Number 194 - 13th March 2004
Mind
Master Derren Brown sets off across the UK this week as he embarks on
a 43 date nationwide tour. This is the same show that sold out in theatres
last year (and that was before he tried not to blow his brains out on
national television for our amusement!), so if you want to see the show
this time around, book now. Here are the dates for March:
15th Aberystwyth: Arts Centre (01970 623232),
16th Llandudno: North Wales Theatre (01492 872000),
17th Telford: Oakengates Theatre (01952 619020),
21st Norwich: Theatre Royal (01603 630000),
22nd Oxford: New Theatre (0870 606 3500),
25th Croydon: Ashcroft Theatre (0208 688 9291),
26th Croydon: Ashcroft Theatre (0208 688 9291),
27th Reading: Hexagon (0118 960 6060),
29th Portsmouth: Guildhall (02392 824355). Derren's live work is even
stronger than his televised shows... absolutely not to be missed!
Updates on:
www.derrenbrown.co.uk. Derren's new show Derren
Brown: Trick of the Mind will air in April with guests Stephen Fry and
Martin Kemp. 13.3.04
South
Tyneside International Magic Week starts this Monday (15th), with the
'Magic Convention' element starting on Friday, March 19th. Banachek,
Sylvester the Jester, Christian, Greg Wilson, Luke Jermay, Boris Wild and
Marc Paul will all perform and most will lecture as well. Organised by
South Tyneside Council's Events and Operations Unit, in conjunction with
Martin Duffy (President of the Newcastle Magic Circle) this is going to be
a great event. The week will
consist of performances in schools, residential homes and libraries, concluding with
the main convention, at the Little Haven Hotel, Sea Road, South Shields
from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st March. The two Gala performances, which are open
to convention delegates and members of the public, will be held in Jarrow
CA on Friday 19th March and Saturday 20th March. For more
information, and registration details, visit:
www.southtyneside.info and
icTeesside. 13.3.04
News
from John Derris re the Jack Avis estate. "I am in the process of
assessing the extent of the late Jack Avis's library of magic books and
publications. So far I have listed 1100 hard back books covering cards
(every serious book for the last 60 years and beyond), close-up magic,
coin magic, gambling (extensive), biography, general magical, mentalism
and history. Included are many old books dating from 1887 on both
technique and history (some autographed) also books published in the early
part of the 20th century and contemporary books, again with some being
autographed. This is before I have started investigating a similar number
of manuscripts, lecture notes, documents, historical tear sheets and
several private notebooks containing Avis ideas and routines over the last
half century. There is also a collection of 30 years private
correspondence with Ed Marlo and also Dai Vernon and Stewart James. A
listing is in preparation but I would be pleased to hear from anyone who
has a serious interest in the acquisition of this important library of one
of Britain's most renowned and knowledgeable amateur magicians." Contact
John Derris, telephone 020 8467 7856 fax 020 8467 9997 email
europro@tiscali.co.uk. 13.3.04
EM-Magic.com
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Moshe the company offers a unique range of products. Visit
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today! 13.3.04
Available
from Stanley Gibbons Investment Department: A skeleton key from the
personal collection of escapologist Harry Houdini. The key was obtained
from the estate of famous key and lock collector Paul Harter who
originally purchased Houdini's locks and keys from Houdini's brother
Hardeen. Mounted, framed and glazed together with a photograph of Houdini
and a gold plaque which reads "Authentic key from the personal collection
of the great Harry Houdini (1874 - 1926)" £2,750.00
www.stanleygibbons.com. 13.3.04
Leamington
and Warwick Magic Society present The Midlands Dealers Day on
Sunday 4th April, from 10am to 4pm at Cubbington Sports and Social Club,
Windmill Hill, Cubbington, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 7LN (Map)
www.magicword.com/lawms. With easy access from: M6, M69, M42, M40.
Refreshments and Licensed Bar. Lecture at 12 noon by John Derris MIMC.
Workshops at 3pm with Frank Allen. Admission £5. Dealers: Practical Magic,
Keith Bennett, Albion Magic Company, Stephen Tucker and Gary Young. 13.3.04
Get
Nyman - the new Andy Nyman DVD triple set is reviewed by Chris Jones
this week, Click Here.
