Number 438 - 15th November 2008
Magic
At The Rock, 20th February 2009, Hastings, East Sussex. Starring the
award winning magic of Oliver Tabor, the unique magic and mindreading
from Galithia Conexion and illusions, comedy and magic from Richie
Austin. The show is in memory of Richie's 3 year old nice, Gemma Sharpe,
who died of Neuroblastoma (a very aggressive childhood cancer) in June
2007. All money raised will go to
Georgie's Fund
who fund research into Neuroblastoma. Tickets are available from the box
office 01424 462288 (£8.50 Adults, £6 Children, £25 Family ticket) and
also from Ticketmaster. 7.30pm Friday, 20th February 2009. The White
Rock Theatre, White Rock, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1JX (Map). 15.11.08
Magic
Night - Surrey. The Surrey Society of Magicians has been engaged to
put on an Evening of Magic to raise money for The Rose Theatre in
Kingston. This is the only new theatre to open in the UK this century,
has Sir Peter Hall as its patron, and is built in Elizabethan style,
seating around 1000. Magic Night, Saturday 10th January 7pm - 10pm at
the Ross Theatre, Kingston. "What better way to start the New Year than
a fun packed, magical family evening at the Rose Theatre? 12 of the best
magicians in Surrey will be performing close-up magic in the Culture
Cafe before taking to the stage for an evening full of mystery and
surprises. Tickets are £10.00 each, call 0871 230 1552 to book. This is
a fundraising event for the Rose Theatre. 15.11.08
One
could argue that Jonathan Goodwin single-handedly reinvented the
tired and often contrived art of the escapologist with his
ground-breaking one-off television show The 7 Most Stupid Things to
Escape From that was shown three years ago. For me the show worked
on just about every level. It was genuinely funny, the escape stunts
very real, the subdued madness quite apparent, the tension palpable. The
dead-pan approach (and the involvement of Jonathan's Dad!) being the
perfect antidote to the over-hyped nonsense we often connect with more
traditional escapology presentations. It was Jackass with brains. So I
was more than happy to have been sent this just-published 2 disc audio
CD set in which Jonathan talks freely to Jay Fortune about his whole
approach to escapology, magic and performing. To read a review in this
week's MagicWeek,
Click Here (DT). 15.11.08
International
Magic Convention 2008 - Schedule of events. Friday 28th November:
7pm Doors open, 7.30pm Richard Turner The Cheat (One Man Show), 8.30pm
Richard Tuner Interview by Matt Field, 9.30pm Comedy Show with Phil
Butler, Rafael, John Lovick, David Kaplan. Saturday 29th November:
10am International Close up Competition - for the Kevin Reay Trophy, 2pm
Richard Turner Lecture, 3.30pm David Kaplan Lecture, 4.30pm Awards
Ceremony, 5pm John Lovick Lecture, 7.30pm Gala Show, 8pm Richard Kaufman
Workshop (pre-booked only). Sunday 30th November: 9am Richard
Kaufman Workshop (pre-booked only), 10am Doors open - Dealers Fare all
day to 6pm, 11am Close Up Gala, 12.45pm Peter Samelson Lecture, 2pm
Andrew Goldenhersh Lecture, 3.30pm Denis Behr Lecture, 5pm Special
Event!, 7.30pm Gala Show. For booking information visit
www.internationalmagic.com. 15.11.08
Registrations
are now being taken for the Northern Magic Circle Convention, which
takes place on April 4th and 5th 2009. Featuring Gregory Wilson (USA),
John Archer (UK), Dynamo (UK), Alana (Germany), James Brown (UK), Russ
Brown (UK) and Steve Naylor (UK). Full weekend tickets are just £50 and
single day tickets £30. There is a fabulous deal for the first 50
registrants, who will not only get the best gala show seats, but also a
specially compiled Gregory Wilson DVD absolutely free. Book online via:
www.northernmagic.co.uk. 15.11.08
The
paperback edition of Paul Kieve’s book ‘Hocus Pocus’ has just been
published and named book of the month on
Sky Kids website,
where Paul is interviewed. The book was recently published in the USA,
Italy, The Netherlands (featuring an additional introduction by Hans
Klok) and Brazil and it will shortly be published in Portugal, Israel
and Poland - making it available in over 10 languages. For more info
visit
www.hocuspocusbook.com. The hardback UK edition is now out of print
and unavailable from publishers Bloomsbury, but is still available for a
limited period from
Amazon.co.uk. 15.11.08
Can
you copyright a magic trick? By Clive Coleman. "It's the sort of
conundrum that apprentice wizard Merlin - eponymous hero of the current
BBC children's drama - needn't concern himself too much about: how do
magicians stop others from pinching their tricks? Mere mortal magicians,
however, are less fortunate and often find themselves wrestling with
this very down to earth difficulty. It's a problem that has tested Guy
Hollingworth in both his profession (intellectual rights lawyer) and his
ardent passion (Hollingworth is a highly regarded magician)." To read
the full story from the BBC (with video)
Click Here. 15.11.08
Jon
Allen (pictured with professional racing driver and stuntman Ben
Collins) performed for the UK launch of the
Mini Coyote,
the world’s first real-time speed camera alert system. Journalists
quizzed Jon on stage about the unit’s ability, before he stunned them
with his close-up magic. Fixed and mobile speed camera zones are
automatically updated daily, while users can also report cameras
themselves.
