Number 447 - 17th January 2009
Philip
Escoffey: 6 Impossible Things Before Dinner. Mind reading. It’s just
not possible, is it? Maverick showman Philip Escoffey will challenge
what you believe to be true – live. Although he has never met you, can
this stranger really know you better than you know yourself? What
interests Philip is not whether people can read minds or not (as luck
would have it, it seems he can!), nor even how they do it, but what the
rational – perhaps even cynical - mind does in the face of an
irrefutable demonstration… and why some minds don’t even seem to need
that! 6 Impossible Things Before Dinner has been especially created to
make the audience challenge one huge thing: what they fundamentally
believe is possible. Philip has spent the last eight years travelling
the world, leaving the rich and the royal intrigued (and occasionally
embarrassingly clingy) and now, for the first time ever, presents live
on stage his unique, exuberant and astonishing findings. Don’t miss this
opportunity to let mind reading’s enfant terrible change your life. One
night only.
The Malvern Theatre, Thursday, 19th February, at 7.30pm. Philip can
also be seen at The Melbourne Festival, Australia throughout April.
www.thegreyman.com. 17.1.09
Paul
Zenon makes a welcome return to Countdown next week (week commencing
Monday 26th January). Jeff Stelling and Rachel Riley host the show in
which contestants race against the clock to pit their wits against
vowels, consonants and numbers.
www.paulzenon.com. 17.1.09
Magic,
enchantment and illusion are brought to life with Mystery,
the latest ice spectacular from Holiday on Ice, a mystical voyage of
wonder and fantasy that will leave you breathless! "Come and join the
65th celebration of world-class skating, stunning choreography,
breathtaking magic and exquisite costumes, transporting you to a
kaleidoscope of fantastical worlds." From an enchanting Goblin Forest to
Alice and the Mad Hatter's tea party, from the signs of the Zodiac to
the darker depths of the Danse Macabre, choreographer Robin Cousins MBE
and artistic director Anthony Van Laast MBE have created a masterpiece
of mystical imagination. The illusions have been created by Paul Kieve,
www.stageillusion.com. 9th January - 1st February
Brighton; 4th - 8th February
Peterborough; 10th - 15th February
Cardiff and 17th - 22nd February
Exeter.
www.holidayonice.com. 17.1.09
Joshua
Jay: Methods in Magic, Live in the UK is featured in our
Magic
DVDs section this week.
Big Blind Media
have really excelled themselves with this one. 17.1.09
Dolly
Remixture is a Burlesque & Cabaret show which takes place every last
Sunday of the month in Hitchin featuring burlesque dancers, stand-up
comedians, live bands, and both stage and close-up magic. The close-up
magic is performed by Lee Smith, who co-runs the show, and on January
31st, Tim Shoesmith will perform in cabaret. Lee emails: "We are
currently looking for stage magicians to perform a ten minute act. This
is also a great opportunity for someone who has a new act to try out.
You will be performing to a fun and enthusiastic crowd of 120 - 200. The
night has something for everyone and throughout the duration of the
evening there will also be stalls to browse selling unique wear,
together with a free bar buffet." For more information contact Lee Smith
0773 1916965
lee.smith@walkaboutmagic.com. 17.1.09
Mark
Leveridge Magic - Dealer Nights. Mark Leveridge Magic is pleased to
announce a series of special evenings called Dealer Nights which Mark is
arranging at various hotel venues around the UK. Starting at 7pm and
finishing at around 10pm, Mark will be presenting a dealer dem and a
mini lecture featuring 3 new items. All products will be reduced in
price by 10% for the evening, there will be 3 draws during the night
with prizes worth up to £30, plus other specials and offers as well. The
idea is to create a sociable, relaxed evening in which customers can
browse the full range of Mark Leveridge and magicseen products and save
money, all at the same time. Because it is not being held at a specific
magic club, magicians from different areas will be able to meet and
enjoy the evening together. Two venues have been booked so far - the
Redwood Hotel and Country Club, Bristol on Monday 30th March 2009 and
the Westmead Hotel, Birmingham on Monday 22nd June 2009. More venues and
dates will be announced later. For more information about Dealer Nights
and for advance registrations which are being taken now, visit
www.markleveridge.co.uk. 17.1.09
Would
you like to be organised, save time and get more bookings? Alan
Vandome writes about Magi, the database and booking system for magicians
developed by Mark Tait of MAT Systems Ltd in conjunction with Alan,
Click
Here. 17.1.09
Supalok
'The Ultimate Lock & Key Effect' has been very well received by
magicians worldwide. Master Locksmith Mick Hanzlik is now able to offer
Supalok at a greatly reduced price for MagicWeek readers.
