Number 226 - 23rd October 2004
The
Magic Circle Christmas Show line up has just been announced. The
show will star, from Argentina: Mirko, from the States: George Saterial
(photo),
and from the UK Alan Shaxon, John Styles and emcee Peter Hudson. There are
two shows a day from Monday December 27th to Thursday December 30th at
2.30pm and 7pm. Tickets are £19.00 (adults) and £13.00 (under 14). To
order with a credit card call The Magic Circle Box Office on 020 7387 2222
(weekdays 10am - 5pm). Book early... the show sold out last year and will
no doubt do the same this year!
The Magic Circle. 23.10.04
Duncan
Trillo wins The Magic Circle's Stage Magician of the Year Competition 2004.
Reported by David Beckley, Press Officer, The Magic Circle: On Sunday
night (October 17th), Duncan Trillo, a 'Gold Star' member of The Inner Magic Circle was
presented with the prestigious Stage Magician of the Year Trophy. This
event, held every two years, is the UK's top magic competition. Duncan
presented a superb display of skill, magic and above all, entertainment.
Classic card manipulations, combined with his incredible dancing
handkerchief, which seemed to take on a life of its own, proved, beyond
doubt, that his was the winning act. The Judging Panel, chaired by Sir
Bill Cotton CBE, also included Lady Cotton and Paul Kieve, the UK's
foremost magical advisor to theatrical productions and stage plays. The
second place was taken by Keith Fields, with strong magic including the
production of a bowl of water and an unusual signed card location. In
third place was Tensai whose striking oriental act climaxed in the 'free
floating' of his lovely assistant. Reported by David Beckley, Press Officer,
The Magic Circle.
Photo by
Peter Ryder Photography.
Duncan's hands can be
seen manipulating cards in brief slow motion interludes (filmed in digital
HSV) in the new BBC series Magic next Saturday, October
30th, at 8.25pm on BBC2. 23.10.04
Jus'
Like That! is on tour again, starring Jerome Flynn as Tommy Cooper.
"...this show succeeds in bringing to life the mesmerising stage presence
of a timeless comic act." The Independent. "This show is an
unabashed celebration..." Daily Telegraph. "An unashamed Tommy
Cooper Celebration. Jerome Flynn is a wonderful Tommy Cooper." The
Times. See What's On for dates.
www.juslikethat.com. 23.10.04
The
Competitors at Blackpool Magicians Club's Seaside Sorcery Convention
on Saturday and Sunday, 13th and 14th November, have been announced.
In the British Junior Magical Championships Close-up section: Cosmo,
Dazzling Darren, Marcus Taylor, Joe Ray, and Matt Denham. In the Stage
section: Magic Michael & Co., Dazzling Darren, Marcus Taylor, Joe Ray,
Josh Miller and Jonathon Shotton. In the British Magical Inter-Society
Championships: Kevin Gallagher, Will Gray, Robert Temple, Harry Robson,
Andrew Lee and Peter Roberts performing close-up and in the Stage section:
Shane, Dave Ralph, Robert Temple, Johnny Hardy, Malcolm Bromwich and
Stuart Brown. Societies represented are: Wolverhampton Circle, Leicester,
Durham, Blackpool, York, Manchester Circle, Nottingham Guild and Hull. In
the evening two Gala Shows starring Duncan Trillo and Poland's Salvano
plus a Dinner. Also included in the registration fee of £40.00 are five
lectures and 18 Magic Dealers! For more information visit
www.blackpoolmagic.com. 23.10.04
MAGIC - Programme
Two: Levitation is on tonight at
8.10pm on BBC 2. The Dream of Flight, the Indian Rope Trick and how magic becomes big
business.
In the hands of a master illusionist Levitation has a special potency
and this newfound power to defy gravity quickly became the centrepiece of
every stage magician's act. At a time when huge travelling shows toured
the world illusionists would do anything to outdo one another with more
and more fantastic levitations even by getting up on stage and stealing
their rivals' techniques... See TV Magic. 23.10.04
Eyes,
Lies and Illusions, reviewed last week by John Derris (Click
Here), had a helping hand from magic consultants Design for Deception.
The partners, Roy Marsh AIMC and Jack Delvin MIMC were both engaged to
show a small group of members of staff how to make and perform some simple
magical effects which they would then later teach to children attending
the exhibition in a series of limited workshops. "We spent a most
enjoyable morning at the gallery showing the staff how to 'see' through a
hole in their hand without the need for surgery, how to make a playing card
vanish, how to make a magic wand and then have it penetrate someone's head
painlessly and lots more!" said Roy. "The staff certainly enjoyed
themselves too and told us that they had seen the creation of magic, and
its performance, in a completely different light... and that it was much tougher
than they thought!" For more information about Design for Deception visit
www.designfordeception.com.
Hayward Gallery:
www.hayward.org.uk. 23.10.04
Richard
Leigh for False Impressions is presenting a number of shows at The
Magic Cavern over Christmas: The Magic of the Circus (a children's magic
show), Christmas Ghost Stories, a new play by Crispin Dexter and Cabaret
with Zac Bauman and magic support act. December 21st to January 2nd. For
more information visit
www.falseimpressions.com. 23.10.04
Jez
Rose has just launched the world's first range of Mind Reading Sets!
