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