Number 304 - 22nd April 2006
Gary
Young's 10th Top Secret Magic Day. This year's line-up has just been
announced. The Gala Show stars Terry Seabrooke, Vizage, Alec Powell, Russ
Stevens, Duncan Trillo, John Lenahan and Marc Oberon. There are four major
lectures throughout the day from Russ Stevens, Marc Oberon, Martin
Sanderson and John Lenahan. Pre Gala Show close-up magic from Ed Stivala.
Magic dealers: Practical Magic, The Magic Zone, Sanderson Magic, RSVP
Magic, Albion Magic, Alakazam, Bradford Magic Studio, Zanes Magic Shop
(and more to be announced). The venue is The Bedford Corn Exchange, St
Pauls Square, Bedford MK40 1SL (Map)
right in the centre of the market town of Bedford and just outside Milton
Keynes. Gary tells us that the venue and facilities are superb; a perfect
theatre, a nice suite for the dealers and plenty of places to sit, relax
and chat. Plus a magic café and bar. Reserved seating for the whole day
costs just £25.00 (or £28.00 on the day, if still available, the advice is
to book early). Visit
www.topsecretmagicday.co.uk for more information and to book. (See you
there!). 22.4.06
Geoffrey Durham
No Hat, No Rabbit. The last of Geoffrey Durham's theatre
shows for the foreseeable future can be seen this Wednesday evening (April 26th)
at the
Harrogate Theatre.
"Durham is in a class of his
own; the tricks are genuinely baffling and the enthusiasm infectious"
Time Out. "He delighted and mesmerised an audience with magic that can
only be described as impossible." The Guardian. Last chance - don't miss it! Box office: 01423 502116.
www.geoffreydurham.com. 22.4.06
Pure Magic Bar. Manchester is all set to have
its very own magic bar, Pure Magic Bar, which will open in June
2006. Run by magicians who perform magic behind the bar whilst serving
drinks, customers will be able to enjoy the magic and will also have the
opportunity to learn simple bar tricks themselves - the whole bar offering
an "all magic" experience. Equally exciting is the fact that the bar is
looking to hire magicians. The man behind the venture is Mark Bennett, a
semi-professional close-up magician for nearly 15 years. The UK is crying
out for venues such as this, and we wish them every success. Contact Mark Bennett
for more information by phone 07974 005280 or email
markb@puremagicbar.co.uk or
write to: Mark Bennett, Pure Magic Bar, The Printworks, Manchester M4
2BS (Map).
To see some enlarged images of the bar
Click Here. 22.4.06
Liverpool
Magic Circle Dinner Cabaret Charity Night. Starring Paul Daniels, Ray
Alan & Lord Charles and Asa Murphy. Plus music from Sounds Central.
Adelphi Hotel, Ranelagh Place, Liverpool, Saturday 17th June 7pm. For
details contact Richie Smith 0151 548 6899. Liverpool Magic Circle are
raising money for the
Variety Club of
Great Britain
www.liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk. 22.4.06
Magician
to appear at York Racecourse Festival. York Racecourse have announced
that a magician will be appearing at their major May Race Festival as part
of the forthcoming York Magic Festival. John Danbury, a member of The
Magic Circle, is one of the most sought after magicians in the UK and will
performing on all three days of the race meeting which takes place from
Wednesday 17th May to Friday 19th May. John, who has been resident
magician at The London Hilton and on The Orient Express, will be
mystifying race crowds as part of the Daily Trend tips. Taking place from
the 17th to 21st May, the York Magic Festival will celebrate one of the
world's oldest performance arts with venues across the city getting
involved. James Brennan said "'May at York' is one of the best racing
Festivals of the year so I am delighted that we can join forces with the
Magic Festival to further entertain the crowd."