Meanwhile Andy is currently in Prague shooting the lead in a new movie
Shut Up and
Shoot Me starring opposite Karel Roden (Blade 2 and
Bulletproof Monk). The movie is a dark comedy about a man (Nyman) who
visits Prague only to have his wife die in an accident. He then employs a
hapless taxi driver to kill him as he cannot bring himself to commit
suicide! Due for release next year. 13.3.04
Seventh
Heaven by Lewis Jones is reviewed in MagicWeek today. "Compiled from
the best of seven previously published softback booklets, Seventh Heaven
has given Lewis the opportunity to revisit, refine and tweak his
routines... It's a great collection of magic, that will delight I am
sure." Click Here. 13.3.04
The
Wolverhampton Circle of Magicians website has been updated and moved
to
www.wcm-magic.co.uk. Although sections of the site are restricted to
WCM members, well over 60 pages are available to visitors (a few pages in)
allowing them to gain an insight into what is one of the most active
magic societies in the country. 13.3.04
Last
week's Klub Magic show in Brighton is reviewed this week by Martin
Breese, Click
Here. The next show is on April 5th and features Terry Seabrook, Mark
Stafford (photo) and Chris North & Belinda and then a month later there's
a 'May Special' which is forming part of the Brighton Festival and
featuring Fay Presto, Duncan Trillo and Safire. Book early for all these
shows as audience numbers are growing all the time. Visit Klub Magic at
The Komedia Theatre:
www.klubmagic.co.uk
for more information. 13.3.04
The
Mysti Show, a new BBC1 Saturday morning show, starts on Saturday 17th
April running for 21 weeks. Jez Rose is the show's resident mentalist,
reading the minds of celebrities and creating psychological chaos on the
streets of the UK; filming has already started. Jez's new CD ROM for
businesses on the applications of psychology has already sold over 300
copies in its first month. The CD will be turned into book and sold
through the Government-run
Business
Link Solutions. Also this week Jez reviews the Virtual Soundman,
a clever gizmo that's ideal for magicians,
Click Here.
Jez Rose:
www.jezrose.co.uk. 13.3.04
Brekk
Sarney was featured in the Royal Mail's house magazine last month in
an article that talked about his life long passion for magic. "Brekk has
been performing tricks since he was a small child, and has just been
accepted as a full member of
The Magic Circle
- establishing him as one of the country's elite magicians. It was a huge
test of his skill, but Brekk claims putting on a show for the country's
top magicians was not as daunting as playing for his work colleagues. 'The
toughest crowd I get is at the delivery office because if I mess up in
front of them they would never let me forget it!'"
www.brekksmagic.co.uk. 13.3.04
The
29th Magic Circle Collectors' Day will be held at The Magic Circle's
HQ, The Centre for the Magic Arts, on Saturday, May 29th. Arthur Emerson
(USA) will talk about Chandu, Blackstone, Mandrake and Thurston. Nelson
Nicholson (USA) talks about famous magic makers Mysto Magic. Jacques
Voignier (France) lectures on Le Commandeur Cazeneuve and Scott Penrose
presents 'Recollections of Michael Hartz'
www.themagiccircle.co.uk. 13.3.04
Mr
Lolly, one of London's top children's entertainers, has a brand new
website Click
Here • Lord of the Rings magician Saruman takes on David Blaine in
2DTV on Sunday 21st March on ITV1, see
TV Magic • "Five months after being attacked by a white tiger during a
Las Vegas magic act, Roy Horn is doing well. In his first interview since
the near-death experience, the animal tamer said he was focusing on
recovery."
www.dw-world.de • "Revealing tricks can intrigue the curious or spoil
the mystique"
Click Here
• From The Times: (spotted by Dale Shrimpton) "First she bewitched the
golfing world by flouting all the rules. Then she turned herself into a
magician. And then she disappeared, presumed dead. More than 60 years on,
Nick Pitt has discovered what really became of Gloria Minoprio."
Click Here • That's it for this week, your UK magic news is always
welcomed. See you next week, Duncan. 13.3.04