Number 509 - 27th March 2010

Matthew Garrett is The Magic Circle Close Up Magician of the Year 2010. Matthew was awarded the Devano Trophy and the title of The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year 2010, together with a prize of £500. Matthew Garret won the coveted award performing to an invited a lay audience, five judges and a packed theatre of leading close-up magicians at The Magic Circle in London on Monday March 22. His act was built around his own modern twist on the linking rings routine and a story-telling card routine that culminated in the deck vanishing in a puff of smoke. Steve Faulkner took the second prize, winning £250, and Russell Levinson was awarded third prize, winning £150. The originality prize went to Paul Brown, with a prize of £100. Nick Fitzherbert, PRO The Magic Circle. www.themagiccircle.co.uk. 27.3.10

Dynamo truly amazed Robbie Williams, Davina McCall and James Corden for Sports Relief last week, with some fine stripped bare magic... Click Here. To contribute to Sports Relief visit www.sportrelief.com. 27.3.10

Andi Gladwin and friends will be presenting An Evening of Deception, the first of a series of shows, at The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, on Wednesday 28th April. Andi will co-star alongside Rob James, Matthew Dowden (just added), Thom Peterson and Steve Knibbs in a fantastic night of cabaret magic and comedy. Tickets are selling fast! Visit www.illusionist.co.uk/an-evening-of-deception for more info. 27.3.10

Kostya a fiver. News from the Winchester Magical Society: "Kostya Kimlat, one of the world's top magical entertainers and the genius behind the bestselling 'Roadrunner cull DVD' is travelling across from the United States to present his latest lecture. You can catch his full length lecture at Winchester Magical Society on Thursday 1st April 2010 (no joke!) for only £5. Learn new exciting approaches to classic plots, and discover new genius plots for methods and moves you will already know! For more information and to get your name on the list, email president@winchestermagic.com as places are limited and this is going to be a very popular night!" 27.3.10

Click… Click… Boom. 8pm on Thursday 1st April and Thursday 6th May 2010 Admission £7.00 / £5.00. A brand new talent search hits East London this season, with Click… Click… Boom at Stratford Circus. "Click… Click… Boom will pit the best variety acts against the hottest new comics. Going head to head, comedienne Andi Osho and magician Christian Lee are scouring pubs and clubs to find the best acts around. Each month three acts from each camp, plus two wildcards announced on the night, will compete for a place in the winter final. There can be only one winner… you decide. If you think you can take on the boom email Lee or Osho: clickclickboom@stratford-circus.com 8pm on Thursday 1st April and Thursday 6th May, 2010 Admission £7.00 / £5.00. 27.3.10

Magicians Wanted! Illusions Magic Bar in Bristol is currently looking to employ some new magicians. Email Mark Bennett with you details and any video footage: mark@illusionsmagicbar.co.uk www.illusionsmagicbar.co.uk. 27.3.10

Alex Crow can be seen four times a day performing shows over the Easter weekend (April 2nd to 5th) in "Cirque du Freak" at Thorpe Park. www.alexcrow.co.uk. 27.3.10

Electric: A Magic and Light Show Spectacular! Tuesday March 30th 7.30pm. Featuring from Hungary hula-hooper Bee Varga and incredible juggler Steve Arnold plus Basingstoke Academy of Dancing, and magic, comedy and illusion with Alex Lodge. Tickets: £10 adults, £8 under 16s and students. Box Office 01256 844244. The Haymarket, Wote Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7NW (Map) www.anvilarts.org.uk. 27.3.10

Congratulations to Carl Buck, winner of the Leicester Magic Circle Roy Johnson Close-Up Competition, on March 15th. Carl began by producing a bottle opener, followed by a bottle and glass production, and then continued with a very entertaining one-card routine, finishing with an excellent chop cup piece. Many thanks to magic judge Iain Moran, who said "This is one of the best close-up club competitions I've seen. It was very close - but Carl defiantly edged it!" Amit Badiani – PRO Leicester Magic Circle. www.carlbuck.co.uk. 27.3.10

