Number 913 - 23rd December 2017

Blackpool Magic Convention 2018. From the organisers: The Blackpool Magic Convention 2018 will feature a series of special events presented during the daytime schedule: Marc Salem’s 'Mind Games' - This is a version of the show that Marc has performed Off-Broadway and around the world. Your chance to watch one of the world’s leading mind-readers in action. Richard Cadell and Sooty - A fascinating insight into the world of this iconic puppet and his friends. Richard also talks about his own personal involvement and love of the show and its history over the years. A talk not to be missed. Wayne Dobson & Friends - Join Wayne and whole new host of friends on the Saturday afternoon, in one of the most popular events at the convention. Expect plenty of surprises! Todd Robbins Workshops - Join Todd in a series of workshops where you can learn ‘hands on’, the secrets of the sideshow performer. Not for the fainthearted! Book Now at www.blackpoolmagic.com. 23.12.17

Secret Cellar presents the UK Premiere of Mahdi the Magician. Born without hands or feet, Mahdi Gilbert is perhaps the world’s most extraordinary sleight of hand magician. Having fooled Penn & Teller, he will perform in London for the very first time at Vault Festival 2018.

Mahdi Gilbert was born without hands or feet and has struggled through bullying, loneliness and depression to now receive recognition from some of the greatest magicians of our time. Throughout his childhood in Toronto, Mahdi was tormented for his physical differences and constantly wondered what would become of his life. Captivated by sleight of hand and card magic, he dreamt of becoming a professional magician – but as he began to study he came across a seemingly insurmountable obstacle: every magic book ever published has been written for performers with two hands. Undaunted, Mahdi started to develop his own techniques. At first he struggled to even pick up a deck of cards but through dedication and determination he developed an exceptional act that fooled Penn and Teller and has amazed the greatest magicians in the world.

In this show, Mahdi gives us an insight into the determination and graft that have brought him to the top of his profession and weaves flawless, jaw-dropping magic through his amazing and inspiring life story. Tony Middleton – one of the founding producers of Secret Cellar – comments: "I am a magician myself and I’m in awe of what Mahdi has achieved. To become so accomplished given the difficulties he has faced is not only incredible - but incredibly moving."

See www.secretcellarlondon.com and www.facebook.com/SecretCellaratVaultytowers/. Vault Festival 2018 runs from 24th January until 18th March in and around The Vaults, Waterloo. For full programme and ticket information visit www.vaultfestival.com. Mahdi the Magician: Wednesday 31st January to Sunday 4th February at 6.10pm. Plus Matinee on Saturday 3rd February at 3.55pm. Venue: The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN (Map). Prices: £18.50. Performances last 1 hour. 23.12.17

Impossible. From the producers: Impossible, The World's Greatest Magic Show comes to Manila. Fresh from London's West End, Impossible has to be seen to be believed! Live at the Araneta Coliseum, 25th December - 3rd January. Featuring six of the world’s most mind-blowing magical acts, Impossible is the breathtaking spectacular thrilling audiences worldwide. Fresh from its record-breaking second summer in London's West End, Impossible continues to tour the world and finally comes to Manila for the holiday season this December. See www.impossiblelive.com/the-company for details. 23.12.17

Since celebrating 10 years of Magic Moments Day in September this year, the Magic Moments team have been busy as an ongoing charitable initiative. Jay Fortune (photo) has presented a Christmas Party for around 60 special needs schools celebrating their achievements. Tim Osler and Jay have taken their Magical Workshop into special needs schools teaching magic to children with disabilities and learning difficulties to over 250 students. Magical Workshop, under the Magic Moments banner, is now being scaled out into more special needs schools in 2018, with plans already in place to work with around 20 other specialist schools, catering to thousands of students. Richard Leigh presented two shows this Autumn, The Spooky Magic Theatre and the Fairground Magic Show performing for terminally ill children and their families and carers, raising money for www.moment-um.org. Collectively, the team have raised over £3,000 in the last few shows for good causes bringing the total raised through shows across the decade (or ten days in that time to be precise!) to over £70,000. Magic Moments continues to go from strength to strength with more events planned in 2018, plus an immersive art installation featuring art by Jay and Richard based around the magician’s top hat. Details to follow in the New Year. Want to create your own Magic Moment? Please read about how you can get involved and more on the events, Click Here. 23.12.17

Mini Magician by PropDog. After a year in development, PropDog are proud to announce that the long awaited Mini Magician is now available and ready to ship! PropDog’s updated version of the classic ‘Little Hand’ is not just a great gag, but also a trick in its own right! The Mini Magician comes with two decks of mini playing cards and four mini card boxes. Blank cards are also included for creating custom predictions or messages along with extra ‘Red Cards’ for football related gags and heckler put-downs. This hilarious gag effect opens up endless routines and is limited only by your imagination. To find out more, visit www.propdog.co.uk/mini-magician. 23.12.17

