Number 394 - 12th January 2008
Showzam,
Blackpool - Probably the World's Greatest Magic Show. Jeff McBride,
Greg Frewin, Victor Voitko, Junge Junge, Sabrina Fackelli & Gennady Kil,
Keylan Leyser & Charlotte Marie, John Archer, The Great Nardini & Company,
and Noel Britten star in "Probably the World's Greatest Magic Show" which
is being exclusively produced for Showzam, Blackpool's new annual
festival of Circus, Magic and New Variety. The show is produced in
partnership with the M&M Agency, organisers of the Blackpool Convention.
Friday 8th February at 7.30pm, Saturday 9th at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and
Sunday 10th at 7.30pm. Venue: Opera House, Winter Gardens, 97 Church
Street, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 1HL. Tickets: £15.00 (£10.00
concessions) from
www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0844 856 1111. Visit
www.showzam.co.uk
for more information.
12.1.08
Showzam,
Blackpool - Magical Mela at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Saturday
16th February from 12 noon. Shahid Malik headlines a unique new event as
part of Showzam, Blackpool's new annual festival of Circus, Magic
and New Variety. Shahid will escape from a straight jacket whilst
suspended upside-down from a crane on a burning rope! In the afternoon
from 1pm there's close-up magic in the Horseshoe Showbar from Darius,
Barat Patel, Peter Mehtab and Rajan followed by a stage show at 3pm hosted
by Ali Bongo. Free entrance. The World Junior Magicians Championships takes
place at 7pm on Tuesday 19th February. See some of the world's most
talented young magicians as they battle it out in 6 different categories.
Tickets £10.00 adults, £5.00 children/concessions. For full details of all
events visit:
www.showzam.co.uk. "The Magical Mela"
Click Here. Showzam - Stunt Town. Escapologist Danny Hunt plans
not one, but three death-defying street stunts. Locked inside a wooden case,
Danny will be torn apart by two powerful vehicles unless he escapes within
just three nail-biting minutes. A claustrophobic flight case escape will
push Danny’s contortionist skills to the limit and a three minute clock
will tick down as the escapologist tries to free his head from a Perspex
tank of water, with his hands in chains! At 10am on Thursday January 29th
outside the Sea Life Centre, Blackpool.
www.showzam.co.uk.
For details of various workshops running from February 9th - 15th see
What's On.
12.1.08
Magic
Moments Day 2008, the National Day of Magic, is fast-approaching! On
Saturday 2nd February magicians are staging events to raise money for
charitable causes. As part of Magic Moments 08, Richard Leigh will present
a whole day of magic at The Arthur Cotterell Theatre in
Kingston-upon-Thames, which is the home of his chosen charity ‘Momentum’.
2pm: Mr Tiz goes to the Circus, (children's show 4+) Tickets £10.00
(Adults) £7.00 (children). 4pm & 6pm: The Magic Cavern (Family show 6+) If
you haven't seen this production yet, take this opportunity to see this
show. It's a great themed magic show with close-up and stage magic. Tickets
£10.00 (Adults) £7.00 (children). 8.45pm: Momentum Magic Gala Show (Adults
only) An evening of magic, illusion, comedy and variety. Featuring
original magic acts, comedy novelty acts, singers and juggling! Tickets
are £25 each. Full details and booking information:
www.magicmoments08.com. More events will be announced shortly. If
you'd like to take part visit
www.magicmoments08.com.
12.1.08
South
Downs Magicians. A half-page feature article on the South Downs
Magicians was published in the January 4th edition of the West Sussex
County Times newspaper. The story, under the headline "Local magicians
conjure up interest in club", was a follow-up to a short news item
published in the paper last year to coincide with the club's 25th
anniversary party. The feature focused on Tony Hoare from Horsham who was
one of the founders of the South Downs Magicians and who still performs as
"Tony the Magician" and included three photographs of Tony - with four
aces in hand, performing cups and balls and sawing his wife Rita in half.
www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk.
12.1.08
IllusionCraft had a number of their products featured on the recent Keith
Barry: the Escape Live TV show (see the new 'Videos' section on their
website:
www.illusioncraft.co.uk) and IllusionCraft's Adam Topham tells us that
he'll be releasing 'Flash Money' at the Blackpool convention next month.
"magicians all over the world are emailing us, telling me it is their best
effect and that it is getting phenomenal reactions!". Visit the
IllusionCraft stand at the convention.
www.illusioncraft.co.uk.
12.1.08
Wayne
Dobson lectures at the Medway Magical Society on April 22nd at 8pm.
Visiting magicians welcome, entrance: £10.00
www.medwaymagicalsociety.org.uk.
12.1.08
UK
Magician Andrew Green is currently expanding his 'Inspired Events'
company portfolio of artistes and attractions, for what is already looking
to be a very busy 2008. Any magicians interested in being included should
send their details and publicity material to Inspired Events Ltd, PO Box
1170, Preston, Lancashire PR2 0GE.
www.inspiredeventsuk.com.