This effect is completely self working, and all the magic takes place in
the spectator's hand. "My kind of trick" Wayne Dobson. "You want magical
entertainment? You'll get it from this" Donald Bevan. Visit
www.loxandkeys.com
for details. 17.1.09
Nigel
Mead has just returned from the Middle East where he produced and
starred in a new magic strand for Al Jazzera TV. Nigel took a full crew
from the UK and shot on location in Qatar. 'The Magician' started airing
yesterday. At home, Nigel appeared in the December issue of Tatler, in a
"How to throw a great party" article in which Nigel featured as the
"Most surprising entertainment!"
www.nigelmead.com. 17.1.09
Merlins
of Wakefield latest 16 page Preview is now available - free. With over
50 effects and special offers it's a great read for the New Year. Just
send your address to merlins@btconnect.com and they will post you a
copy, or ask for the PDF version and it will be emailed to you. 17.1.09
Hypnotica - Live in Manchester. Thursday April 9th at 9pm.
"Robert Temple is one of the worlds youngest, most dynamic comedy
hypnotists and he brings his art-form BANG into the 21st Century. With
an original, quirky style and devastating hypnotic powers, we guarantee
that he will leave your jaws aching with laughter! In Robert's brand new
xxx-rated show, Hypnotica, you will be laughing from start to finish at
the outrageous antics of this true showman. Robert combines a
captivating stage presence with a lightening fast comic wit,
mind-blowing hypnotic ability and his unique adult comedy routines to
create this unforgettable, exciting and laugh-out-loud hypnosis show!"
Visit
www.comedyhypnosis.co.uk/Manchester for more information and to
book. 17.1.09
Doug
Segal has been booked to perform a 45 minute show at the
internationally famous Churchill College Cambridge Springball on 13th
February. He'll be performing alongside a host of bands including Foals
and Nine Black Alps. Doug says: "It's been an extraordinary 12 months,
I've filmed a live show for BBC Three, parts of which formed the
centrepiece of one of their Mischief programmes, I've co-headlined an
arts festival with Jenny Éclair, appeared as a guest four times on
Holland's biggest chat show and took over half of Amsterdam's Passenger
Terminal building to perform four shows to a thousand people in one day
for Philips Consumer Electrical's global relaunch."
www.dougsegal.com. 17.1.09
El Duco’s Magic. El Duco’s Magic Company was founded by Swedish
magic inventor Christer Gustavsson (El Duco) just over 30 years ago in 1978 and
gained a solid reputation for its high quality original magic.
Highlights from the drawing board of inventor and designer Christer
Gustavsson include classics such as Duco’s Dice, Ring in Salt, Auto
Match-ic, Anglo Giant Cards, The Golden Cups & Balls and The Swedish
Reel.
In September 2008 Christer Gustavsson passed away after a short illness and there were rumours in the magic world that the business
would close down and that the El Duco Collection will be discontinued.
However, by the end of December 2008, it was officially announced that El
Duco’s Magic had been acquired by Christer Gustavsson's long-time
friends and partners in organizing the
Magic Weekend Convention in
Sweden for 22 years, Gay and Birgitta Ljungberg. They already run
Sweden’s largest magic company
www.gycklaren.com,
founded in 1981.
