Number 440 - 29th November 2008
Derren
Brown: An Evening of Wonders. Derren Brown's sell-out live show
comes to a plasma screen near you in the New Year, on
Channel 4. Derren will also be on tour again in 2009, with an all-new
show. See What's On for tour dates.
Derren Brown is known as a brilliant showman and illusionist but in his
spare time he uses a very different skill. He is a prodigiously talented
artist who paints caricatures of famous faces from around the world. He
has painted everyone from Richard Dawkins to Robbie Williams, from
Anthony Hopkins to Amy Winehouse. Now, for the first time, they are all
collected together, with Derren's thoughts on the person concerned and
why he wanted to paint them in the first place, in his new book to be
published by Channel 4 on April 9th. Caricatures by Derren Brown.
Hardcover, 128 pages. To pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here.
Look out for Derren in his first acting role in an upcoming episode of
the BBC series Crooked House, written by Mark Gatiss (The League
of Gentlemen). 29.11.08
Cause
an Effect. 4th December 2008 at Westbourne Studios, London. Cause an Effect is a night
featuring a collaboration of talented artists, musicians, VJs, DJs,
makeup artists, choreographers, dancers, magicians and fashion designers.
There's a strong focus on magic, with close-up magic around cocktail
bars from Darius Ziatabari, Neil Henry, Lee Hathaway, Dynamo (TBC),
Darryl Rose, Chris Keward and Ben Williams, plus Oliver Tabor performing
his dove act on stage. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the door.
This includes two free cocktails. Visit
www.butterflyknights.com. 29.11.08
The
World's Greatest Bar Bets. Alex Conran, Jessica Clement and Paul
Wilson (The Real Hustle) demonstrate a selection of startling and
astonishing bar bets and challenges in this brand new DVD release The
World's Greatest Bar Bets. "Alex, Jess and Paul show you a series of
classy, easy-to-learn challenges using everyday items from wine glasses
to bank notes, playing cards to eggs. The experts perform these
proposition bets in a real bar, up against real punters. Close-up, slow
motion sequences, explain just how it’s done…" Perfect for those after-hours moments when your client asks to see "just one more" - available
now from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here. 29.11.08
Ian
Keable, fresh from being awarded The 2008 Magic Circle Carlton
Award for Comedy, will be lecturing at
The Ulster Society
of Magicians at 7.30pm on Monday, 1st December at The Platform,
Holywood, County Down. Ian's lecture is called Stand-Up: A
Professional Guide to Comedy Magic. The lecture ties in with his
book which is selling extremely well and has received rave reviews. It
is priced at £25 + p & p and can be purchased directly from Ian's
website
www.iankeable.co.uk/books. Also, see John Archer's review in
MagicWeek,
Click Here. 29.11.08
Another Case of
Milton Jones,
6.30pm on Monday 1st December on BBC Radio Four.
Milton Jones bestrides the globe as an expert in his field, with no
ability whatsoever. Milton is a famous magician and illusionist who gets
tangled up in a devilish plot to make the Bank of England disappear.
Starring Tom Goodman-Hill. 29.11.08
The
Surrey Society of Magicians held their Annual Stage Competition on
November 27th in front of a packed house at their headquarters in
Leatherhead. This year six competitors entered and the standard of
magic, as usual, was very high. The winner on the night was Stephen
Baker who performed a very elegant version of Losander's Floating Table
illusion. The Bernard Weller Trophy for Comedy, as voted for by members
of the Society, was deservedly awarded to Vince Blake and his alter ego
"David Coppermeadow". Pictured, left to right, Magic Judge Scott
Penrose, Stephen Baker, Vince Blake and the compère Steve Lobley.
www.surreymagic.co.uk. 29.11.08
John
Archer tops the bill at the Dundee Society of Magicians 70th
Anniversary Dinner on February 5th 2009 at the Logie Club, Liff Road,
Dundee. Tickets are £20.00 each from Albert Lawson on 01382 622225 email
albertlawson@btinternet.com. 29.11.08
The
Nottingham Guild of Magicians will be supporting BBC Radio
Nottingham's Big Night Out on Wednesday, December 3rd, by performing at
two venues in the city centre. Big Night Out is a venture
organised by breakfast show presenter Andy Whittaker to tackle
Nottingham's image as a no-go area at night by providing a feast of free
or low-cost entertainment for his listeners. A team of close-up workers
led by Roy Bond will be at the Bell Inn on Old Market Square from 7-9pm.
Nick Brunger, ably assisted by Graham Harper, will be presenting two
performance of gothic magic in the sinister surroundings of the
Galleries of Justice (a museum of crime and punishment in the city's
ancient prison and court building) at 6pm and 7pm. Magic in the Bell is
free, and the magic show costs just £3 a head. Booking is advisable,
contact:
helen.shepherd@galleriesofjustice.org.uk or 0115 952 0555. Photo:
Guild Secretary Marcel Burn entertaining at the first Big Night Out in
2007.
www.nottinghamguildofmagicians.co.uk. 29.11.08
The
Albion Magic Company have just launched a brand-new website. Visit
www.albionmagiccompany.co.uk to see what's new. 29.11.08
Abdul
Khalifa emails, "I’ve had an interest in magic from a young age so
for me to grow up and become a magician has been the best thing ever…
anyway I don’t know if you know this but most Asians tend to go into the
music scene or acting, so I’d say I was one of the few lucky ones that
was bitten by the magic bug and went in to magic." Abdul has performed
his magic for Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan and actress Kajol, and has
also entertained Asian R'n'B singers Jay Sean, Juggy D, and DJ Rishi
Rich. Abdul wants members of the Asian community to see that there is
more to the entertainment world than just music or acting. Photo: Abdul
with singer Lisa Mafia. Visit
www.abdulkhalifa.co.uk for more info. 29.11.08
Will
Houston Lecture. Will Houston lectures for the Liverpool Magic
Circle on Thursday 4th December. The youngest ever European Champion of
Close-up Magic, Will has appeared at The Magic Castle in Hollywood and
lectured and performed in Europe and America. Venue: The Alder Sports
and Social Club, Alder Road, West Derby, Liverpool L12 2BA (Map).
