayne Houchin, James Galea and
Ben Hanlin." See TV Magic.
2.8.14
Matt
Grindley Live, Queens Theatre Blackpool. James Pritchard writes: Having
spent most of my life wanting to perform on stage as a magician and only being
able to master the basics, I read on MagicWeek about a show in Blackpool; the
Matt Grindley Show. I was torn between this show and another well known
Blackpool magic show, but decided to go with the Matt Grindley Show. It promised
big illusions and comedy and it did not fail to deliver. From the go, Matt
commanded the audience and for such a small theatre to deliver such a big show
was amazing. The theatre was full when we arrived and the show started with a
brilliant dance routine and ended with a spectacular 3 sword trick with the
audience, young and old, loving it. After the show Matt waited and met everyone
who wanted to see him, to discuss magic and have photos taken. It was lovely. My
only criticism is that the show needed to be longer! I was told the show will be
back for Christmas and maybe so will I.
2.8.14
"Bristol Hippodrome plays host to first wedding on stage" Click Here (congratulations Chris!) • "Penn & Teller challenge magicians to ‘Fool Us’" Click Here • "What Is 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us'? A Magician Reality Show That You'll Actually Enjoy" Click Here • "Decked by a pack of cards, swallowed up by a coin con - it was my trickiest task yet..." Click Here • "This Is New York: Magician Rogue Overcomes Insecurities on ‘America’s Got Talent’" Click Here • "Woody Allen's mighty 'Magic'" Click Here Trailer Click Here • "It’s a kind of magic... show!" Click Here • "Indian street magician makes the homeless smile by changing one rupee into 100" Click Here • "Hear Philly: Watch A Magician, Learn To Become One At ‘South Street Magic’" Click Here • "Woody Harrelson Hosts David Blaine at Black Olive Inn Charity Dinner" Click Here • "Now you see me" Click Here • "How to protect your personal space on the Tube" Click Here • "How Jim the Magician hopes to deal in a Fringe winner" Click Here • "Is this theatre haunted? CCTV footage captures the spooky moment a chair moves all on its own... hours after a medium's show" Click Here • Many thanks for all your news items this week, see you next week, Duncan. 2.8.14