Number 260 - 18th June 2005
John
Carney lectures in Birmingham on Monday July 25th at the Nautical Club, 3-4
Bishopsgate Street, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 at 7.30pm. This two hour
lecture will include stage and close-up magic using cards, coins, cigars
and other everyday objects focusing on presentation, routining,
misdirection and creativity. John's work is always excellent making this lecture
very much a "must see" event - for more information and to book
Click Here. For information on John Carney visit
www.carneymagic.com.
John will also be lecturing in Manchester on Thursday July 28th. Email
Martin Allcock for details
martin@magical-entertainment.co.uk. More dates to be announced. 18.6.05
Practical
Magic have just announced that they will be producing a new DVD for
children's entertainers, starring top professional Terry Herbert,
provisionally entitled 'Magic for the under 5s'. "First of all, you will
see a live show with some of the tricks which Terry regularly uses, and
those all-important 'bits of business' which children love. Next, Terry
explains the tricks and what effect he is trying to achieve, and finally,
as an added bonus, Terry will be interviewed by none other than David Kaye
– a.k.a. Silly Billy from New York!" The plan is to release the disc at
Kidology UK, on Monday September 5th
www.practical-magic.com. 18.6.05
American
Illusionist Brett Daniels in the UK. Amway China held a Gala dinner
for 1,800 special guests at Excel in London on June 14th. The event was
one of the largest to be held in London this year and showcased 120
performers who entertained throughout the night against a multi-million
pound set, employing state of the art video screens, sound, and lighting
technology. The shows finale was in the hands of star American illusionist
Brett Daniels, who flew into the UK specially for the event. He dazzled
the assembled crowd performing signature effects including, his car
production, the Brett Daniels Levitation, the Table of Death and the
Turbine Illusion. Cliff Bradley's Crowdstop.com company handled the deal
and acted as Brett's support agency in the UK. In the photo: Mark Parker
(Crowdstop.com), Brett Daniels, Cliff Bradley (MD Crowdstop.com) and Chris
Gingrasso (Personal manager for Brett Daniels).
www.crowdstop.com
www.brettdaniels.com. 18.6.05
Kidology UK
- update. Last year's day sold out and this year's looks set to do the
same. Registrations must be made in advance, due to the catering
arrangements; a printable registration form is now available online at
www.practical-magic.com. Registration is £30.00 which includes all
events plus a buffet lunch. Here are the details.
Monday 5th September 2005 9am
- 6pm at the Civic & Wulfrun Halls, North Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1RQ (Map).
Featuring Dave Allen (photo) the Children's Entertainer of the Year 2004, Ricky McLeod
a.k.a. Tricky Ricky,
and Patrick Page, plus
a magic forum and Dealers' Demonstration. For more information visit:
www.practical-magic.com. 18.6.05
SoundPlus
PA systems. Freddie Wilkinson emails: "Not really news this, more a
recommendation of a product I came across and now use that I thought might
be of interest to MagicWeek readers. Basically it's an all-in-one
portable PA System that runs off mains or battery, and includes tape, CD,
and a UHF radio mic, all built in to one tiny little box. I have had mine
for a few weeks now and it easily filled a cabaret room of 150 very drunk
people, but its main use so far has been at kids parties and outdoor
events. As far as I know they are new on the market and must represent an
invaluable investment for any serious magician or street entertainer."