Gay Ljungberg is known to the magic fraternity not only as a magic
dealer, lecturer and performer, but also as a judge of magic
competitions and as Stage Competition Manager of the FISM WCM 2006, a
job he will do again at the FISM WCM 2009 in Beijing. “We will continue
to produce the El Duco Magic Collection of original magic and we will
also update many of the products with additional routines and bonus
features” said Gay Ljungberg. For more information contact Gay
Ljungberg: magic@gycklaren.com. 17.1.09
Stuart
and Jayne Loughland (Safire) are about to embark on their 7th
Chuckle Brothers tour in a new show 'Chuckle Trek the Lost Generation',
which will take in 60 dates across the UK. This year they will be
perform in sketches, present their illusion act featuring two new
illusions, and their Sci-Fi themed UV Magic Light Puppet Company act.
Visit
www.thechucklebrothersontour.co.uk for tour information, or see
What's On. 17.1.09
Have
a Crap Day by Jez Rose. Become a Service Superhero and discover your
own superpowers: Invincibility, Plus 10% and Tiny Thing - Big Impact,
learn how to recognise evil super-villains like Doctor Moodio Bitchio
and Slackers and even discover how what you wear can affect your Super
Service Powers. This honest, humorous and invaluable guide packs a
mighty punch - you'll use it as a guide and refer back to it time and
time again. Written with the energy, humour and passion which Jez is now
so renowned for, take your service levels to Superhero level! Visit
www.jezrose.co.uk for more info and to order. 17.1.09
Alex
Lodge is staging 'Vision' at the
Basingstoke Haymarket Theatre on March 5th. "A magic and illusion
spectacular with the Basingstoke Academy of Dancing. Plus special guests
from the CBBC’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice." Tickets: Adults £15.00, children
£10.00. Box Office: 01256 844244. "For Alex, magic is just pure theatre"
Click Here. 17.1.09
Open
Mic Night. "Following the success of our 1st open mic night for
magicians in February, Corporate Magic will be hosting a second night on
the 15th March. Performers confirmed so far are Ashley Turner and Kyle
Summers. The evening is open to all magicians both as audience members
and performers. Performers need to be confirmed in advance. The venue
can be seen at
www.aspectsenderby.co.uk. If you would like to take part or be in
the audience contact the Corporate Magic team via
www.corporatemagic.org." 17.1.09
Magic
Lunch! This photo was submitted following (and before I get sued - I
am quoting here!) "a recent meeting of the Shropshire Young Offenders
Association, which seems to comprise largely of magicians. Pictured left
to right are Steve Short (Magic Books by Post); Alec Powell (Albion
Magic); Martyn James (illusionist); Phillip Partridge (comedy magician);
Cheryl Le Poidevin (Practical Magic); Quentin Reynolds (mentalist); and
Pat Fallon (ABC Magic - Ireland). The official photographer was Jeremy
Le Poidevin (Practical Magic). The meeting was part of the Government’s
Early Release Scheme – but most of the above subsequently re-offended..." 17.1.09
Bradford Magic Circle - Facebook. Mark Waddington emails: "The Bradford Magic Circle has recently set up a facebook group to keep Magicians informed of what we are up to at BMC, and to advertise our up-coming lectures and meetings. We would love all Magicians and enthusiasts to join the group: www.facebook.com." 17.1.09
"Derren
Brown's Evening of Wonders"
Click Here (repeated tonight on E4 - see
TV Magic) • "Can you
magic me up a goldfish bowl?"
Click Here • "Paul Daniels is coming to Basingstoke"
Click Here • "Conjure up a magical profit with Ali Bongo"
Click Here • Kevin Gallagher
reviews Craig Petty's 'Accessible Coin Magic' lecture,
Click Here and Freddie Wilkinson reviews some recent Panto's that
starred magic acts, see
Reviews • The For Sale
and Wanted pages have never
been busier, but please remember to read over the Terms & Conditions
before submitting an ad • "Toy makers try to conjure buyers
as demand disappears"
Click Here • That's
it for another week, see you next week, Duncan.
17.1.09