Number 401 - 1st March 2008

 

Derren Brown - back in the West End - 32 performances - strictly limited season. Be prepared for a theatrical experience unlike any other as master of psychological illusion Derren Brown returns to the West End with a new show, ‘Derren Brown Mind Reader: An Evening of Wonders’, at the Garrick Theatre from May 2nd - June 7th. This is a strictly limited season of 32 performances - and tickets went on sale yesterday. Having played to sell-out audiences at over 80 theatres nationwide, ‘An Evening of Wonders’ once again demonstrates why Derren is one of the country’s most revered live performers. "For this show I wanted to return to more traditional roots of magic entertainment, and in particular the mind-readers of the 1930s," Says Derren. "But like my other live shows, it’s full of surprises, and hopefully both entertaining and thought-provoking - and of course they’ll be plenty of audience participation." On stage as well as on TV Derren Brown is in a class of his own, exhilarating audiences with his unique brand of intelligent and theatrical entertainment. His ‘Mind Control’ and ’Trick of the Mind’ TV programmes have garnered rave reviews as well as numerous awards. His television specials have provoked much debate and further consolidated his reputation as a performer prepared to constantly challenge and break boundaries. As a live performer his shows have played to sell-out audiences across the UK and in 2006, ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ won the Olivier Award in the Best Entertainment category. He has also received much praise for his book, ‘Tricks of the Mind’, which has remained in the best-selling charts since December 2006. Derren Brown Mind Reader: An Evening of Wonders is directed by Andy Nyman. An Evening of Wonders, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HH. Box office: 0844 412 4662. Tickets: www.nimaxtheatres.com Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk "Sell-out double for Derren Brown" Click Here. 1.3.08

 

The Blackpool Magicians' Club once again proved that when it comes to staging a mammoth annual convention no organisation in the world comes close. 3,500 magicians and magic fans from all over the world descended on Blackpool for three days of magic, that could have run for a week. Convention Organiser Derek Lever and his entire team should now take a long well-earned rest! This year the focus was on close-up magic and included star lectures from names such as David Stone and Shoot Ogawa, together with the European Magical Close-Up Championships (pictured: newly crowned winner, Olmac). The evening shows featured stand out performances (for me) from Graham Jolley, John Archer, Rafael, Mahka Tendo, Antje Pode and Shimada. An Audience with Geoffrey Durham and Wayne Dobson was another highlight. Magic writer Peter Eldin reports on the convention this week, Click Here whilst Matt Parro, Stuart Harley and Geoff Hunt's Blackpool Blog offers readers an different take, by scoring just about anything and everything that moved marks out of ten! See if you agree or disagree with their verdicts by visiting: www.mattparro.blogspot.com. And also visit Andrew Webb's Blog www.naquada.co.uk for his take on the convention. Congratulations to Children's Entertainer World Championship winners: 1st Kimmo, 2nd Dave Allen and 3rd Andy Clockwise. (Photo by Alan Jones). 1.3.08

 

"Hopkins unveils tribute to comic hero" Click Here (includes Sir Anthony Hopkins video link). "The Cooper magic comes to Caerphilly" Click Here. "Tommy Cooper statue is unveiled" Click Here. "Fez-tival atmosphere at unveiling" Click Here. "Tommy Cooper statue unveiled - just like that" Click Here. 1.3.08

 

Weekend Cold Reading Seminar - this Summer. Ian Rowland in conjunction with Darius Ziatabari is thinking of setting up a Cold Reading Seminar weekend, to take place at some point over the Summer. Knowing Ian, this will be an excellent event. Visit www.ianrowland.com for full details and to express an interest in attending. 1.3.08

 

Bongo in Berkshire! Feed The Children Variety Performance 2008. Ali Bongo comperes the 'Feed The Children Variety Performance 2008' at the Bearwood College Theatre, Sindlesham, Wokingham RG41 5BG (Map) at 7pm on Saturday 8th March. Starring: Hans Davis (Shadow master from Belgium), Duncan Trillo, Mark Shortland, Jonathan Shotton, Brian Miller and Audrey, Performers Dance Company (Principal Brian Rogers), and Nicola Bentley, with close-up magic from David Ball, Michael Carr, Rob Page and Kerry Scorah. Tickets: Adults £15, Under 16s £10, Family ticket of 4 £45, Group (10 adults) £140, Group (10 children) £90. To purchase tickets telephone: 0118 932 0095 or email info@feedthechildren.org.uk or visit the website: www.feedthechildren.org.uk. All proceeds to 'Feed The Children' projects. 1.3.08

 

