Number 352 - 24th March 2007
In
July the US Sci Fi Channel will present a six-episode series of Derren
Brown's work (yet to be titled) that will introduce Derren's blend of
suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship to an American
audience for the very first time. "Derren Brown doesn't believe in ghosts,
but he can make you believe in them" was how the show was being promoted
to an American press. The series is being produced by Andrew O’Conner and
Michael Vine for Objective Productions. (The live show Something Wicked
This Way Comes could be plonked down in the middle of Las Vegas
tomorrow morning and would, I think, be an instant hit.)
24.3.07
Celebrity
Wife Swap! Wife Swap is back, and
this time it's personal. Debbie McGee, wife of magician and
entertainer-extraordinaire Paul Daniels, swaps places with outspoken radio
presenter Vanessa Feltz. Debbie spends two weeks in Vanessa's London home
living with her musician fiancé Ben Offoedu, while Vanessa moves in with
world famous TV magician Paul Daniels. Week two sees both Debbie and
Vanessa stamping their marks on the others household with their own set of
rules and with the new regime comes some surprising and insightful moments
as both couples struggle to adapt. Sunday 1st April on Channel 4, followed
by "The Aftermath" the day after. See
TV Magic.
24.3.07
Pete
Firman's new one-man show Hokum plays The Hen and Chickens
Theatre, 109 St Paul's Road, London N1 2NA (Map)
on 29th and 30th March at 7.30pm. Forget everything you think you know
about magic, its Hokum. Clearly no bog-standard magician (another
MagicWeek joke goes down the pan), Pete was the
stand-out performer in Channel 4's critically acclaimed late night magic
show, 'Dirty Tricks' - who will ever forget his mouse in a mincer routine!
The nearest tube is Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line), tickets are £7
and can be booked by calling 020 7704 2001.
www.petefirman.co.uk
www.myspace.com/petefirman.
24.3.07
The Real Hustle returns to BBC3 on Sunday 25th March
with a brand new series. Alex Conran,
Jessica-Jane Clement and R Paul Wilson show how to sell someone a box of
paper for two hundred pounds, how checking in to a hotel can clear out
your bank account, demonstrate a gravity-defying bar bet, show how to walk
legitimately out of the front doors of a store with stolen goods, and
finally how to steal the possessions of 15 men from right under their
noses! Show 2 can be seen on Tuesday and show 3 on Thursday, with repeats
throughout the week. See TV
Magic for details.
24.3.07
The
Leeds Day of Magic. The Leeds Magical Association are holding a Day of
Magic on Sunday 6th May (doors open 9am) at The Queens Arms, 201 Harrogate
Road, Leeds LS7 3PT (Map).
10:30am The Andrew Normansell Lecture "A top class professional corporate
performer with the emphasis on entertainment" 11:45am The Milk Churn
Escape performed by Paul Cheeseborough of Phoenix Illusion "The escape
that almost cost Houdini his life!" 1:15pm The Yorkshire Pride Close-up
Competition "Competing for £100 prize money and a superb trophy" 3:30pm
Harry Nicholls Cups & Balls Workshop "An acknowledged master of this
classic effect will demonstrate the finer points". With magic dealers
Keith Bennett, Kaymar Magic, Balloon Parade and Andrew Normansell. Meals
and snacks available. Admission £10 (under 16 £5) on the door. Contacts:
Graham Roe 01943 465203
graham@roe14.wanadoo.co.uk or Mike Coyne 01937 588426
lynn&mike@bigfastweb.net
Visit
www.leedsmagic.co.uk for more information.
24.3.07
Viktor
Voitko, creator of the Flying Linking Rings, is releasing routines
from his FISM winning act for the very first time. Readers will remember
seeing this act at the Blackpool convention just over a year ago. Viktor
Voitko is now releasing a number of products including his incredible
Linking Rings, the theatrical "Magic Canvas" (for the production of your
partner) and a specialist DVD "Light for Invisible Thread" which covers
working with threads on stage. "Voitko’s Lady Levitation" will be released
shortly as well. Visit
www.magic-voitko.com
for details of the full range (click on the playing card and then
select the "Magic Products" card - there are a number of products hidden
away; use the scroll arrows). The site also includes video of Voitko's
performances, a photo-gallery, calendar, and much more. Original
professional magic for the stage magician - we're delighted to have Viktor
Voitko advertising on MagicWeek
www.magic-voitko.com.
24.3.07
Blackpool
Magicians' Club President's Dinner and Cabaret. President Jim O'Toole
extends an invitation to join him at the
Hotel Elizabeth North Euston, The Esplanade, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7
6BN (Map)
on Tuesday 10th April at 7pm for 7.30pm (formal wear). The cabaret stars
Illusionist Andrew Green, ventriloquist Neville King, Elaine McNeil and
Arthur Casson. Tickets are £25.00 each (cheques should be made payable to
"Blackpool Magicians' Club") from Derek Lever, 32 Pilling Lane, Presall,
Poulton-Le-Fylde Lancashire FY6 0EU email
deriko@webaplomb.com.
