Number 965 - 22nd December 2018

 

Change of transmission date for Channel 5's all-new Tommy Cooper: In His Own Words. Tommy Cooper: In His Own Words has been moved from its original December 18th air date to Christmas Day at 9.15pm. An affectionate look back at Tommy Cooper's life and career. Sir Michael Parkinson, Jimmy Tarbuck and Chris Tarrant and others reflect on what made Tommy Cooper one of the greatest ever entertainers. Colleagues talk about working with him, and his daughter Vicky reveals her feelings about her father. See TV Magic for details. 22.12.18

 

Stars of Magic, Redgrave Theatre, Bristol. 27th-30th December. Magic like you’ve never seen before! The sensational Stars of Magic returns to Bristol with a third, brand new, family-friendly show. This Christmas, seven of the most spellbinding illusionists will be travelling from all over the world to delight and astonish at the most magical time of year. From spectacular Las Vegas-style illusions to world-class sleight of hand. Previous years have been a complete sell out so make sure to book early before tickets vanish! Suitable for everyone who believes in magic, from age 5-105.

Matthew McGurk & Katia: High energy and breathtakingly spectacular with the biggest illusions we’ve ever had!
Matthew Dowden: The James Bond of Magic – Matthew is as classy as he is funny. A true entertainer.
Horret Wu: FISM World Champion of Card Magic 2015. Horret’s stunning routine looks like trick photography.
Bruce Airhead: Unique and totally bonkers. The metamorphosis of a man and a six foot balloon.
Huang Zheng: From China, performing her enchanting “Air” act for the first time ever in the UK.
Neal Austin: Returning with some brand new magical mayhem! Hilarious and baffling.
For more information see www.redgravetheatre.com (Premium Plus tickets include a poster and free magic trick! Show not recommended for under 5s).
22.12.18

 

Josephine Lee is this week's guest on Richard Young's The Magicians' Podcast. Star of Impossible, The Illusionists and a BGT semi-finalist, hear how Josephine went from ballet dancer to becoming one of the world's most in-demand stage illusionists. Josephine talks about the incredible work ethic instilled in her by Hans Klok, that continues with her own work to this day. Also, MagicWeek favourite Alan Hudson returns, with magic news, gossip, and an in vain plea to MagicWeek! Listen now, via iTunes, Podbean or Spotify. 22.12.18

 

The Magic Circle Christmas Show, London. A festive treat with a chance to see inside the headquarters of The Magic Circle, see close-up magic performed before your very eyes and witness the spectacular stage show starring Rafael, Jamie Raven, Dean Leavy and Storm Hooper and hosted by Danny Buckler. Ideal for families with children aged five and above. To Sunday 30th December, shows at 2.30pm and 7pm (no shows on 24th, 25th and 26th December, no 2.30pm show on 30th December). Doors open at 1.30pm and 6pm. The matinee performance should finish by 5pm and the evening show by 9.30pm however all timings are approximate. Tickets range from £38 to £45. Venue: The Magic Circle Headquarters, 12 Stephenson Way, Euston, London NW1 2HD (Map). Only a few tickets remain. Further details: www.themagiccircle.co.uk/public-events. 22.9.18

 

The MagicFest Christmas Show Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. 27th-30th December. The MagicFest Christmas show is back at the Traverse theatre from 27th to 30th December! This year we present a Christmas collaboration between Scottish magician-scientist hybrid Kevin Quantum and Swedish high-tech wizard Charlie Caper. In ‘The Miracle of Christmas Future’ – magic, robots and humans come together to create a glimpse of the not so distant future, fusing age-old sleight of hand with the state of the art tech, and phenomenal illusions with futuristic science. Expect levitations, predictions, misdirection, tom-foolery, jiggery-pokery and robots. This show is for magic fans, Christmas fans, future fans, sci-fi fans… for humans who want a special festive experience that will blow their minds and leave them smiling as they float out of the theatre. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. More info, see www.magicfest.co.uk. 22.9.18