Magicseen issue 19 - out now! Mark Leveridge emails: "Magicseen Issue 19 (Mar. 08) is out and bursting with early Spring goodies! Geoffrey Durham's new book has hit the marketplace and we celebrate by having him on cover and by allowing our ace reporter Jay Fortune to interview the great man. In case you thought that Deputy Editor Graham Hey was given the time off, let me assure you that he was busy too chatting to top corporate magician David Penn and Singapore's first lady of magic Ning. Snuggled alongside these luminaries we have a start up guide to putting your own magic video on the web, a feature on Bizarre Magic, we have the latest in our international series with The Magic Of South Africa, and a sneak preview of the new Ken Brooke book from Steve Cook. All this plus the usual round up of top product and event reviews, news and letters all served up in our trademark bright, shiny full colour format. Available by subscription or instant download from www.magicseen.co.uk. 1.3.08

 

Magi - The Only Assistant You’ll Ever Need is reviewed by Matthew Duggan this week. "Designed by Mark Tait of MAT Systems Ltd., Magi manages enquiries and bookings through one program. What’s more, some very clever programming allows you to use it to send out mail shots (both electronic and paper versions), create Outlook Calendar entries in just one click and even keep track of what material you performed at all your previous engagements so as not to repeat it if you get re-booked. Whereas normally it might take a lot of skipping between Word, Outlook and a file full of letter templates, Magi integrates all of these together seamlessly, thus reducing the process of issuing invoices or sending out confirmations to just a few straightforward clicks." To read the full review Click Here. 1.3.08

 

Five of Hearts Magic are offering Free Postage throughout March, together with a 15% discount on all items in their 'Victorian Collection'. Visit www.fiveofheartsmagic.co.uk today! 1.3.08

 

Ian Keable: Conjuring Up Comedy. Ian's one-man show can be seen on Friday, 7th March, at the Studio Theatre, Regis Centre, Belmont Street, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 1BL, Box Office: 01243 861 010 www.alexandratheatre.co.uk and on Saturday, 8th March, at the Abbey Theatre Studio, Westminster Lodge, St Albans, Herts AL1 2DL, Box Office: 01727 857 861 www.abbeytheatre.org.uk. "The quality and humour contained in his magic alone is enough to keep everybody captivated. Simply mind-boggling."  Islington Gazette. See What's On for all tour dates. 1.3.08

 

DTrik presents Second Chance. Here's a really strong card trick that seems to be quite impossible. A spectator thinks of any playing card and removes it from a deck of cards and hides it in their pocket. You then take out another deck and claim that you're about to choose the very same card. You remove a card and the spectator removes their card from their pocket, but all is not well - you got it wrong! Asking for a second chance you simply turn over your card to reveal the spectator's thought of card written in black ink (Sharpie) on the back! You'll love this - it is very clean, totally impossible and 100% self working. Regular Decks. No memory. Instant reset. It's great! In booklet form (including two bonus effects) direct from Wayne Dobson. Visit www.waynedobson.co.uk for details and to order. 1.3.08

 

Bradford Magic Circle celebrate their 60th Anniversary this year and the Bradford Industrial Museum will be showing an exhibition entitled ‘Magic Bradford’ from March 1st - 13th. As well as displays of historical magic and an interactive area for the children, there will be live magic performances throughout by members of the club. For details visit www.bradfordmagiccircle.co.uk. Roy Davenport lectures for the club on March 7th at the Museum. "A lecture by one of the top names in the British magical world. Roy is a fourth generation magician and a member of The Inner Magic Circle. His many awards include World Jr. Magic Champion in 1988 and 3rd place in manipulation at the World Magic Championships (FISM) in Dresden in 1997." Non members welcome, £7.00 charge. Bradford Magic Circle's Hey Presto show takes place on Saturday 8th March at 7.30pm, details on their website. 1.3.08

 

International News - 8th Congresso Magico di St. Vincent, Italy. The Circolo Amici della Magia of Turin will hold its eighth "Congresso Magico di St. Vincent" between may 15th - 18th, after a 15 years gap, in the mountains of Northern Italy. Marco Pusterla emails: "This year Arturo Brachetti will be the stage manager and the line-up is already impressive. From the UK David Berglas and Michael Vincent will be lecturing and performing. From the rest of the world will come Kevin James, David Costi, Lennart Green, Pit Hartling and Dan Garrett. The line-up is not yet complete, though. The convention promises to be a wild one, with competitions (total prize money 7,000 euros), close-up and stage shows, international magic dealers, free overnight beer (!) and many, many other activities." For further information visit www.congressomagicodisaintvincent.com (for a PDF in English click 'EN' - top right). 1.3.08

 

Simon Standen of Burning Card Magic is in the process of adding demo videos of all of the products on his website www.burningcardmagic.co.uk, but thought wouldn't it be better if the videos came from people who own the actual tricks themselves, performing them to a real people! Simon asks if readers could contact him and either send him video clips, or links to video clips, featuring items from his shop. info@burningcardmagic.co.uk. 1.3.08

