Number 459 - 11th April 2009
Smoke
& Mirrors - Matt Duggan. Tune in to Resonance FM (104.4FM in London
and online at
www.resonancefm.com) on Tuesday April 14th at 6pm for the first in a
ten part series on the art of magic. Hosted by magician and actor Matt
Duggan and entitled Smoke & Mirrors, the show will look at the
history, psychology and performance of magic and illusion through the
ages, with a different eminent guest from the world of magic each week.
For the inaugural show, Matt will be joined by Peter Lane, the Head
Librarian of The Magic Circle, London, to talk about all things
magically historical. They'll discuss where magic began, how it
developed and even the associations between illusion and witchcraft.
www.smokeandmirrorsradioshow.com. 11.4.09
Magician
vs Medium - new venue announced. The Magician vs Medium event on
Saturday 25th April has changed location, and will now be staged at the
excellent Dragon Hall, Covent Garden, in the heart of London, close to
both Covent Garden and Holborn tube stations. On the afternoon of
Saturday 25th April the Dragon Hall will witness an unprecedented
competition as mentalist Pete Campbell-Wells MMC (photo) takes on
spiritualist medium Donna Stewart to prove once and for all who's power
is the greatest! Before an audience of magicians, mentalists, psychics,
skeptics, believers and the just plain curious, the mentalist will
demonstrate how the unscrupulous performer can gain information about an
individual without possessing an ounce of psychic ability, while the
medium will be attempting to convince the audience that her gift is real
and far more powerful than the mentalist's "parlour tricks". The event
will be hosted by parapsychologist Dr. Ciaran O'Keefe and promises to be
a most entertaining, interesting and informative occasion. Saturday 25th
April 4pm - 7pm at the Dragon Hall, Covent Garden. Tickets are priced at
just £25. Please note that tickets are not available direct from the
Dragon Hall but should be purchased by visiting
www.frightnights.co.uk or by telephoning 0114 2764644. 11.4.09
Magic
Trek - coming to Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke,
Reading, Windsor and London! Magic Trek, the sponsored walk from Portsmouth to
London to raise money for The Anthony Nolan Trust, will begin on Tuesday
5th May. Magicians from
Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and Reading will be walking to raise
money for The Anthony Nolan Trust. They will start at Portsmouth &
District Magic Circle on Tuesday 5th May and walk to Associated Wizards
of The South. The following day they will walk from the AWS to the
Winchester Magical Society. On Thursday 7th May, they will walk from
Winchester to The Magicians of Basingstoke. The next day, Friday 8th,
they walk from Basingstoke to The Home Counties Magical Society. On
Saturday 9th they will walk from HCMS to The Queen Victoria Statue in
Windsor, and finally, on the last day, Sunday 10th, they'll walk from
Windsor to The Magic Circle headquarters in London. Walkers Robert Bone,
Laurie Brokenshire, Ian Marriott, Rod Newman, Glen Stone, Harold
Straker and Sean Lobban would love to see fellow
magicians come and support them at any of these locations. The route for
each day of The Magic Trek can be seen on the website:
www.magictrek.org.uk. There will be a Magic Trek Homecoming at the
Portsmouth & District Magic Circle on Monday 11th May featuring an
evening of magical entertainment - visitors welcome. To sponsor the
walkers visit
www.anthonynolanevents.org.uk/magictrek. 11.4.09
Scottish Conjurers Association
Day of Magic - Saturday April 18th.
To celebrate their
85th Year, the SCA are hosting a Day of Magic on April 18th at the
Glasgow Pond Hotel, Great Western Road, West End, Glasgow, Scotland G12
0XP (Map). This will
consist of a day packed with magic lectures from Craig Petty, Mel
Mellers, and Gordon Bruce. In addition, there will be a series of close-up
performances by the members of the SCA, a selection of magic dealers,
and a dinner/cabaret in the evening culminating in a performance from
special guest Mel Mellers. This is a not-to-be-missed event. Tickets for
non-members are priced at £15.00 (day), £30.00 (evening), £35.00
(combined). Daytime entry is £8.00 for those under 14 years of age.
www.scottishconjurersassociation.org.uk. 11.4.09
Have you ever dreamed of being a magical inventor?