www.close-upmagician.com. 15.11.08
A
Drink With Death is a brand new effect in the Black Artefacts
Psychic Magic Range, released this week. "Designed with modern props
it has a contemporary presentation. Your guest chooses just one of six
possible futures, only to find that all predict ‘death’ within the next
24 hours - except the one they picked which predicts ‘life’! You receive
6 high quality black wooden coasters, plain on one side with an inlaid
engraved metal square on the other, with a ‘future’ engraved on it. Your
guest has a free choice at all times. The coasters are in full view
throughout the presentation and can all be examined afterwards." For
full details visit
www.blackhart.co.uk. 15.11.08
Blackpool
Magicians' Club Ltd are holding a Jumbo Magic Auction and Lecture on
Tuesday 18th November at Blackpool Magicians' Theatre Club, Rear No. 1
Sherbourne Road, North Shore, Blackpool FY1 2PW (Map).
with auctioneers Mike Shepherd and Derek Lever. Danny Hunt & Annette of
Black Cat Magic will present a lecture at 3pm (£3.00 door charge for
visitors). Auction viewing from 6.30pm, starts at 7pm. Magic Shop and
Museum open from 3pm. Associate membership is now available (£25.00 per
year). For more information email
d.lever1@sky.com or telephone 01253 810113. 15.11.08
Balloon
Party! News from Graham Lee: "To celebrate the end of the first
three years of sponsorship of the 'Care & Share' days by Sempertex
Balloons we have decided to have a party. Everyone is invited and it's
completely free. It will be held on Tuesday 25th November in Halesowen
from 10am - 6pm. For your free registration visit
www.sempertexballoons.co.uk. We will be having two great mystery
lecturers plus competitions with fantastic prizes and a raffle to help
Graeme Ash (Billy Wiz) with his 'Make a Smile' appeal. Graeme goes over
to Belarus once a year to help the children in orphanages and cancer
hospitals, here's the link for more details about this worthwhile cause
www.makeasmile.co.uk". 15.11.08
Merlins
of Wakefield are hoping to help with the Credit Crunch by offering
items every week until the end of the year at really 'Crunchtacious'
prices! These special deals will only be available via their 'Premail',
which they will be sending out every Friday - email
merlins@btconnect.com to be
added to their mail list. 15.11.08
The
Twins “Europe’s Hottest Illusionists” were commissioned by a women’s
underwear company for a photo shoot on a beach in Mexico this month. The
advertisement campaign is set to be seen throughout Europe. On their
return to the UK the duo were invited onto the flight deck by the
captain: "The Twins were very lucky indeed to be asked up onto the
flight deck by the Captain on there return flight home. The Captain and
his family had seen The Twins on BBC1’s BAFTA winning television
programme “The Slammer” which had the recently be shown, yet again. The
Twins had won the prize of freedom by a huge lead, no other
magic/illusion act has achieved this still!" For more information visit
www.thetwins.co.uk. 15.11.08
Christmas
in a Bag - A Magicians Cave Productions exclusive. This is a brand
new effect for the children's entertainer in which the magician
magically decorates a Christmas tree with fairy lights. Can be used in
conjunction with 'D'Lite'. The trees are available with either all-red
lights, or multi-coloured lights. For details of the complete routine
and more information visit
www.magicianscave.co.uk. 15.11.08
Wayne
Dobson - Specials! Wayne Dobson has added a 'Specials' page to his
website, featuring special items at very special prices! Visit
www.waynedobson.co.uk to see what's on offer. 15.11.08
Workers-Corner
DVDs. Matt Wainwright reviews a selection of DVD releases from Chris
Congreave and Gary Jones this week,
Click Here. 15.11.08
Scottish
Conjurers' Association's annual competition for Stand-Up Magic is
won for the second year running by Paul MacAtear. "Paul's silent act to
music took him to a well-deserved first place in this the 85th
Anniversary Year of the founding of the club. The competition featured
previous competition winners and included Sean McQueen, Jim Kelly, Chris
Dinwoodie, Scott Cuthbertson and Ewen Wilson. Competition organiser was
Past President of the club, Harry Gallacher."