Members £3.00, Non Members £6.00 on the door (no need to book).
www.liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk. 29.11.08
Jay's
good fortune. Richard Leigh emails that he is currently directing
two new stand-up shows starring Jay Fortune. At a recent invitation-only
showcase for the Entertainer of the Year Awards, Jay was the only patter
act to go through to the live final next July. Based on his success at
the showcase, Jay has already been booked to perform on a cruise (P&O
Ventura) this Christmas, and at venues worldwide with his new stand-up
show, featuring visual comedy and magic, throughout 2009.
www.jfortune.co.uk. 29.11.08
Ravi
Mayar is seen here with television and radio presenter James Whale
following a performance for James Whale's charity fund for kidney cancer
research. Other recent appearances include The National Television Awards
2008 and performances in Mumbai, India, at the IBM (technology)
convention. Ravi will be featured in the winter issue of the
Asiana magazine next month.
www.ravimayar.com. 29.11.08
Paranormalist
Paul Bell is hosting a Yuletide night of magic and ghouls on
December 12th at Dudley Castle, reputed to be the most haunted castle in
England! The evening consists of a two course silver service meal,
followed by a ghost tour of the castle, then an entertaining
mind-reading show in the castle's haunted crypt which will climax with
an authentic séance in the pitch dark! It will be a fun yet spooky
night, combining genuine paranormal activity (whatever that might be)
with all the tricks of the mentalist trade. The evening runs from 7pm
until the Witching Hour, and the price for the full show plus meal is a
very reasonable £45. Visit
www.frightnights.co.uk for full details. 29.11.08
International
News: Steve Dacri brings his 'Intimate Illusion' show to the Four
Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas. The very exclusive magic dinner show,
'Intimate Illusions' debuts Friday December 26th at 6pm in the elegant
fine dining restaurant Charlie Palmer Steak, in the
Four
Seasons Hotel. Steve Dacri presents 'in your face and under your
nose' magic in an intimate setting during this limited engagement. The
dinner show happens every Friday and Saturday night through to March
28th 2009. Tickets are now on sale for the entire run, and shows are
limited to 30 seats. Tickets can be purchased via
www.vegas.com or
www.stevedacri.com. 29.11.08
Now
that's Magic! Martin Lewis, The President of The Associated
Conjurers of East Sussex (ACES), proposed to long-term girlfriend and
Secretary of the Society, Nicky Moon, whilst performing a short cabaret
in front of 40 family and friends in Worthing during Nicky's 40th
Birthday celebrations on November 23rd. Martin produced a beautiful
Champagne diamond engagement ring which fitted perfectly. Nicky told
MagicWeek “he hadn’t told anyone, even his three kids who were with us.
It was the best way for a magician to propose, doing what he does best
and it took everybody by surprise.” Martin originally met Nicky at a
magic show and they were photographed earlier in the year by the Daily
Mirror to tell their story.
www.acesmagic.co.uk. 29.11.08
Houdini
remembered. Illusions Magic Bar in Bristol commissioned artist
Annabel De Vetten recently to decorate two main support pillars in the
bar. Owner Mark's idea was to go with a Houdini Water Torture Cell theme
which has clearly worked out really well.
www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk. 29.11.08
Christian
Fechner, 26th July 1944 - 26th November 2008. Christian Fechner died
on November 26th, at the age of just 64, following a long period of
illness. Well known as a French film producer, Fechner was twice
nominated for a BAFTA Film Award. At FISM in Brussels in 1979 he was
awarded first prize for illusion and invention and had been a prolific
magic inventor, collector, historian and writer. He notably created
illusions for Siegfried & Roy and David Copperfield. Obituary in Le
Monde,
Click Here. Communications can be sent to Mrs Solange Fechner and
children, 39 rue des Tilleuls, 92100 Boulogne, France. 29.11.08
"Show
Review: 'Lance Burton: Master Magician'"
Click
Here • Gary Williams reviews 3 DVDs from
Workers-Corner
Click Here • "Prize-giving at school was just magic"
Click Here • "Magic afternoon as Paul Daniels casts a spell"
(includes video)
Click Here • "Derren Brown: The Specials DVD review"
Click Here, available from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here • "One Enchanted Evening with magician Mark Townsend"
Click Here • "Jackman as 'Harry' in Elfman and Yazbek's Broadway
Bound Houdini?"
Click Here • Christmas is coming - visit the
MagicWeek DVD & Book Shop and treat yourself! • "Jane is
Magician of the Year"
Click Here + "Video: Magician wins top award"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcome, please remember
the 12 noon deadline for the following Saturday. See you next week, Duncan.
29.11.08