"Pavel’s latest lecture may
offer you the possibility of achieving this ambition. Entitled ‘How to Invent a
New trick’ it features a large range of his creations using general props such
as ropes, cards, silks, balloons, clothespins, colour discs, bills... two dozen
different effects are performed and explained. You can rest assured any lecture
by Pavel will be overflowing with new ideas and approaches..." Bob Hayden
profiles two more magicians who'll be appearing at the
British Ring
Convention in September, Pavel (photo) and Australia's Sean Taylor,
Click Here. 11.4.09
Thought
Thief: An evening of mind reading. "Is your mind safe? This show
will leave you wondering just that. Watch as Peter Antoniou, one of the
UK's foremost mind readers, demonstrates his bizarre ability to know
what you are thinking and predict your behaviour. Antoniou not only
demonstrates his own abilities, but reveals for the first time how both
criminals and the government use the same techniques to keep tabs on
you. This fusion of comedy and mind reading will leave you baffled,
entertained and just a little scared about how unsafe your mind really
is." The show starts at 9.30pm on Friday 17th April. Tickets are only
£7.50 from
www.ticketweb.co.uk or the Etcetera Theatre Box office 020 7482
4857. Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BU (Map).
www.mentalmarvel.com. 11.4.09
Cardiff
Magical Society Annual Dinner. Cardiff Magical Society are holding
their Annual Dinner at The Novotel, Cardiff, on Saturday April 25th, at
7pm. The cabaret stars comedy award-winning magician Ian Keable, amazing
juggling from the Hat Company and American magician Bill Goldman. The
compare for the evening will be Jasper Blakeley. Tickets are £30.00 each
from Bob Armstrong
sales@drbobsballons.co.uk or Steve Sanders
info@bunglemagic.co.uk.
www.cardiffmagic.org.uk. 11.4.09
Steve
Beam Blackpool lecture. Renowned card magician Steve Beam will be
the guest lecturer at The Blackpool Magicians’ Club on 19th May. Steve
has been inventing, performing and teaching card magic for over 30 years
so his appearance at Blackpool is eagerly awaited. As the author of over
25 books and editor and publisher of the underground sleight of hand
journal ‘The Trapdoor’ for 15 years, Steve has a wealth of material to
share. The lecture is free to members and associates of Blackpool
Magicians’ Club. Associate membership is open to magicians from all over
the world. Associates gain access to the theatre clubroom for up to
twelve visits a year, enjoy the fabulous line up of star lecturers,
events and shows and have use of the huge magic reference library,
museum and shop (members also benefit from a 10% discount), as well as a
special newsletter four times a year. To apply for associate membership
visit
www.blackpoolmagic.com. 11.4.09
Mental!
Brain Tricks & Pseudo-Psychic Nonsense. At this year's Brighton
Festival Fringe, mentalist Peter Campbell-Wells presents a thoroughly
irreverent presentation of mind-reading stunts, brain tricks and
assorted pseudo-psychic nonsense. Mental takes advantage of the
Brighton Festival Fringe and its hugely diverse audiences to illustrate
how regardless of the ways in which we strive to be different and set
ourselves apart from everyone else we re all predictable creatures of
habit. May 11th, 12th & 13th at 9pm, May 15th & 16th at 11.55pm, Tickets
£5.00 (£4.00 conc.). Venue: Laughing Horse @ The Quadrant, 12 North
Street, Brighton BN1 3FA (Map).
www.laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk
www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk. 11.4.09
Abracadabra.
The final 'Abra' was published on Saturday March 28th; issue number 3296
marking the end of an era. For many magicians, both here in the UK and
worldwide, Abra was part of their magic world, arriving every week
through their letterbox, or being picked up from a magic shop, or via a
local 'agent' (Ted Beal used to turn up with a stack of them at The
Associated Wizards of the South in Southampton when I was a member
years ago). The list of magicians who contributed to Abra over the years reads like a
'who's who' in magic. Abra featured many thousands of articles, tricks
and in-depth convention reviews during its 63 year span, under the
guidance of Goodliffe, Fabian, Donald Bevan and Walt Lees. When I was in
my teens an advertisement that appeared in Abra started my magic career
(it was an ad for magic demonstrators to work in Hamleys, from magician
and entrepreneur John Henley - I left home and moved to London thanks to
that ad in Abra). Today, anyone owning Abracadabra 1-3296 has a
wonderful record of 63+ years of magic (DT). 11.4.09
Jumbo
Magic Auction and lecture - Blackpool Magicians' Club, Tuesday 14th
April at Blackpool Magicians' Theatre Club, Rear No.1 Sherbourne Road,
North Shore, Blackpool FY1 2PW (Map).