24.3.07
Ricky
McLeod aka "Tricky Ricky" is now taking bookings for his lecture
"Tricks of my Trade". The lecture features commercial magic routines for
the children's and family entertainer. Ricky recently lectured at the
Blackpool Magic Convention and last week lectured for both the British
Magical Society and The Wolverhampton Circle of Magicians. "Great lecture,
pure entertainment, very funny and practical routines." Ron Popple, UK
Children's Entertainer of the Year 2002. The lecture lasts for two hours.
For more information and to book contact
ricky@trickyricky.com telephone
0131 339 8500. Ricky lives in Edinburgh.
www.trickyricky.com.
24.3.07
Magician
Keith Barry said he is lucky to be alive after almost losing his leg
in a car accident it was reported in Ireland
on March 5th. The accident means
that filming for his new magic special, destined for the UK, has been put
on hold until he can walk again. Keith and his manager were cut free from
the wreckage and rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
www.keithbarry.com.
24.3.07
Unearthly
Magic have added to their "selected magic" range. With this range of
magic, new moves, handling and presentations are supplied with the props,
in addition to the original instructions: "The emphasis has been on
reasonably priced effects suitable for beginners and intermediate
performers and the latest in the range is 'Atomized', a straightforward
vanish from a transparent box (watch the video at the website), which
provides a nice exercise in simple sleight of hand and misdirection."
Visit
www.unearthlymagic.com for details.
24.3.07
Deafblind
UK help with the rehabilitation of people who are deafblind - both deaf
and blind, supporting over 4,000 deafblind people in the UK. Jonathan
Lucia-Wright, Senior support worker emails: "There is magic for deaf
people and limited magic for blind people but nothing for deafblind
people. This got me thinking, and I set myself a new challenge. So for the
last 5 years I have been attending the Blackpool convention and have been
researching magic. Next year my client has informed me that he wants to
attend the convention, but due to guides and carers he will not be able to
afford to go. So I am on the beg/scrounge for anyone who can help at all
with donations I would really like him to go it would mean so much to him
and to me." Please email Jonathan for more information
instantmash@hotmail.com or
call his work number 01733 325353. To find out more about deafblindness
visit
www.deafblind.org.uk.
24.3.07
The
Big Big Variety Show. Scott Pepper stages The Big Big Variety Show on
Saturday 7th April at the Westcliff Theatre, Clacton on Sea. The Show
features comedy juggler Nathan Zorchek, comedian Paul Ruddelhoff,
vocalists Big Ted and Tracey Rose and the BPC Dance Group. Scott will be
presenting the night and also performing illusions from his show
Rev-illusion. Tickets are £8.50 (concessions £7.50) and a family ticket (2
adults 2 children) costs £24. The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are
available now from the box office on 01255 433344. Scott is
currently appearing in The Magical World of Variety' at the Royal
Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne. The show plays every Tuesday and
Wednesday night until May, then every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from
May to October.
www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk or
www.revillusion.co.uk.
24.3.07
Close-up magician Adam Smith is staging a two-day Card Magic Marathon this weekend raising money for Multiple Sclerosis. The event will take place in The Royal Victoria Shopping Centre, Tunbridge Wells. "The charity is close to my heart as my mother has been diagnosed with MS for 22 years." If you live locally do pop along to offer your support. www.adams-magic.co.uk. 24.3.07
Martin Cox, aka 'Mr Biscuit', presents an expanded version of his "Ageing Well" lecture on children's magic, which was a hit at last year's Kidology Convention, this Tuesday, 27th March, at The Pentacle Club. All magicians welcome (£5 for non-members). 24.3.07
Overpayment Scams... Andrew Murray asked me to warn readers that the internet "overpayment" type scam typically used for second-hand goods is spilling over into the live entertainment market too. Be very wary of anyone who wants to pay you in advance, pays too much and then wants you to forward the balance somewhere! A bank will let you deposit virtually anything into an account - a fake payment make then take two or three weeks to be declared worthless and bounce back. Click Here for more. 24.3.07
The
South Shields International Magic Convention 2007 is reviewed by Dale
Shrimpton this week, Click
Here • "Houdini Poisoned? Remains to Be Exhumed"
Click Here • "Vegas Is Still the Magic Mecca by Stan Allen"
Click Here • "Cirque du Soliel, Luxor sign deal"
Click Here • Weekly Newsletter from Magic Academy, India
Click Here
• "Dynamo: Streetz Is Watching"
Click Here • Mike Danata's Magic Studio is open all day Sunday 1st
April, visit
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk for details of special deals • Paul
Gullis sent us this link... a magician in as box!
Click Here • Your UK news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 24.3.07