"It was an idea of mine for many months to launch a range of magic sets
but focusing on the huge interest in mind reading. I secured a patent
earlier this year for the concept of mind reading sets to prevent
imitations, and am very pleased with the first editions that have just
been launched. There are three in the range: Mind Reading with Cards, ESP
Mind Reading and Psychological Mind Reading. Just in time for Christmas,
they'll make excellent gifts and are due to go into high-street stores
(including Toymaster) next year." Available online now from
www.magictricks.co.uk,
www.merchantofmagic.co.uk and
www.jezrose.co.uk. 23.10.04
Mark
Gray and Nathan Ward (photo) have teamed up with local jazz band
Salsa South Connection and comedian Rob Smith to raise money for a
school in Indonesia. They'll be presenting a fantastic night of
entertainment for the whole family at the Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall,
The Brook, Chatham, Kent ME4 4SE (Map)
on November 12th at 8pm. Tickets: £7.50 seniors, students and under 16s
£6.50. For further details or to book telephone the Box Office on
01634 338338. 23.10.04
Tony
Griffith only has a few spaces left for his Creative Magic
Lecture/Teach-in on Sunday 21st November. The material presented will
place emphasis upon subtlety, routining and entertainment. Areas covered
will include Close-up Magic, After Dinner Speaking, Trade Shows,
Promotion, Publicity, Organisation and Children's Entertainment. (Click
Here to read past report). The cost for the day is £40 which includes
morning coffee, buffet lunch and afternoon tea. Telephone Tony on 01275 837017
or email tony@tonygriffith.co.uk
for more information or to book. 23.10.04
Romany
"Diva of Magic" is currently in Hamburg, Germany performing as Romany,
Diva der Magie, magical MC for a variety dinner show in a beautiful
Spiegeltent (built in the 1920's, full of mahogany, mirrors and red
velvet) playing 6 shows a week for 4 months until
January 15th 2005. "The tent sits about 400 guests who are served a 4
course gourmet meal and entertained between courses with a variety style
show played mainly in the round. The company includes Russian trapeze
artists, a New York jazz singer/tap dancer, an orchestra, another hula
hoop dancer, 3 gorgeous Italian roller skaters, plus a lovely English
comedian who I get to giggle with... Everyone pulling their legs in
impossible directions back stage to warm up while I clip clop back and
forth on my platforms, changing costumes for each entrance and cramming my
German script as fast as I can..." More on Romany at
www.romanymagic.com. 23.10.04
2nd West Lancs Magic Convention
- update. Sunday April 24th 2005. Doors open at 10am at St Marys
Parochial Club, Trent Road, Billinge, Near Wigan, Lancashire WN5 7QT (Map).
With lectures from Richard Sanders (photo) and Fred Corvenieo and magic
dealers open throughout the day. In the evening cabaret there's cabaret
with Fred Corvenieo followed by The West Lancs Magician of the Year
Competition. While the judges are deliberating Keith Cooper and Carol will
present their illusion act, with the awards being presented at around
11pm. For details, registration and competition application forms (and
dealer stand enquiries) contact Roy Critchley,
steelemagicinc@aol.com. 23.10.04
Tariq
Knight and Chris Nicholson, two of the magicians from Playing Tricks,
will be appearing on Ready Steady Cook this coming Thursday, 28th October.
They'll be there to help the show celebrate its 10th anniversary and will
be "cooking, performing and having a laugh" at 4.30pm on BBC2.
TV Magic. 23.10.04
Northumberland
based mentalist and psychic entertainer Kennedy will be performing at
the haunted Blacksmith's Table Restaurant in Washington, South Tyneside on
Sunday October 31st. Kennedy has guaranteed a night of "bizarre and rather
frightening goings on" Blacksmith's Table Restaurant, The Green,
Washington Village. To book telephone 0191 415 1788. 23.10.04
"Have
you ever dreamed of learning the deepest secrets of stage magic and
hypnotism? This revelatory autobiography offers a fascinating insight into
the life secrets of a magician and hypnotist of international reputation.
Ormond McGill, the Dean of American Hypnotists, has hypnotised audiences
all over the world with his exciting stage shows. Using original sketches,
photographs, and press material, Ormond explains techniques such as: Mind
reading, Atomic Magic, Hypnotherapy of Zen, Acupressure Hypnotic
Induction, Computer Hypnotherapy, Abundance Hypnosis, Mind control and
Yogi Pramayama Practices. For hypnotists, magicians and everyone eager to
learn more about the secrets of the stage show, this book provides wise
counsel from the master performer. Join Ormond on his odyssey and share in
a lifetime of rich and varied experiences. This is a performance not to be
missed!" Now that's telling you... available from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here. 23.10.04
Ireland's Fred Corvenieo returns to the UK in 2005 and would like to hear from clubs who would like to book his lecture/dealer dem. Possible dates are around March - May. Clubs can book Fred's lecture/dealer dem via Roy Critchley. Email: steelemagicinc@aol.com or telephone 07901 990 220 for more information. 23.10.04
If
you missed Marc Paul on BBC Radio 4 last week you can hear the
programme via www.bbc.co.uk
instead
Click Here
(Note: This link will change on Monday I think)
Simon Shaw emails that the Ipswich Magical Society's Annual Convention
on November 7th is shaping up very well with more performers added
Click Here for full details
Jez Rose has been booked again for Princess Sophia of Monaco's
private Christmas party and will fly out at the beginning of December.
He'll be performing in cabaret for 300 guests, including Royalty and Heads
of State Your UK magic news is always welcomed. See you next week, Duncan. 23.10.04