The MagicWeek Video Archive. This week, Gary Kurtz and the Cobra Jars, on 'The World's Most Dangerous Magic II' from 1999. See The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with past weeks and the occasional 'bonus' video Click Here. 23.12.17

Derren Brown: Miracles for Sale is being repeated on Friday 29th December on 4Music. Innovative entertainer Derren Brown returns to Channel 4 in a unique TV experiment that lifts the lid on faith healing. Derren goes undercover to investigate the reality behind the faith healing phenomenon in America and the belief in faith-inspiring miraculous recoveries. With the cameras in hot pursuit, Derren faces his toughest project yet, going in search of an unsuspecting member of the British public prepared to adopt the guise of a pastor and miracle worker. His chosen one then has six months to learn the trade and flourish across the pond as a convincing pastor. The final phase of the volunteer's extraordinary challenge sees them attempt to perform faith healing miracles live in Texas, but will Derren's new recruit be accepted as a faith healer or cast away as fake healer? Is the belief in divine intervention really justified, or will Derren expose the industry as one giant hoax? See TV Magic. 23.12.17

IBM British Ring's Magical Weekend in Wookey Hole. IBM British Ring President Richard Cadell is holding his dinner as part of a magical weekend in Wookey Hole, Somerset, on 17th and 18th March 2018. Tickets are £45 per person from The Sooty Show, PO Box 17278, Tamworth B77 9PF (Cheques payable to Cadells Ltd) or to book by card, telephone 01827 912305. Accommodation at the Wookey Hole Hotel is £65 per room and the price of breakfast and the Sunday morning show is included in the cost of the dinner ticket. You will also have the opportunity of visiting the Wookey Caves, Penny Arcade and Magic Mirrors. The hotel number is 01749 672243 hotel@wookey.co.uk. Please quote the reference: 'Cadell_17 Mar'. Artistes booked to date include Norman Barrett and his Budgies, Edward Hilsum, Michael J. Fitch and stars of Gerry Cottle’s Circus. It has all the makings of a great event so to book now sounds like a good idea to me. Geoffrey Newton PRO. 23.12.17

British Ring Christmas greetings: IBM British Ring President Richard Cadell and Sooty send magical greetings to magicians and their families throughout the world. They wish you all a happy and peaceful festive season and may 2018 bring you all good health and success. Anyone wishing a complimentary ‘e’ copy of our house magazine Key Ring please contact the Editor: geoffreynewton@uwclub.net and one will be forwarded. Membership details are on www.britishring.org.uk. Geoffrey Newton PRO. 23.12.17

Blackpool Magicians' Club Christmas greetings: Blackpool Magicians Clubs' committee and members would like to wish all our friends in the Magic and Entertainment community a very Happy Christmas and a great New Year and to thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you to the 2018 convention. Alan Horne. 23.12.17

The Hypnotist - Live & Outrageous. From the promoters: The trailer for Robert Temple's 'The Hypnotist - Live & Outrageous' 2018 UK tour has just been released. Dubbed 'The Hypnosis Show They Tried To Ban', this is guaranteed to be a roller coaster ride that will tickle the very naughtiest parts of your mind, and will be covering the length and breadth of the country over three months. #TheHypnotistLive. Watch the trailer here: YouTube. 23.12.17

The Infinite Monkey Cage Christmas Special. "Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by Derren Brown, Diane Morgan, Richard Wiseman and Francesca Stavrakopoulou to reveal the science behind some of our best-loved magic tricks and illusions." (Repeat) Monday, 1st January, on BBC Radio 4. See TV Magic. 23.12.17

"Magicians open 20-seat theatre in former shop space" Click Here • "The life of a modern magician: Razor blades, ballet shoes and bumping into the Obamas" Click Here • "Magicians kick it up a notch — even making a helicopter materialize on stage — in four new Las Vegas shows" Click Here • "Abracadabra! Carleton establishing a chair for the study of conjuring arts" Click Here • "Issy Simpson visits Hollywood and gets a shock award!" YouTube • "Johnny Fox, Sword Swallower And Connecticut Native, Dead At 64" Click Here • "Indonesian magician The Sacred Riana is crowned winner of Asia's Got Talent Season 2" Click Here • "Japanese Twitter magician pulls off most dangerous and hilarious tablecloth-pulls ever" Click Here • "50s TV: What's My Line: Professional pickpocket (night club act)" YouTube • "Tech-free tricks, old-school sleight of hand: How modern magicians keep magic alive" Click Here. 23.12.17

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers the world over! Thank you to everyone who sent in news this year, it is really appreciated. And thanks to all our advertisers as well - the best magic dealers on the net! Big thanks as always to Chris North for proofreading the News page every Saturday morning and spotting all my horrible typos - and to you for visiting the pages of MagicWeek every week. To everyone, Merry Christmas. Louis, Keiko, Amelia and Duncan. 23.12.17

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