 

The MagicWeek Video Archive. This week, the third show of John Fisher's The Magic Comedy Strip from 1992 starring Jonathan & Charlotte Pendragon, Jeff Hobson, David Williamson, Rudy Coby, Joe Pasquale and special guest Juan Tamariz. This show went out on April 6th. Number 4 next week. See The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with past weeks and the occasional 'bonus' video Click Here. 22.12.18

 

Merlins of Wakefield have their Countdown to 2019 Sale on at the moment, with loads of items at 50% off! They write: The sale has many items that are ‘one-offs’ and ‘low stock’, so once gone, can’t be reordered at these prices. The Sale finishes on 31st December 2018. Check out our latest Preview featuring over 70 great effects. Also, don’t forget we buy and sell all types of used magic. Contact us for details: merlins@btconnect.com. We would also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a magical New Year! www.merlinswakefield.co.uk P.S. If you have forgotten to get someone some magic for Christmas, the last posting date has gone. Don't worry though, you can get Merlins Gift Vouchers Merlins Gift Vouchers emailed to you till 1pm on Christmas eve. 22.12.18

 

Luke Jermay: Intuition - London. Intuition is a strange thing and Luke Jermay is even stranger. Building on his acclaimed debut show Sixth Sense, entertainer Luke Jermay is back and better than ever with a brand new interactive stage show. Intuition is jam-packed with phenomenal jaw-dropping demonstrations of telepathy and prediction. Your mind will be read, your choices will be predicted and your future will be revealed. Join Luke Jermay for a funny, entertaining, emotional, controversial, uplifting, unique experience, that you will never forget! Friday 8th and Saturday 9th February 2019, at 7.30pm. Tickets from £12. Book online: www.artsdepot.co.uk. Artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, London N12 0GA (Map). 22.12.18

 

Magic! The Tour 2019 dates announced. From the producers: Magic! The Tour featuring JezO (comedy magician and president of the Cambridge Pentacle Club) and Doctor Bondini announces six dates for 2019 with more to follow.

16th February 2019 Theatre Royal, Margate.
20th February 2019 Camberley Theatre, Camberley.
15th March 2019 The Corn Exchange, Exeter.
26th April 2019 Royal Hippodrome, Eastbourne.

4th May 2019 Thameside Theatre, Grays.
11th May 2019 Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

See www.magicthetour.co.uk for details.
JezO is currently starring as Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk at Margate's Theatre Royal. This is JezO's fourth year in Margate and he is pleased to once again make this beautiful old theatre creak with his high energy performance. Meanwhile, Bondini has produced more unique and spectacular effects for Aladdin at Harlow Playhouse and is now working on a number of supernatural effects for the tour of The House on Cold Hill by Peter James. Tim Bond (the musician of the family) has also been busy with Christmas shows, having produced music for Aladdin (Harlow), Peter Pan (Portsmouth), Aladdin (Welwyn Garden City) and The Great Christmas Sleigh Ride (Harlow). We wish all MagicWeek readers a very happy Christmas and hope to see you at one of our shows next year.
22.12.18

 

The Amazing Fartzini by Shane Robinson (Zane). Shane Robinson (Zane) writes: I am very pleased to announce the release of my new book 'The Amazing Fartzini', which is now available to buy as an ebook or paperback on Amazon worldwide. It is an entertaining children's novel and magic book combined, intended for years eight to fifteen, filled with inspiration and advice on not only how to become a better magician but also how to gain more confidence through performing magic! It is beautifully illustrated throughout. I have put a lot of work and thought into the book and it is my hope that it will inspire many young people to take up the wonderful art of magic! At the rear of the book, I teach over two dozen amazing magic tricks, which I have performed myself over the years using everyday objects, which the main character Eric learns and performs in the story. It includes a card trick I created myself, which has a very powerful impact on an audience, but is easy-to-do. For more info and to order visit www.amazon.co.uk and for Zane's Magic Shop visit www.zanesmagicshop.com. 22.12.18

