Number 290 - 14th January 2006

The Magic is Back... Johnny Hart, seen here in a rare publicity shot taken in the sixties, will appear on the Sunday night Gala Show at the world's largest magic convention in Blackpool this February. The first ever Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year and winner of the Blackpool Magicians Teenage Competition at the start of his career, his last convention appearance was in 1985. Johnny will be presenting his full 'act as know' featuring his brilliant card manipulations and budgie productions. The Blackpool Convention website has now been updated and lists all the artistes appearing at the Convention, plus times and dates of all events. This convention is heading for another "sell out". You can download a registration form via www.blackpoolmagic.com or ring Arthur Casson on 01253 393688. See you there! 14.1.06

Escapologist Jonathan Goodwin heads up a week of death defying stunts, live on TV, at the end of this month. Jonathan will appear in two live, hour long programmes, in which he will risk being hung in the first, and being buried alive under 6 tonnes of concrete in the second. The two stunts will be part of a week of programmes for E4 called "Deathwish Live" - Nice! What's interesting about Jonathan's work is that his laid back almost "matter of fact" type presentation has real impact - viewers really do sit at home squirming on the sofa as he puts himself through hell for our amusement! www.jonathangoodwin.co.uk. 14.1.06

Mark Leveridge Magic's Commercial Close-up Forum. This is the last call for those thinking of going to Mark Leveridge Magic's Commercial Close-up Forum in Newbury on Sunday 29th January. Nearly all the available places have gone, so do register now if you would like to hear Martin Sanderson (photo), recent Magic Circle Centenary Close-up Competition winner Nicholas Einhorn and Mark Leveridge give you the lowdown on how to work close-up commercially. Many of the people who have signed up for the day are also busy and experienced performers themselves - it promises to be an excellent day. Click Here for full details and to register online. 14.1.06

FISM Comedy Award Winner Paul Nardini is featured in Magic Profile this week. "I’ve been very lucky to have been given great advice from many talented and respected people, Ali Bongo, John Archer to name two, but a friend, Bill Seagraves, aka ‘The Great Notso’ said to me when he saw me perform The Great Nardini many years ago for the first time, when I used to say a few lines during the act, that he loved the act, but felt that the part where I spoke had the danger of killing the character I had built in the spectators mind. Also keeping it silent would make it possible to perform anywhere in the world.... Great advice." To read the full profile Click Here. 14.1.06

Divinator - New from Black Artefacts: "Divinator is a great psychic entertainment item that does not require any cold reading... Divinator manages to cram in a whole mass of magical lore - the power of the pendulum, the four magical elements, the mystery of the pentagram, all combined into an entertaining character reading. Divinator is perfect for any psychic performance or reading as it deals with the very thing that people are most interested in - themselves! Divinator can be used anywhere and any time, at a formal psychic sitting or at a party or even down the local pub! It is sure to get people queuing for a reading." For more information visit www.blackhart.co.uk. 14.1.06

C2C Signed Coin in Signed Card by John Carter has just been released from The Merchant of Magic www.magicshop.co.uk. "This effect is very powerful for spectators to experience. Their borrowed and signed coin magically appears inside their selected and signed card! Everything can be examined or given out as a souvenir. The first print run sold out in just 48 hours, but it's now back in stock." As a special promotion any MagicWeek reader who places an order for over £30 and mentions 'MagicWeek' in the comments box, will receive a 6 month subscription to Magicseen magazine free! (value £15.00) - offer ends 20th January. 14.1.06

Associated Wizards of the South One Day Convention 2006. Sunday 5th March at the Colbury Memorial Hall, Hunters Hill (A35), Hounsdown, Totton, Hampshire SO40 7EL Map. (Map) To be opened by Alan Shaxon, President of the Magic Circle, featuring ten dealers, a dealer dem, lectures from Ron Popple, Sean Carpenter, Mark Mason and Mike Stokes (the balloon man), close-up demonstrations and a gala show featuring international illusionists Van Buren and Company, Laurie Brokenshire, Sean Carpenter, Marc Dominic, Ron Popple and Alec Powell. Registration forms from: Geoff Gould, Registration Officer, 35 Mountfield, Hythe, Southampton SO45 5AQ. (Enclose an SAE). Further information from Ian Marriott 01794 324345 or visit www.awsmagic.co.uk. 14.1.06

Alan & Allan (COMAGI) have organised a night of Curry and Comedy in aid of children's charity SPARKS (SPort Aiding medical Research for KidS). Plus support from magicians Carl Howse, Jim Aitken and Steve Merideth. "We were looking to do something a bit different that would appeal to people looking for an alternative to turkey sandwiches and the idea of Curry & Comedy seemed like a good idea! Hopefully it will become a regular thing" said Alan. There will be some close-up magic during the meal followed by a comedy show featuring all the performers. 19th January at the Nazma Tandoori in Aberdeen. For more information email alan@comagi.co.uk. 14.1.06

Jonathan Allen's fictitious gospel magician Tommy Angel returns, after featuring last year in the international contemporary art exhibition 'Variety' at the De La Warr Pavilion. In a solo exhibition at David Risley Gallery, 45 Vyner Street, London E2 9DQ Telephone 0208 980 2202, Allen presents the latest in an ongoing series of life-sized black and white photographs of the brutal and narcissistic evangelist conjuror. The completed series, along with a site-specific performance event, will form Allen's contribution to the first Singapore Contemporary Art Biennale in September. He brings his fictional photographic alter-ego to life once again when Tommy Angel performs to audiences at Tate Britain for Keep the Faith on February 3rd (free event). More information: www.davidrisleygallery.com www.tommyangel.net www.jonathanallen.info www.singaporebiennale.org www.tate.org.uk. 14.1.06