www.scottishconjurersassociation.org.uk. 15.11.08
Magic
Dave (Dave Allen) presents his new lecture 'Bish Bash Bosh' for the
Leicester Magic Circle, on Monday 17th November, at the Ramada Hotel,
Leicester. This new lecture features the very best of what Dave performs
in his children's shows, close-up magic and cabaret. For more
information contact Barry Martin
barry@leicestermagiccircle.co.uk
www.leicestermagiccircle.co.uk. 15.11.08
A
Touch of Christmas Magic. A Late Night Christmas show devised and
directed by Tony Middleton, designed by Oliver Townsend. 17th, 19th,
22nd, 27th, 29th and 30th December, 10.15pm at the Studio. "Experience
the magic of magic and the magic of Christmas with a specially devised
performance by top UK close-up magician Tony Middleton. Gems of festive
poetry and other Christmas readings are blended together and punctuated
by real illusion, in the intimate setting of Theatre by the Lake’s
Studio. Tony, known as 'Sonic', has performed all over the country from
The Natural History Museum to Blenheim Palace. He has dazzled
celebrities Sir Roger Moore, Will Carling, Keith Floyd and James Martin.
This exclusive show for Theatre by the Lake contains unique magic
effects blended with atmospheric Christmas readings."
www.theatrebythelake.co.uk. 15.11.08
Daniel
Dean is currently appearing for P&O Cruises onboard some of their
superliners, but will be back performing in the UK again early in 2009.
www.danieldean.biz. 15.11.08
The
Education of the Eye: The history of the Royal Polytechnic
Institution 1838-1881. Paul Kieve emails: "This is a great new
publication charting the history of the development of optical
entertainment at The Royal Polytechnic, Regent Street – the birthplace
of Pepper’s Ghost etc." Available from Granta Editions
www.grantaeditions.co.uk (see 'Book Sales' page). 15.11.08
The
Insect Circus is coming to Town! Roll up! Roll up! See Astonishing
Acrobatic Ants! Marvel as Captain Courage enters a cage of wasps! Wonder
at the Worm Charmer! Be dazzled by Mayflies, Mantids and more! With its
spectacular combination of circus, magic, theatre and extraordinary
costumes, The Insect Circus is a variety show without parallel.
Aerialists, a contortionist, knife-throwing and magic are all presided
over by ringmaster extraordinaire Sir Ronald McPeak. Jacksons lane
Theatre, London, November 28th - 30th:
www.insectcircus.co.uk.
www.jacksonslane.org.uk. 15.11.08
Magicians wanted for The Magic Trek - A Sponsored Walk From Portsmouth To London. "5th May to 10th May 2009 visiting Magic Clubs and Societies on the way! Raising money for the Anthony Nolan Trust. The Magic Trek will take place over 6 days. Starting At Portsmouth it will visit Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke, Reading, Windsor and will finish in London. You can take part by walking from your Town to the next or join us for the whole Magic Trek. For more information or to register your interest contact The Magic Trek organiser, Sean Lobban on 023 9271 7568 or email sean@magictrek.org.uk." www.magictrek.org.uk. 15.11.08
"Turned
Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment by Louis
Barfe" Review:
Click Here. To order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here • "Fall from Grace. Criss Angel's show is so bad, you
actually need to see it."
Click Here • "Angel's early exit offends magician"
Click
Here • "Young magician wins Cromer talent show"
Click Here • Turned out nice again, see you next week, Duncan.
15.11.08