www.yorkracecourse.co.uk
www.yorkmagicfestival.com
www.johndanbury.com. 22.4.06
TVMagic.co.uk
are pleased to announce that they are the exclusive worldwide source for
the highly anticipated new trick and accompanying DVD from TV's Pete
Firman and Anthony Owen - Holey Sh*t! Available from the 'Magicians Only'
password protected area of their website this trick has already received
excellent reviews from Jeff McBride, David Acer, David Britland, Andy
Nyman, Marc Paul, Paul Wilson and more. "I've been doing Holy P.O.D. since
I first read it in Richard's Almanac. It's one of the hidden gems of card
magic and it's a real shame that everyone is about to know about it again
thanks to Holey Sh*t! Not only is this an excellent version of this
effect, but it completely fooled me the first time I saw it. And the
second. And the third. Don't buy it - I want it for myself." Paul
Wilson. See the Quicktime demonstration of Holey Sh*t! on
www.tvmagic.co.uk
(Magicians Only section) today! 22.4.06
International
Magic have just released the Roberto Giobbi lecture, recorded at
their convention last November, on DVD. "This 85 minute lecture of quality card
magic with excellent explanations is exactly what you'd expect from this
master magician."
Click Here. 22.4.06
British
expat Derek the Balloon Man was featured in Pattaya Mail in an article
that focused on his fund-raising activities. "When you are the son of a
soap-maker, with a mother who made submachine guns, you probably have
enough reason to end up in Pattaya, calling yourself Derek the Balloon
Man. However, Derek is a genuine person, with great compassion for
underprivileged children. He has done many things, including being a
lighting ‘spot boy’ for the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Perhaps Derek
has not reached that exalted level as a public entertainer himself, but I
haven’t seen either of those two famous groups spending time making
children laugh, as Derek has at the Pattaya Orphanage. Derek works a
different stage, and perhaps at a more direct level." To read the full
story
Click Here. 22.4.06
The
Great Kovari is lecturing at the Joker Magic Day in Hungary today,
April 22nd, and will be presenting his latest creation "The Hungarian
Chinese Sticks"
www.jokermagic.com. 22.4.06
Andrew
Normansell will be lecturing at the Preston Magic Circle on Tuesday
25th April at 8pm. The lecture features material from his recently
released 3 DVD set
100% Commercial - Andrew Normansell (www.alakazam.co.uk)
and includes stand up magic, mentalism
and close-up material taken from his professional repertoire. The
evening takes place at the Trades Hall, Station Road, Bamber Bridge,
Preston. For more information call 01254 208449. 22.4.06
Mike
Danata's Magic Studio for a limited time only are offering Yigal Mesika's
Electric Touch for just £120 post free. It's currently advertised
on their website
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk at £140.00 - call Mike for details on
01202 391666 to order at the special price. 22.4.06
International
News: Adam Steinfeld's latest illusion, The Beach, based on his
own original idea has now been in this long-running show for just over a
month. "It's been two years in development" said Steinfeld "but I think we
really pulled it off this time." Based on an original idea by Steinfeld,
designed by Mark Parker
and fabricated by
Bill Smith, it mixes girls in bikinis in a beach setting... For more
information visit:
www.magiconthebeach.blogspot.com. 22.4.06
Salvano.
September 17th 1929 - April 11th 2006. Salvano lived and breathed
magic. The last time I saw him was the morning following a mini convention
organised by Derek Lever and held in Blackpool in November 2004. We had
both been on the bill, together with Pat Page, and when I came down to
breakfast there he was, with Pat, "hard talking" magic at 7.30am (moves,
routines, reminiscences... the whole lot!). Salvano's act was always very
popular at UK magic conventions and was loved by many magicians. Silent
and very traditional, it was jam-packed with great magic moves,
productions and vanishes. His lecture (various lectures actually) was
always excellent, featuring clever original magic that often (always!)
caught magicians out; a fact which I'm sure secretly delighted him. He will be
really missed. DT. 22.4.06
Bathtime with the Masters by Mandy Davis covers Jeff McBride's and Eugene Burger's recent trip to the West Country, Click Here • Ian Rowland's recent lecture at Blackpool Magicians' Club is reviewed by David Lancaster this week, Click Here • "Williams 'crucified' by church leaders!" Click Here • "Young Magician Wins Outstanding Business Card Marketeer Award for 2006" Click Here • "Blaine to be drowned alive in new stunt" Click Here • "Paul O'Grady to host 'Opportunity Knocks'" Click Here • That's it for this week, your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 22.4.06