Martin Sanderson lectures at the DownTown Magic Club on Monday 13th February. Doors open at 7.30pm, lecture starts at 8pm. "Visitors from other clubs always made welcome and on production of membership card enjoy reduced admission." For more details contact Miki Travis 01233 620120 email mikitravis@ntlworld.com Venue: DownTown Magic Club, Park Street, Ashford, Kent www.downtownmagicclub.co.uk www.sanderson-magic.com. 14.1.06

Magicseen number 6 (January 2006) is out now and is full of interesting articles: "The cover star is Luke Jermay whose career is currently on a meteoric rise and we sent Graham Hey down to meet him to find out what makes this young man tick. We also have top interviews with Wayne Dobson, Henry Evans and Steve Best and we find out what David Penn has been doing out in Asia - we have the photos! All this plus a look at that classic of magic The Linking Rings with some wise words from top 'ringer' Roy Davenport, the Fighting Talk column pulls no punches when it comes to discussing fees, the Review section is chock full of comment on the magic that's out there for you to buy and the Masterclass section contains some neat effects for you to learn. This issue marks the end of Magicseen's first year and it's been a terrifically successful one! Thank you to everyone who has supported it. Now is a great time to subscribe as Issue 7 (March 2006, but out before the Blackpool Convention) will be coming with some bonus added extras, so sign up now at www.magicseen.co.uk." 14.1.06

Philip Hitchcock is receiving rave reviews once again for playing the part of Emperor in Aladdin, for a third year running. This year he is appearing in the production at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with an all-star cast. The show is full of incredible magic and illusion including a flying carpet that flies 40 feet over the audiences' heads and Philip's multi award winning bird act. The show runs until 5th February. Matinees 2.30pm, Evenings 7.15pm, Sundays at 2pm and 6pm. Box Office: 01902 429212 The Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DE (Map) 14.1.06

Daniel Dean has been busy over the winter playing Dandini in the very successful production of Cinderella at the Deco Theatre, Northampton. He will be appearing all over the country in 2006 in productions shows such as "One Night in Vegas" and Sid Little's "A little bit of Music Hall" and can also be seen at the Eastbourne Hippodrome from March to November where he will be appearing for a second season. www.danieldean.biz. 14.1.06

Mark Worgan lectures at the Leicester Magic Circle on February 6th at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6ES (Map). Then on March 1st he presents his 'Simply Professional' lecture at Leamington and Warwick Magic Society, Cubbington Sports and Social Club, Windmill Hill, Cubbington, Leamington Spa. CV32 7LN (Map) And on March 2nd he's at the Mid Essex Magical Society, Cricketers Pub, Peny Royal Lane, Danbury. www.markworgan.co.uk. 14.1.06

Calling all magicians. The BBC are looking for people to use their magic to win a great cash prize! The popular quiz entertainment show Eggheads is back for a 5th series, and they're looking for a team of magicians to work their magic and try to take on a team of resident quiz giants the 'Eggheads', to win a massive cash prize. The show will be transmitting at 6.30 pm on BBC2 weeknights, starting later in the year. They are searching for "a magical team with great personality and a different story to be told. If you have a team which you would like to put to us, or are willing to be cast into a team of magicians, then please get in touch now!" Telephone Bethan Mackenzie on 020 7432 2486 or email bethan.mackenzie@12yard.com. 14.1.06

BBC2 has commissioned a series that will look at the history of light entertainment, right from the early days of music hall. It will include a whole section on TV magic, no doubt including more than a passing reference to its first household name star, the late David Nixon. Each 90-minute programme will examine a different aspect of entertainment and will include interviews and archive clips. 14.1.06

Confessions of a Celebrity Psychic: How to Become Rich and Famous as a Fraudulent Psychic Entertainer and Consultant by Jonathan Royle is now available as either a 220 page paperback, or as an ebook, from www.diggorypress.com (see 'Psychic'). Royle says "This Book not only teaches you real world cold reading, but also covers Mind Control Stunts, Hypnotising Animals and contains a complete Mentalism Show as well as many ways to gain massive media publicity. If you've read 'The Shiels Effect' then you need to read this." See www.diggorypress.com for more information. 14.1.06

Alex Elmsley's funeral will be held on Thursday 19th January at 1.40pm at Putney Vale Cemetery, located just off the A3 at Roehampton Vale, London (Map). There will be a reception afterwards at Pembroke Lodge and all friends are invited. Alex actually died of cancer and not from a heart attack as reported last week. 14.1.06

The Magic Circle Centennial Christmas Show is reviewed by John Derris this week, Click Here • If you're looking for the shock factor then don't miss Circus of Horrors at the Hackney Empire on 25th January www.hackneyempire.co.uk • Cirque du Soleil have returned to the Royal Albert Hall with Alegria, which runs until 12th February 2006 • "Sex, bombs and magic" Click Here • "David Copperfield: He's so... illusionalic" Click Here • "Magicians from Charleston are disappearing" Click Here • That's it! See you next week, Duncan. 14.1.06

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