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