Announcing the Cheshire Magic Group. David Rie emails: "I would like to announce the first meeting of the Cheshire Magic Group. A new weekly meeting place for magicians will take place on Wednesday 7th April 2010. Meetings will take place every Wednesday night at the Tunnel Top Pub in a quiet reserved area of the pub. People who are interested in discussing magic, performing, or sharing ideas will be very welcome. There will be no committee, no subscription and no rules. Just a quiet place to meet and share ideas with other magicians. The pub serves good quality food at low prices and has a warm cosy atmosphere. The address is Tunnel Top Pub, Northwich Road, Dutton, Cheshire WA4 4JY (Map). All enquiries to organiser, DavidRie@hotmail.co.uk. 01928 718496. Pub Tel. number 01928 718181 and ask for Moira." 27.3.10

The Order of The Magi (Manchester). Geoffrey Newton PRO reports: The Order of The Magi held their annual dinner at the Irish World Heritage Centre last Saturday where over 70 diners enjoyed a first class meal in the company of Shirley Ray, President of The British Ring IBM and husband Dave Cass. President’s Lady Gerry Ball and President Ian Ball (left and second left) made very striking but classy table arrangements. Speeches were made by: Shirley, Ian, Gerry and David Ball (Secretary of The Magic Circle). All spoke well keeping their words interesting and were appreciated by the guests. A well balanced cabaret appeared later in the evening. Opening was clearly a future star of magic Danny Jewell with a very slick dove act. Following on came the comedy of Martyn James bringing laughs thick and fast and finally Master Illusionist Andrew Green with a strong performance including high energy routines from his glamorous dancers.

On the 23rd March The Order of The Magi held their AGM when Alan ‘Snaggers’ Russell was installed as the President to head the society now commencing its’ 102nd year. In 2008 he was the President of the Mercian Mystics (Stoke on Trent) so he already has experience in this role. Many people know Alan for his skills with balloons but he is also quite an adept close up magician. He has been a member of The Magi for 6 years and is looking forward to meeting members and visitors over his year of office. Lectures booked to date are now on www.orderofthemagi.org.uk and membership enquiries are welcomed by contacting Mike Sharples on 0161 287 7865 or secretary@orderofthemagi.org.uk. Geoffrey Newton PRO. 27.3.10

Congratulations to Alan Innes, winner of Aberdeen Magical Society's annual Ron Gordon Cup for Card Magic competition which was held last week. "Some of the North East's top card men competed and they had to perform an eight minute routine that was judged on entertainment and technical skill by four esteemed judges from the society. Alan, who is a partner in award-winning www.allansmagic.com, performed an amazing routine that included aces jumping around the table, a chosen card appearing in a strange place and the Queen of Diamonds bursting into flames!" 27.3.10

Theo The Magician's Magic Sunflower Competition in Aid of The Neonatal Unit and The Royal Marsden. Theo emails: "A big thank you to all the magicians that turned up to support Theo’s Magic Sunflower Launch Night on Monday 22nd March. Over 90 people attended and just over £1,000 was raised for the Neonatal Unit and the Royal Marsden both in Carshalton. Everyone was treated to some enlightening magic (see photo), followed by wine, nibbles, raffle and auction. Now you can buy your Magic Sunflower Seeds - £5 for a pack of ten. There are prizes for the tallest and widest sunflower and funniest photo with your sunflower. For a registration form and more information go to www.magictheo.com and click fundraising or call [Theo] direct on 07711 724129." 27.3.10

P C Sorcar Junior, Alexandra Palace, London. Ian Keable reviews last week's show, Click Here • The Step System DVDs are reviewed by Matt Wainwright this week, Click Here • "Katona's husband 'to be a magician'" Click Here • The Van Buren Story on DVD is reviewed by Tony James this week, Click Here • "Magician Paul Daniels to show tricks of the trade in village hall gig" Click Here • 15 year old magician/pickpocket Oliver Graham Smith needs your votes, Click Here • Thanks as always for your news submissions - see you next week, Duncan. 27.3.10

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