Number 279 - 29th October 2005
E4's
Mental Magic Week... "Extreme, weird, funny, hair-raising,
provocative and downright silly - a week of the best in alternative magic
entertainment, featuring the stars of hit new magic show Dirty Tricks."
Here's the week's line up:
The 7 Stupidest Things to Escape From (Monday November 7th) "E4
Premiere - The week kicks of with extreme escapologist and daredevil
Jonathan Goodwin presenting a one-hour special featuring the most bizarre
and ridiculous escape stunts ever attempted."
50 Greatest Magic Tricks (Monday November 7th) "Adam Buxton and
(amateur magician) Joe Cornish host this two-hour cavalcade of conjuring.
An insightful, entertaining, and not very reverent journey through the
most amazing, bizarre and spectacular tricks in the history of magic, as
voted by members of the Magic Circle."
Rajan and his Evil Hypnotists (Tuesday November 8th) "E4 Premiere -
Rajan (Dirty Tricks) and his evil sidekicks use their hypnotic powers to
control the lives of members of the public for their own entertainment.
His sidekicks are the beautiful 'Hypnogirl' (ex Bond girl Rachel Grant),
the Omen inspired 'Hypnoboy' (Matthew Broadbent) and white-suited sidekick
Binde."
When Magic Tricks go Wrong (Thursday November 10th) "E4 Premiere -
Here are the moments the world's most famous magicians would rather
forget. Presented by Barry and Stuart - stars of this autumn's magic
series Dirty Tricks - this one-off special mixes performance, interviews
and archive clips to give an insider's view on the mistakes and tragedies
that have plagued the magic profession through the years."
Criss Angel Mindfreak (Thursday November 10th) "On a quest to bring
magic into the lives of his audience, Criss has devised a variety of
amazing feats that challenge the traditional style of magic and put a
fresh spin on the art of illusion. Featuring a variety of edgy, high-risk
performances that include, amongst other things, setting himself alight." 29.10.05
Many
congratulations to James More, winner of this year's Magic Circle
Young Magicians' Club J-Day Stage Magician of the Year award. I saw James's work a few months ago;
he's got great
style and is destined to go far (thanks to Mike Danata
for the photo, taken at Mike's jam-packed Magic Studio in Bournemouth
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk). Congratulations also to The YMC Mark Leveridge J-Day
Close-up winner, Ben Farrar from Winchester. Joint second
places went to Michael Jordan and Matt Mottee. Second place for the Stage Trophy
went to Michael Williams with third place to Joshua Miller. The Peter
Blanchard Literary Trophy for contributions to the club's magazine went to Oliver
Gratter. Newly instigated (by magician Mike Clarke) 'Member of the Year'
award went to James Tetlow. Next year the Young Magicians' Club celebrates
its 10th anniversary, so an extra special day is planned. (Many thanks to
Mandy Davis for the competition results)
www.youngmagiciansclub.co.uk. 29.10.05
Jon
Allen and Sean Heydon have just been added to the line up of
performers appearing at next year's Close-up Magic Convention in Sussex
on Saturday May 13th. Since turning professional in 1988, Jon Allen
(photo) has entertained thousands. He is a previous Magic Circle
Close-up Magician of the Year winner and is the only British magician
to have won the prestigious worldwide IBM Close-up Magic Competition since
it began in 1928. Jon has also won the British Ring Close-up Magic
Competition. Magicians worldwide use his effects and ideas in their
routines, and he has lectured in the USA, Canada, Australia, Italy,
Holland, Denmark and France. Sean Heydon is just 22 year's old, but recent
achievements include a sponsorship deal with Budweiser, many television
and radio appearances and winning the South of England Champion of
Close-up Magic award. For more information, and to book, visit:
www.cumcis.co.uk. 29.10.05
The
Magic Circle Dealers' Day takes place in central London next
Saturday, November 5th
(10am to 5pm), at the
Royal National Hotel,
38-51 Bedford Way,
London WC1H 0DG - the nearest tube station is Russell Square (Map). Featuring approximately 40 dealer stands, including many
MagicWeek advertisers. Admission is free to card-carrying members of The Magic Circle,
or £5 to non-member magicians (£3 to
partners and under 16s). 29.10.05
Andy Clockwise
lectures at the Sussex Magic Circle
on Thursday November 3rd at 8pm. Venue: Southover Grange, Southover Road,
Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1TP (Map) For further details contact
chairman@thesussexmagiccircle.co.uk or visit
www.thesussexmagiccircle.co.uk. 29.10.05
Marc
Paul is live on stage this evening as Joe Pasquale's guest. The 7.30pm
show is sold out but tickets remain for 4pm performance. Venue: The Corn Exchange, King's Lynn.
