Number
941 - 7th July 2018
The
influence of Ancient Egypt on the History of Magic. A lecture by Nacho
Ares. International magic write:
We have dozens of cultural references regarding magic in the time of the
Pharaohs. Texts, images and traditions found in the Valley of the Nile
inspired many magicians during the 19th century, when theatres and
spectacles showed devices motivated for the modern Egyptomania.
In this lecture on 9th July, Nacho Ares will take us on a journey from
the first mentions to magic as illusionism in Ancient Egypt (2500 a.C.)
to modern magicians who have employed archaeological motives and designs
inspired in Ancient Egypt.
Don't miss Nacho's first lecture in London on this fascinating aspect of magical heritage. Lecture: £15 per person. Start :7.30pm. Venue: Casa Italiana (2nd Floor), 136 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL (Map). www.internationalmagic.com (just across the road from our Magic Shop!). Advanced booking essential - please email martin@internationalmagic.com. 7.7.18
IBM
British Ring Convention 2018. From the organisers: Want to be
involved in the I.B.M. British Ring No.25 Convention? Here is how you
can be part of the fun at Southport! The deadline for applications - 30
July 2018 - is fast approaching for the Stage and Close up competitions!
There are still a few spaces on each for any last minute applicants –
you have to be in it to win it! Here is a reminder of what is up for
grabs to contestants:
Stage Competition
1st prize of the British Ring Trophy plus £500
2nd prize of the Theo Speaker Cup plus £250
3rd prize of the Alastair Wand plus £100
Plus do you have an act you believe can win The British Ring Shield (for
achieving outstanding magical excellence), the Dittia Shield (for
manipulation), the Tom Harris Cup (for comedy) or the Conventioneers
Trophy (for the greatest originality shown in effect, method or
presentation)? These awards have a reputation for excellence as they
will only be awarded if the judges all agree they have been earned! As
such if a contestant is awarded the British Ring Shield they will be
invited to perform their winning act as part of West End Magic at
Leicester Square Theatre in London.
Contact our competition organiser Oliver Tabor now for further details
on 01702 543242
otmagicfx@hotmail.com.
Close-up Competition
1st prize of the Zina Bennett Trophy plus £500
2nd prize of £250
3rd prize of £100
The ‘Rovi’ Trophy may also be awarded for the most entertaining and
skilful act using cards. For further details on how to enter please
contact Bill Simpson
w.e.simpson@btinternet.com.
The Ali Bongo Micro Marathon of Close-up Magic – all I.B.M. members
welcome to take part
Since the late and much revered Ali Bongo introduced a Micro Marathon of
close up magic at the Eastbourne Convention in 2008 it has continued to
be a popular and well attended part of every convention. Magicians of
all levels of experience are encouraged to enter to showcase their
skills to their fellow magicians in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The
winner is decided by the votes of the audience. The 'Ali Bongo Memorial
Trophy' is presented to the winner and all competitors receive a
certificate of participation. For further details on how to enter please
contact Rick Tynan:
ibmbritishring25treasurer@gmail.com.
The I.B.M. British Ring No.25 are looking for young magicians to
perform at Southport
Each year the Stars of the Future show is a highlight at the Convention
and it is a fantastic chance for young magicians to get involved and
raise their profile. Participants are still being welcomed for Southport
so please contact the team at
conventionteamibmbr25@gmail.com for further details of what is on
offer if you would like to take part or if you know of a young magician
who is interested.