12.1.08
Twins
wizard Christmas! The Twins had no time to rest over Christmas having
taken part in a Spanish Christmas Television show featuring their
Helicopter production together with magical consultant work on over 20
pantomimes and musicals. Shows that The Twins have been involved with this
year include Irving Berlin's White Christmas in Edinburgh and Cardiff
which runs until 14th January, Santa Claus - The Musical in Birmingham,
and The Wizard of OZ in Southampton which runs until 19th January, as well
as Pantomimes in Bradford, Exeter, Frome and Northampton! “The audience
went away wondering how the Witch melted. Superb!” The Stage.
www.thetwins.co.uk.
12.1.08
Laughter
& Magic Lounge! Starring the visual comedy magic of Diamond Dave, the
mind reading magic of JP Quirky, compere Dave Twentyman and comedian Tim
Ewins. Plus close-up magic. Friday 1st February at 7pm at the Jaguar
Sports and Social Club, 97 Chorley Way, Radford, Coventry CV6 3LL (Map).
Tickets £5 (with champagne reception). Box Office: 07805 114658 (complete
this magic name when booking "Harry H------" to be entered into a VIP
Competition prize for four).
www.myspace.com/laughterloungelive.
12.1.08
George McBride
The Classics. BigBlindMedia's latest DVD George McBride The
Classics is featured under
Magic DVDs
this week.
12.1.08
Two
for the price of one! Mark Worgan is seen here with Bargain Hunt's
David Barby. Mark was on a cruise at the end of 2007 performing his comedy
cabaret and new sit-down close-up magic show and David Barby was lecturing
on the same ship.
www.markworgan.co.uk.
12.1.08
Ben
Earl lecture in Kent. Hot on the heels of his best-selling "Past
Midnight" DVD set, Ben Earl can be seen performing in person when he
lectures for The Downtown Magic Club, in Ashford, Kent at 8pm on Monday
21st January. The lecture will feature Ben's original blend of commercial,
gambling and psychological card magic. Members £5.00, visiting magicians
£10.00. Doors open at 7.30pm. Email Chris Harding
chris@housefield.freeserve.co.uk for details or visit
www.downtownmagicclub.co.uk for more information.
12.1.08
Alex
Lodge's ‘Tricks of the Trade’ lecture is now taking bookings. "I can
promise and action packed lecture with something for everyone at every
level. I also sell lecture notes afterwards with text and pictures making
them easy to follow." Telephone 01256 326839 or visit
www.alexlodge.com.
12.1.08
Paul Gordon
is giving a number of lectures over the next three months, see
What's On for details
or visit
www.paulgordon.net/lectures.htm.
12.1.08
Electric
Empire presents ‘Magic Night: Mind Magic’ at Soho Revue Bar on Friday
8th February. Magic Night returns on 8th February 2008 with, ‘Mind Magic’.
"It's a more than magical night with a distinct 'Extra Sensory Perceptive’
twist. From the close-up magicians to the stage magicians, we will be
bending your brain, reading your mind and predicting your movements. With
incredible magic acts and the best cutting edge comedy in town, Magic
Night at the Soho Revue Bar continues to be one of the best contemporary
cabaret nights on the circuit." Doors open 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Tickets
£10 (concessions £7) from
www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call Ticket Web on 08700 600 100. Soho Revue Bar, 11 Walkers Court,
Soho, W1
www.sohorevuebar.com.
12.1.08
Congratulations
to James Piper, winner of the Cardiff Magical Society's Close-up
Competition last week. This was James's second time in the competition,
and the second time he's been awarded first place! The standard was very
high with Arnold Paul coming second.
www.pipermagic.co.uk.
12.1.08
Looking
for a lecturer for your magic club? Visit the MagicWeek
Lecturers page. Nic
Picot's lecture (photo) concentrates on close-up magic and also covers
publicity, choosing the right tricks, handling volunteers, approaching
your audience, and the “business” of show business.
12.1.08
The
Order of The Magic are holding a Jumbo Auction on Tuesday 22nd January
at The Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Manchester M8 8UF (Map)
commencing at 7.30pm prompt, with viewing from 6.30pm. Many lots have
already been submitted - contact Ian Ball MMC Entertainments Officer on
01457 835990 or email
ents@orderofthemagi.org.uk Full details:
www.orderofthemagi.org.uk Door charge £3.00.
12.1.08
Stop press note for members of The Magic Circle: Shawn Farquhar lectures at The Magic Circle this Monday, January 14th, in a change to the published event. Members only. 12.1.08
"Whatever
happened to The Amazing Kreskin?"
Click Here • "Hypnotist emphasizes the power of the mind. James Wood
grad travels the world as cruise-ship entertainer"
Click Here • "John Lenahan: Up Close"
Click Here • "Foretold the front page! Terence tells all"
Click Here • "What has sawing a lady in half to do with
global warming?"
Click Here • Ian Keable: Conjuring Up Comedy can be seen in Goole,
Yorkshire, on Saturday 19th January. See
What's On for details •
Good news: French charmer Etienne Pradier has been reinstated as a Member
of The Inner Magic Circle (with Gold Star)
www.frenchmagician.co.uk • That's it for another week. Your UK magic
news is always welcome - see you next week, Duncan.12.1.08