Box Office: 01553 764 864. See What's On
for more tour dates. 29.10.05
Blackpool
Magicians' Club have just released details of the artistes booked for
their After Show Party at the Blackpool Convention on the Sunday evening.
Topping the bill are the "Hits of the Supremes" plus comedy magic from The
Great Nardini and silent magic from FISM award winner Kenji Minemura from
Japan... plus Lancashire Hot Pot and Apple Pie all for the bargain price
of £12.00 in the Spanish Hall. Downstairs in the Theatre Bar there will be
four close-up magicians plus Comedy Vocalist Carl, plus Lancashire Hot Pot
and Apple Pie. Details of the Convention from:
www.blackpoolmagic.com. 29.10.05
"Fame
on the cards for magic's bright spark. He's just turned 20 and is
already being hailed as the new David Blaine, not bad for a kid from
Bradford. Chris Bond met hip-hop magician Dynamo. The look on Chris
Martin's face is priceless. A shy, skinny-looking kid in a baseball cap
has just performed a card trick backstage for the Coldplay front man whose
expression is one of astonishment. Gwyneth Paltrow is equally impressed
when the youngster turns and does a trick for her, 'Amazing', she says..."
To read the full story in the Yorkshire Post
Click Here. 29.10.05
Kockov
& Friends. Poncho Comedy and Left of Centre Illusion
presents "Kockov & Friends" at the Chapter Arts Centre on Friday 11th
November at 8pm. Kockov is Jasper Blakeley's award-winning Monrokvian
alter-ego, described as a "tight-leather-trousered illusionist and
mentalist of dubious credentials, temperament and especially hair." The
show features Kockov's "Russian Roulette" routine and "Houdini Milk Churn
Escape" and reveals Jasper's unique take on the stranger side of the
wonderful world of magic. It's got mentalism, telepathy, escapology,
magical psychology, stupidity and comedy! Tickets £5.00 on the door:
Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff CF5 1QE (Map). Enquires:
029 2031 1050
www.chapter.org
www.jasperblakeley.co.uk. 29.10.05
Icarus
Effect in stock! News from Mike Danata: "We're now stocking the most
talked about illusion of the year: The Icarus Effect by Aaron Paterson...
Imagine this: You stand face to face with someone, your back to a curb,
step or staircase. Your participant holds his/her hands out, palms up,
while you place your hands, palms down, lightly on top of theirs. By
applying minimal pressure to the spectator's hands you are able to
apparently levitate up on to the top of the step. As you levitate and
float upward, the participant can clearly see under both of your feet,
seeing both of your heels and toes rising off of the ground. As if that
were not enough, you then calmly float off the curb and back down to the
ground!"