If you would like to attend the convention and require a digital copy of the registration form or have any questions please contact the Registration Officer, Carol Tynan, at ibmbritishring25reg@gmail.com. The full registration price for members and their partners is £150, it is £170 for non-members and £75 for juniors - other rates for weekend and day tickets are available as well. See www.britishring.org.uk/convention-countdown. 7.7.18
Simon
Drake's long-awaited lecture DVD has just been released as a limited
edition. Several sources have been combined and digitally enhanced
for this special presentation. Simon explains in depth many of the
effects he's created for stage and screen, and unusually for a magic
lecture also explores the thinking behind the stagecraft of his four
decades as a performer. It also covers the TV series Simon created,
The Secret Cabaret, which has now achieved well deserved cult
status, and proved to be way ahead of its time. Many prominent magicians
including the vastly knowledgeable Patrick Page cite it as the best TV
magic ever made. This lecture is described as "a must-see", not just for
Simon's fans, but any serious student of magic and illusion. For more
info and to order visit
www.houseofmagic.co.uk/lecture-form.
7.7.18
Portsmouth
and District Magic Circle Jumbo Day 2018. From the organisers:
Sunday 4th November 2018 at 9am. Lectures from Etienne Pradier, Brando &
Silvana and Dave Jones. Buy and sell new and secondhand magic. Southern
Magician 2018 competition. 1st Prize £100 PropDog vouchers, 2nd Prize
£50 PropDog vouchers. Venue: Portsmouth and
District Magic Circle, Buckland Community Centre, Malins Road,
Portsmouth PO2 7BT (Map).
For more info and to register visit
www.portsmouthmagic.co.uk/jumbo-day.
7.7.18
Jeff
McBride’s Magic & Mystery School have recently invited Jay Fortune to
join their faculty after another successful UK tour (co-produced by
Jay). Larry Hass, the school Dean, said "I am so pleased to say that our
friend Jay Fortune has officially joined the Magic & Mystery School team
as one of our Guest Teachers! Jay brings so many talents to our team. He
has a long career as a magician, but he is also a fine artist, producer,
agent, and deeply experienced magic teacher. His knowledge of magic and
magic business is extraordinary." As Jay 'retires' as a successful
performing magician after nigh-on two decades to focus on his art and
writing, Jay says he has plans to work closely with the school to
develop new projects and tours and constantly strive to excel in his
lifelong pursuit of magic.
7.7.18
Become
a MagicWeek Backer. As MagicWeek heads towards its 1,000th edition,
and as I'd like it to continue from there to the 2,000th edition, I
thought I'd introduce a 'MagicWeek Backer' scheme.
Click Here to find out
what it's all about. DT.
7.7.18
Carl
Royale Lecture - York Society of Magicians. Adrian Salamon writes:
After making a living from performing magic for the last fifteen years
Carl will share his approach to many of his highly commercial routines,
straight from his working repertoire. The lecture includes Carl's now
famous Micro Cup and Ball Routine (The Gold Cup Con) magic with cards,
coins, elastic bands, business cards, and fun mental magic, including
his thoughts and work on using indexes. All delivered with the good
humour you would expect from a working professional magician. In the
lecture, Carl will also discuss his approach to adding humour to your
magic routines, making effects more magical for your audience and
include many stories from his time as a working pro and much much more.
Wednesday 11th July at 7.30pm. Members of other societies are welcome.
Door charge of £5. Please get in touch for more details
gren.dowson@virginmedia.com
07515 566786. Venue: Red Lion Hotel, Boroughbridge Road, Upper
Poppleton, York YO26 6PR (Map).
www.yorksocietyofmagicians.co.uk.
7.7.18
The
Mark Leveridge July Podcast. The free monthly 30 minute podcast is
an interesting mix of opinion, information and advice from someone who
has been a professional magician for 37 years. Mark chats with you about
a range of varied topics on July's edition: Richy Roy suggests that
most of us are charging far too little for our shows and Mark discusses
whether he is right or not. There is a story which proves that no matter
how long you have been in the magic business, there can still be things
which happen to you which have never happened before. "Strolling magic
is not an art, it's a service" says Paul Brook - but is he correct?