 

Magician/Illusionist wanted! The Twins are looking a magician/illusionist for a brand new show that they are producing. The magician/illusionist will take the lead in a full production show will be required to perform both magic and illusions and have a good knowledge of both. All effects and illusions will be supplied. Interested performers should send their CV and a photo to Joanna: info@theillusionists.com (no showreels at this stage). 1.3.08

 

Balnagown - a new effect from Black Artefacts. "This is another of Black Artefacts effects that is based on a real historical case - the Balnagown Witch Trials in Edinburgh in 1589. The props supplied include a genuine hand forged nail and a replica 'death warrant' issued by the Royal Court of Judiciary in Edinburgh in 1589. Your guest is given the nail, which came from the coffin of an executed witch, to hold whilst they choose a name from a list that you show them. Having chosen the name they see that it is the name of the very witch who is named in the death warrant! Simple to do so that you can concentrate on the presentation, with a free choice by the volunteer. Everything can be examined afterwards. Great props and a great script and presentation by The Black Hart." Full details can be seen on the Black Artefacts website. www.blackhart.co.uk. 1.3.08

 

Hypnotist David Bolton, was seen last weekend hypnotising two families on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. This is the second time that David has appeared on the show. In one section featuring a series of questions and answers, under hypnosis, competitors had to reveal close friends' previously hidden thoughts. In another viewers saw couple's relatives 'glued' to a chair and more. David, 40, who runs a Hypnotherapy Centre in Sheffield has been using hypnosis for over 20 years to both help and entertain people. He has hit the headlines on numerous occasions, most famously, for driving a new Lexus blind-folded in a publicity stunt. www.hypnomagic.co.uk. 1.3.08

 

Congratulations to Steve Price for winning the Peter McCahon Award for Comedy at last week’s Fellowship of Christian Magicians conference. The award is given for outstanding comedy, and anyone who performs during the week-long conference is eligible. Steve compered the Stage Competition (after winning it last year) and performed in between each act. Steve also co-presented a lecture on “How to…” including advice on “How to get applause”, “How to be professional”, “How to handle volunteers” and “How to handle hecklers”. He also held a couple of workshops on Professor’s Nightmare and Sponge Balls. Steve regularly performs all around the UK. For more information visit www.stevepriceillusions.co.uk or www.fcmuk.org. 1.3.08

 

Manipulation Cards. "When I first saw these cards being used (across a table in an Indian restaurant, as it happens), I was completely fooled because the colour is so good you just can't see them [the backs]; then when I tried them myself, I was completely fooled again, as they're so thin I couldn't believe how many cards I was producing! I've always meant to do a stage act, but have never got around to it. When I do, I'll definitely be getting some more of these cards." Guy Hollingworth. The finest back-palming deck in the world. Three decks for £20.00 ($40.00) - post free, worldwide! Visit www.manipulationcards.com for more details and to order. 1.3.08

 

Mike Stokes of Playtime Balloons will be having major heart surgery on 14th March. Customers wanting to make contact should do so via email. Next day deliveries may not be possible. Further updates will appear on their website www.playtimeballoons.com. 1.3.08

 

Craig Mattocks win. Don George emails: "The Manchester Circle of Magicians, Junior section, would very much like to congratulate Craig Mattocks on his fantastic achievement of not only winning the close up section of the World Junior Championship in Blackpool but also walking away with the overall Grand pre title as well. It was a very mature and polished performance and must lead to a great future. There were also great performances to a high standard by Douglas Tilts and Jake Barlow, two names for the future. Also congratulations to two other members of the Manchester club, Darren McDonald who won the comedy award and Stephen Williams who won the general magic section. The standard by all the competitors was very high and promises a great future for our art." "Craig's act is just magic" Click Here. 1.3.08

 

The 2008 Kent Magicians Guild, Vienna Tone, Close-up Competition was won by Simon Darnley. Nine contestants gave strong performances with unusual and entertaining magic and Mike Jarman won the Virgin Close-up award (awarded to the best first-time competitor). www.kentmagiciansguild.co.uk. 1.3.08

 

Andy Nyman - Death at a Funeral. If you missed Andy Nyman's latest movie at the cinema, it has just been released on DVD. 'Death at a Funeral' is a hilarious comedy that has been a smash around the world: "Worth seeing the movie for Andy Nyman's performance alone" BBC Radio 2. To order from Amazon.co.uk Click Here • "Abracadabra! Moonlighting magician's job vanishes" Click Here • "What I do is not magic..." Click Here • "Leytonstone: Star circus performer injured " Click Here • "Barry & Stuart Turning tricks" Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - see you next week, Duncan. 1.3.08

 

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