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk telephone 01202 391666. 29.10.05
Eugene
Matthias will be appearing at Nicholls Restaurant, Woburn,
Bedfordshire with his new Halloween Show on Monday, October 31st. The
evening will start at 7.30pm, and includes close-up table magic and the
main show. Tickets £29.95 Telephone 01525 290622. 29.10.05
At
the North Wales Magic Circle Dinner on October 22nd the committee
awarded Safire Illusionists (photo) The Ben Jackson Cup for services
to the Circle over the past 15 years. The evening at The Springfield
Hotel, Holywell was attended by 130 guests and magicians, and guest of
honour IBM President Mark Raffles and Joan. 29.10.05
Ian
Carpenter emails: "I'm performing
my 'Scary Magic and Stories' show, The Secret Room, on Sunday 30th,
for Halloween. It's on twice, at two and four o'clock, so quite family
friendly. If any MagicWeek readers want to come, you'd be most welcome,
especially with accompanying 'real' people such as your family and friends
(though not aged under 12 please). The Magic Cavern is at Baron's Court,
near the tube there, and directly below a pub/restaurant: so a fine place
to hang out before or after. It's small, but still some tickets left for
2pm show." Box Office: 0208 932 4747. Book online via
www.falseimpressions.com The Magic Cavern, Barons Court Theatre, 28A
Comeragh Road, London W14 9AU (Map)
2 minutes walk from either Barons Court or West Kensington Tube Stations.
Full details:
www.falseimpressions.com. 29.10.05
Congratulations
to Steve Evans, winner of the British Magical Society's Ray Bradbury
Trophy for Close-up Magic on Tuesday 25th October. This comes on the back
of his victory in their Stage Competition earlier in the year. Nine
magicians competed for the title and Steve won (for a second time) with an
act featuring things that made people laugh! Steve lectures on close-up,
cabaret, children's magic and comedy. For more information email
stevemagicbloke@aol.com or
telephone 07900 191958. 29.10.05
Rex
Cooper Lecture. President of The Mystic Ring and triple winner of
The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year award, Rex Cooper,
lectures at The Mystic Ring on Thursday, November 3rd at 7.45pm. As part
of the celebrations of the clubs fiftieth anniversary Rex will present his
lecture on close-up magic entitled "Magic on a Theme". The lecture takes
place at the Conservative Club, 49 High Street North, Dunstable,
Bedfordshire. For further details email
themysticring@hotmail.com. 29.10.05
Manchester
Circle of Magicians recent Jumbo Auction was probably the largest ever
in the UK with over 200 magicians attending. Hundreds of items were sold
at good prices and despite an early start 6.30pm several lots could not be
auctioned due to lack of time. Mike Shepherd and Derek Lever the
auctioneers not only sold everything that was put up for sale but
thoroughly entertained everyone with their gags and comments. Derek Lever
bought probably the gem of the night, a very rare Corinda Dictionary Test.
The next Jumbo Auction will be in March 2006. Manchester Circle of
Magicians will be holding three Auctions per year in future due to the
demand. 29.10.05
Peter Arcane, psychic entertainer, early member of the Asylum and editor of Center Tear, lectures at the Medway Magic Society on Tuesday 1st November at 8pm. Contact David Lang davidlang@blueyonder.co.uk for details.. 29.10.05
Escape Artists from around the world will join together on Saturday October 29th to take part in the largest number of coordinated escape attempts to ever be attempted in a 24 hour period. Helen Held, "The girl no man can hold" www.helenheld.co.uk will be taking part in a special performance at the Chemic Tavern, Woodhouse, Leeds at around 9.30pm. Support comes in the form of paranoid mentalist, Harrison Richards www.perceptionist.co.uk. 29.10.05
David
Blaine and David Copperfield battle it out on Celebrity DeathMatch
at 12 midnight tonight on TMF (freeview) • "Caine busy as ex-magician,
sci-fi hippie"
Click Here • "Wheelchair magician to dazzle Oxford audience"
Click Here • "Ducktastic, Albery Theatre, London"
Click Here • "His magic is on the money"
Click Here • "Hollywood Celebrates Magic on Halloween"
Click Here • "Hot? This guy is on fire"
Click Here • Thank you for your news submissions, always welcomed -
have a magic week, Duncan. 29.10.05