A lecture by Derek Lever on Comedy Magic commences at 4pm, and the Jumbo
Auction is at 7pm. Members and Associate Members admitted free of
charge. Non-members £3.00. With star auctioneers Mike Shepherd and Derek
Lever. Licensed bar and hot food available. For further details email
d.lever1@sky.com or ring 01253
810113. 11.4.09
Kockov
goes 'Kock-erny'. Character entertainer and magician Jasper Blakeley
(aka Russianesque mentalist Kockov), has been having a knees up with
Mary Poppins. Working as magical chimney sweep, Archie Grot, Jasper was
invited to provide pre-show entertainment for the London touring version
of the hit musical at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
www.jasperblakeley.co.uk. 11.4.09
Congratulations
to Magicians Cave Productions, winners of the Cliff Lount Trophy for
the Best Dealer Demonstration at the Northern Magic Circle's Spring
Parade Convention last week. New team member, Darren Bonas aka 'Mister
Twister' (centre) performed on stage along with other dealers,
demonstrating their latest products. In the photo, left to right, Paul,
Darren and Penny from
Magicians Cave
Productions, all members of the
Darlington Magic Circle. 11.4.09
Artist
Max Scratchmann has just launched a small and exclusive range of
Victorian-style Magicians' Tee-Shirts which can be seen at
www.scratchmann.co.uk. 11.4.09
Terry
Herbert appears on the Richard and Judy Show at 6pm on Tuesday 21st
April on new Sky channel 'Watch'. Sue Pollard will be interviewed,
talking about her most famous character, Peggy, the chalet maid who
wanted to be a Yellowcoat in the popular series Hi-De-Hi!, and Terry
will be in the studio, as he was real-life Butlin's Redcoat in the
fifties. Terry stayed with the company for nine years, the last four
years as Entertainments Manager. Together with two other performers Sue
has to guess which one of the three is the real McCoy! 11.4.09
An
Evening of Fine Wine, Dining and Conjuring. Friday 24th April at
Browns Courtrooms, Covent Garden: Browns Courtrooms present
distinguished magician John Van der Put and Stand Not Amazed. "Join us
for an evening of delicious food and hand-picked wines, accompanied by
an astonishing performance from a man who recently shared a stage with
Lily Allen and left Barbara Windsor speechless. John's acclaimed solo
act will be followed by a magical cabaret with Standnotamazed - a
groundbreaking theatre company which puts art back into the artifice."
Tickets are £40.00 - including a glass of bubbly on arrival, sommelier
selected wines and a three-course dinner devised by Browns'
award-winning chefs. Call Olivia Paterson on 020 7395 6091 to book your
ticket. Venue: Browns Courtrooms, 82-84 St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden,
London WC2N 4AA (Map).
www.vanderput.com.
www.browns-restaurants.co.uk. 11.4.09
Magic
Evening Boot Sale - Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. The Merlin Magical
Society which is based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, are holding a
Magic boot sale on 3rd July at The United Reformed Church, Tilbury Hall,
Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1BZ (Map).
From 6.30pm - 9.30pm with free entry. Tables are £5.00 for sellers and
there's ample parking in front of the building and in the surrounding
area. For more info visit
www.merlinmagicalsociety.co.uk. 11.4.09
Congratulations
to Roy Charles winner of the Will Ayling Cup at the Portsmouth &
District Magic Circle’s Close-Up Competition last week. Roy’s routine,
which included magic with cards, steel washers, bank notes and the
production of a bottle of wine from his shoe, resulted in a strong win.
All the magicians taking part performed to a very good standard, much
enjoyed by the large audience in attendance. Bob Hayden, together with
two laymen, judged. The photo shows Roy being presented with The Will
Ayling Cup by Bob Hayden.
www.roycharles.biz. 11.4.09
The
Young Magician of the Year Competition. Every other year, The Magic
Circle, through its Youth Initiative, holds a competition to find The
Young Magician of the Year. The competition, which was first held in
1961, is open to young people between the age of 14 and 18. The heats
are being held in the theatre at The Magic Circle's Headquarters and
take place on Sunday 19th April starting at 11am. Tickets are available
from the box office on 020 7387 2222 (9am -5pm Monday - Friday), priced
at a modest £5.00 for a chance to see 15 young magicians aiming for the
top. 11.4.09
The
Blackpool & Fylde Mystics held their first close-up competition last
week, since their re-formation. A near capacity audience enjoyed the
performances of 8 magicians with the results as follows: 1st Place Paul
Joyce; 2nd Place Alan Mylecraine; 3rd Place Ken Ashuburn, and the award
for best card trick went to Ken Ashburn, for a full report go to
www.fyldemystics.co.uk. Photo: Ron Baron presenting the award to
Paul Joyce. 11.4.09
Tonny Van Rhee Lecture. "This is your chance to see the man whose routines
have been used by Fred Kaps and Ken Brooke. Tonny's lecture includes
close-up magic, cards, coins and rings... a variety of straightforward
commercial magic." 8pm on Thursday April 23rd. Venue: the
Regency (formerly The Piano Bar), 19-21 Derby Lane, Liverpool L13 6QA (Map). Tickets: Members £3.00, non Members £6.00. For
more details Telephone 07982 253583 or email
info@liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk.
www.liverpoolmagiccircle.co.uk. 11.4.09
MagicWeek
Links. A number of link icons and banners are available for website
owners who'd like to add MagicWeek to their link pages:
Click
Here. 11.4.09
"Summit Locks Up Houdini Project" Click Here • "Caine turns mentor for buddy film" Click Here • "The trick of being Ricky Jay" Click Here • Al Smith reviews Andrew Normansell: The Man Who Would Be King, Tony Griffith: Final Reflections and Peterborough's 21st Day of Magic this week • John Ward reports on the British Magical Society's Annual Dinner and Dance, Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - have a good Easter weekend, see you next week, Duncan. 11.4.09