 

Ken Dodd: How Tickled We Were, BBC 2 on Wednesday 26th December. A celebration of the life and work of Sir Ken Dodd, as told in his own words and with testimony from friends and family. See TV Magic for details. 22.12.18

 

The Great Illusionists by Derek Tait. From the publisher: In a time before television, radio and cinema, entertainment was found at the many music halls and theatres up and down Great Britain. Acts were varied and included singers, comedians, acrobats, dance acts, animal acts, magicians and escapologists as well as male and female impersonators. Shows played to packed audiences. Many people escaped their hum-drum lives, working in cotton mills, coal mines or factories up and down the country, by visiting the local theatre or music hall. Magicians and illusionists attracted huge crowds all over the country. This book includes the stories of some of the best illusionists as well as speciality acts such as Datas and The Human Fly. Some are still well-known names today, while others will be unheard of by many. Marvel at the feats and lives of the Davenport Brothers, the Great Raymond, David Devant, Carl Hertz and Harry Kellar. Relive the tragedies such as the deaths on stage of Chung Ling Soo and the Great Lafayette. The performers of the late 1800s and early 1900s made way for the many great illusionists and stage artists that we have today. Acts such as David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy and David Blaine are all influenced by the likes of Houdini, The Great Lafayette and Robert-Houdini and without the innovations of the early artists, the modern performers might not exist - how different would entertainment be to this day? For more info and to order visit www.amazon.co.uk. 22.12.18

 

IBM British Ring Christmas Greetings: British Ring President Brian Lead, along with his lady Sheila, would like to send magical greetings to magicians and their families throughout the world. May you all have a happy and peaceful festive season, and may 2019 bring you good health and success. The President’s Dinner is on 23 March 2019 at the Mytton Fold Hotel in Langho (near Blackburn) and you will find full details on www.britishring.org.uk. Just click on ‘events’ or email Brian on b.lead@btinternet.com. Geoffrey Newton PRO. 22.12.18

 

"Thief stole £100,000 of gems, watches, and a deck of cards in raid on home of magician Dynamo" Click Here • "Man who burgled home of magician Dynamo jailed for killing 77-year-old pensioner in hit-and-run" Click Here • "Fiddler on the Roof – Trevor Nunn's magnificent revival ★★★★★" Click Here • "Tommy Cooper: Man who made us laugh just like that" Click Here • "Uri Geller Explains Why He Would Never Use His Mind Power to Move Football Again" Click Here • "Me & my spoons: Psychic Uri Geller reveals how he was paid $1m to try to find oil" Click Here • "Magician Criss Angel’s positivity becomes his legendary career" Click Here • "Magician Puts On Show For Shelter Dogs And Their Reactions Are Priceless" Click Here • "World-famous Preston magician Johnny Hart dies, aged 75" Click Here • "Young Irish magician wows with Christmas themed tricks" Click Here • "Magician Jamie Allan couldn’t resist Chicago ‘connection’ for his U.S. debut" Click Here • "Sam Powers Joins The Illusionists Melbourne Season" Click Here. 22.12.18

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers, worldwide! It's been another busy year... The MagicWeek Video Archive continues to grow with a new video being added every week. All the videos are from my collection, recorded from 1982 up to around 2000. And the MagicWeek Backer scheme got off to a good start in July (thank you Backers!). Thanks also to everyone who submitted magic news, reviews, reports and photos throughout the year and to Chris North who keeps an eye on all my typos. Big thanks too, to our Magic Dealer advertisers (the best on the net!) and finally to you for reading MagicWeek! Wishing you a Very Happy Christmas, Duncan, Keiko, Louis and Amelia. 22.12.18

 

Back

 

© www.magicweek.co.uk