There is news of a new MLM release that is a terrific, practical version
of a classic plot. The mobile phone has changed the way spectators want
to experience our magic. Why do lay people still fall back on cliched
explanations for the magic that we do? You can access this podcast
and any of the previous 66 episodes at
www.markleveridge.co.uk/podcast.php, or alternatively you can link
to
www.markleveridge.podbean.com from where you can also sign up as a
follower and automatically receive each new edition as soon as it is
ready on the 1st of every month.
7.7.18
Tommy Cooper Forever - Parts 1 & 2. Two-part celebration of Tommy Cooper's life and work. Three decades have passed since Tommy Cooper died, but the nation's love of this unique magician has gone on. In the second programme, singer and actress Anita Harris retraces her footsteps back to the London Palladium where she worked with Tommy. There is a return to Holland to discover how Cooper became an unlikely comedy hero on Dutch TV in the 60s. Comedian Les Dennis makes an emotional trip back to Her Majesty's Theatre to remember the night he saw Tommy's final performance. 8th & 9th July (repeat), see TV Magic. 7.7.18
The
Hypnotist - Live & Outrageous. From the promoters: Robert Temple is
returning to the road in October and November for the second leg of his
2018 theatre tour, 'The Hypnotist - Live & Outrageous'. Playing a total
of 20+ dates, including Peterborough, Redhill, Scunthorpe, Torquay,
Lowestoft, Weymouth, Basildon, Lancaster, Skegness, Halifax, Redditch,
Robert is excited to put his fresh brand of outrageous comedy and
hypnosis back into UK theatres. Co-written and directed by Kennedy.
Tickets available via:
www.roberttemplehypnotist.com/tour-dates.
7.7.18
Magic at the Barn: 15 Years of Magic - Rochford, this weekend. A unique show featuring award-winning magic, incredible illusions, secret wonders, mind-blowing impossibilities, comedy and entertainment from the past 15 years of the 'Magic at the Barn' shows. Set within the enchanting atmosphere of a 17th century barn theatre and presented by the show's creator Oliver Tabor. Witness: a levitating girl, drawn pictures that come to life, impossible mind-reading, appearing butterflies and much more, including guest performances from Christian Lee and the Card Ninja. Guaranteed entertainment for all the family! 4 amazing shows over 2 days, Saturday 7th July at 3pm & 7.30pm and Sunday 8th July at 12pm & 3pm. Tickets: £10 child, £15 adult, £40 family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) via www.eventbrite.co.uk. Box office: 01702 543242. Red Brick Barn, Sutton Hall, Shopland Road, Rochford, Essex SS4 1LH (Map). 7.7.18
Blackpool Magicians' Club Table Top Sale, 10th July. From the organisers: Blackpool Magicians Club are holding a table top sale on Tuesday 10th July from 7pm at the club's HQ: Blackpool Magicians' Club, 56-60 Caunce Street, Blackpool FY1 3NE (Map). www.blackpoolmagic.com. There is no door charge and visiting magicians and societies are most welcome to come along and enjoy our hospitality and facilities. Bar refreshments and catering will be available throughout the evening and of course you may just find a few new tricks and props. We will have a limited number of tables available to visiting magicians at £10 each. To reserve a table please contact Alan Horne on alan@childrensentertainments.co.uk for availability. 7.7.18
The
MagicWeek Video Archive - A New Video Every Saturday! This week,
Jeremy Beadle's take on Copperfield's Vanishing Statue of Liberty that
will leave you asking not "how?" but "why?". From Beadle's Box of
Tricks, August 1989. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with past weeks and the occasional
'bonus' video
Click Here.
DT.
7.7.18
I
Was Philip Larkin's Magician. From the producers: Andrew McGibbon
talks to Professor Edwin Dawes, biochemist and beloved magician to
Philip Larkin. Edwin Alfred Dawes arrived at the University of Hull to
establish its Biochemistry department in 1963. There he met Larkin, the
poet and university librarian. They became good friends and Edwin became
chairman of the library committee, working under Larkin. But Edwin had a
parallel professional interest in magic and conjuring, and Larkin was
spellbound with Edwin's sleights of hand and magic skills.