Visit:
www.soundplus.co.uk for details. 18.6.05
Richard
Wiseman and Simon Singh are staging a new version of Theatre of
Science at the Soho Theatre from July 4th - 18th. The show involves a
mixture of magic, illusion, contortion and science. The genuinely
dangerous finale involves the duo generating over 1 million volts of
electricity via two huge Tesla coils, and creating 6ft bolts of lightning
just inches from the audience! More in
www.timesonline.co.uk. 18.6.05
Carnesky's
Ghost Train, a collaboration between Paul Kieve and artist Marisa
Carnesky, will be playing at the Glastonbury Festival from June 23rd to
26th. The show was named "Theatrical event of the year" by The Guardian,
and chosen as "Critic's Choice" in London's Time Out magazine. "Paul
Kieve's illusions were stunning and worthy of a visit. In fact the
illusions are the real stars of the show... the finale is a real
jaw-dropper on the scale of any great theatrical twist." BBC. To read more
Click Here. 18.6.05
Merlin's
Secret. "Merlin the Magician cannot fight the evil sorceress Morgan le
Fay on his own. He needs the help of a young hero who is destined to
become King of England - Arthur. Merlin educates the young hero in secret
so that Morgan le Fay will not learn of the threat to her power. Arthur
learns magic and sword-craft, but the magician keeps back one vital
secret... This exciting new production is a collaboration between
writer/director Tim Heath and international illusionist Doctor Bondini,
who plays the role of Merlin. It is a fully-staged play full of magic,
grand illusion, song and dance. There is drama, comedy, audience
participation and, of course, Bondini's famous doves will feature, along
with his own pet dragon. Merlin's Secret sets the familiar legend and
characters in a new context, and is for audiences of all ages." See
What's
On for dates
www.pmbproductions.co.uk. Also, from the same stable, the original
Bondini show visits
Ireland in October, here are the dates: Naas, Co. Kildare, Moat Theatre,
Friday 21st October, 3pm & 7.30pm, Box office: 045 883 030. Roscommon Arts
Centre, Saturday 22nd October, Box office: 090 662 5824. The Simon Ryan
Theatre, Tipperary Excel, Sunday 23rd October, 4pm Box office: 062 80520.
Listowel, Co. Kerry, St. John’s Theatre, Tuesday 25th October, 8pm, Box
office: 068 22566. Backstage Theatre, Part of Aisling Children's Arts
Festival, Thursday 27th October, 7pm, Box office: 043 47888. Pavilion
Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Friday 28th October, 8pm, Box office: 01 2312929. 18.6.05
Noel
Qualter has just returned from Venice after performing close-up magic
at the launch party for the Scottish Arts Councils exhibit at the Venice
Arts Biennale 2005. Noel had to persuade a gondolier to take the photo by
doing card in Cornetto for him.
www.noelqualter.com. 18.6.05
The
Liverpool Magic Circle Dinner Cabaret Night
takes place on November 12th featuring cabaret from John Lenahan and
Georgie Starr, Liverpool's own Rat Pack singer, plus magic at the tables
and music into the night. Tickets £30.00. Venue: Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool.
Contact: Richard Smith (secretary) 0151 548 6899
secretary@liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk. 18.6.05
Philip
Partridge will be appearing at GC 2005expo
www.gcexpo.com on
Tuesday and Wednesday at Earls Court 1, London, on stand 350 enticing
visitors onto the PC World Business stand with his own brand of Comedy
Close-up Magic. GC 2005expo is the UK’s leading technology event for the
public sector, attended by thousands of
the leading procurement professionals.
www.philippartridge.co.uk. 18.6.05
To celebrate the forthcoming launch of the
new Harry Potter
book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Magic Wand Shop is pleased to announce that Blackwell's
Bookstores around the UK will be stocking their wonderful wizards' magic
wands. Stores so far lined up to stock their wands include Blackwell's
Oxford, Blackwell's Edinburgh, Blackwell's Sheffield and Blackwell's Preston.
www.themagicwandshop.co.uk. 18.6.05
Julian
James lectures at The Liverpool
Magic Circle on July 21st. £3 members, £5 visitors (pay on the night).
Contact: Richard Smith (secretary) 0151 548 6899
secretary@liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk for more information • Seriously Silly 'How to Entertain Children with Magic
& Comedy' by David Kaye is reviewed by Terry Herbert,
Click Here •
"It's not what you've done that's important; it's what they think you've
done," writes Robert Fox in his article this week,
Click Here •
Jonathan Royle's seminar "There's No Such Thing As Hypnosis" is reviewed
by Paul Maverick this week,
Click Here • Sven
Schoppenhauer kindly sent through a copy of his newly translated
Quick Change book last week - I've just had a quick look, and it looks
excellent, with plenty of illustrations to accompany the text • "Tricks of the Trade"
Click Here • "Man Claims David Blaine Stole His 'Godly Powers'"
Click Here • "Television star and illusionist Derren Brown is up to
his old tricks" writes Tony Padman,
Click Here • When submitting news for
What's On please use the new form (via
the red button below). That's it for this week, your news and reviews are
always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 18.6.05