Edwin wrote many notable books on biochemistry and continues with his
magic, having been awarded the Gold Medal from the Magic Circle for
"exemplary service to the Society or exceptional magical ability or
both". He is only the ninth recipient of this award since 1926. As well
as library and magic commitments, Edwin's biochemistry department at
Hull University took the lead in researching bioplastics in the early
1970s, which led to the commercialisation of Biopol, a biodegradable
plastic polymer chain that can be used to make disposable plastic items,
a discovery later sidelined but now the subject of renewed interest.
Written and presented by Andrew McGibbon. Available on
iPlayer.
7.7.18
Basic
Balloon Modelling Day, Wednesday 11th
July, Surrey. Graham Lee writes: I am holding a Basic Balloon
Modelling Day in Sutton, Surrey on Wednesday 11th
July from 10am to 5pm. There will be four workshops during the
day.
Running you through all you need to know about the balloons, with a few
hints and tips, while
making a few basic designs and hopefully ending up making the flower
design in this photo. Contact
graham@balloonartwholesale.co.uk
for more details, or to book visit
Click Here.
7.7.18
Geoff Hunt. Nicky Lewis writes: It is with great sadness that we learn of Past President of the Associated Conjurers of East Sussex Geoff Hunt passed away last weekend. Details of the funeral are awaited and our thoughts are with his sister and her family. Now with Janet and Deborah. RIP Geoff. 7.7.18
Magic
Lecturer? You may be missing out... A MagicWeek reader emailed on Tuesday:
"This is not an actual news item, more of a request in response to your
reminder this week to look at your lecturers page. Do you think you could write
an article requesting UK based lecturers to advertise themselves on your page,
or encourage magicians who have a lecture to write a piece for your main page
saying they have a new lecture & give details enabling us to contact them
directly to book them, or even asking lecturers to directly email the magic
clubs listed on your site?
One of the clubs I attend has booked at least 10 people who advertise on your lecturer’s page; 9 current, & at least one who is no longer listed. I am not saying everyone was booked purely on MagicWeek’s lecture page, but many of them were. We have now exhausted the current MagicWeek lecturers list (as there are a few lecturers listed we are not interested in booking)!
In summary we want to support UK based magic/magicians, but we need them to help
us do this, and MagicWeek could be the perfect platform. I am aware of the
'lecture tour' offers we receive, sometimes these are great, but these are time
limited so often even if there is someone we like we can't book them, when they
advertise with you this is not an obstacle! I can't guarantee every new magician
to advertise the club I go to would book, but at least I could propose the ones
that look good!"
Visit the MagicWeek Lecturers page to advertise your lecture, or to book a lecturer for your club or magic event. DT. 7.7.18
US
websites blocked. If you've noticed that the number of US magic related
links in the 'sign-off' section at the bottom of the News page have been
decreasing, it's not me being lazy, but all to do with recent Data Compliance
rules which result in some magic news stories being automatically blocked: "GDPR
compliance: US websites block UK and EU readers as new data rules come into
force"
www.standard.co.uk. DT.
7.7.18
"Kids
Stuff for Magician Chris Cox"
Click Here • "Working As A Science Magician Lets Me Explain Our
Mindblowing, Wondrous World"
Click Here • "Magician Jamie Raven welcomes in the Autumn season at
The Anvil"
Click Here • "Hartsville magician heads to world championships"
Click Here • "Sheffield
mayor Magid Magid uses 'magician' at council meeting"
Click Here, and here he is:
YouTube • "Sparta Stage presents magician Eric DeCamps"
Click Here • "Had I won elections, I would have resigned the next
day"
Click Here • "Magician bringing show from Shropshire to Edinburgh
Fringe"
Click Here • Another beautiful weekend ahead, hope you are having
fun in the sun... see you next week, Duncan.
7.7.18