Number
1219 - Saturday 4th November 2023
Edinburgh International Magic Festival 20th - 31st December. Edinburgh International Magic Festival is back this Christmas with a mind-blowing programme of shows, events and workshops to bring wonder and fun to the festive season: Kevin Quantum’s Christmas Special - Future Magicians - Vincent Gambini: This is not a magic show - Cameron Gibson and Friends - Richard Wiseman: Mind Magic - Elliot Bibby: The Best of Bibby - Tricky Ricky: Festive Funtime - Gary James: Wonderland - Gary Dunn: Jokes & Tricks - Kevin Quantum: Edinburgh Magic - Vincent Gambini: Out of Thin Air - Richard Wiseman: The World's Greatest Card Trick and Other Mysteries - Cameron Gibson: Street Magic Masterclass - Close-Up Magic at The Joker & The Thief - Castle of Light. We can't wait to see you this winter for our 2023 edition helping us "share the magic". See full details at www.magicfest.co.uk/whats-on. 4.11.23
Marc
Paul, John Lovick and Charlie Caper at the London Magic Convention tomorrow!
Sunday November 5th at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London:
3 amazing lectures, The London Close-Up Magic
Championship 2023, the Patrick Page Award, the unmissable '£4 Gala Show' and a
host of magic dealers...
Last minute tickets will be available on the door. See
www.londonmagicconvention.co.uk for times and venue details.
4.11.23
Misdirection
- A Full Day Workshop with Tom Stone. Monday 8th January in Nottingham.
Chris Wilder writes: Whilst you can read a lot about the art of "misdirection",
learning how to apply it, and how to practice it, is an illusive subject.
Presented by Swedish magician Tom Stone and in association with The Curious
Cabaret, this workshop will not focus on the teaching of routines and methods,
but rather give delegates the skills to greatly improve their existing
performances through a careful study and application of theory through
individual and group exercises. The workshop is therefore recommended only for
professionals or magicians with a serious interest in elevating their work.
The day is ideal for parlour acts, but close-up and stage performers will also get a lot out of the day. There are only 20 places, with a limited number of early bird tickets available until the end of November. Includes breakfast pastries, refreshments and lunch. Monday 8th January, 9.45am to 5pm in Nottingham. For more info and to book Click Here. 4.11.23
Unbelievable
is set to take to the stage at this year's Royal Variety Performance at The
Royal Albert Hall.
www.unbelievablelive.com.
New trailer:
www.youtube.com.
4.11.23
Magician
and presenter Ben Hanlin was in Countdown's Dictionary Corner last week.
Colin Murray and Rachel Riley hosted as contestants raced against the clock to
pit their wits against vowels, consonants and numbers. Ben performed his magic
every day. Catch up here:
www.channel4.com/programmes/countdown (Week 30th October to 3rd November).
4.11.23
Steve
Faulkner: Failing Forward - Leicester Magic Circle, 6th November. The
Leicester Magic Circle write: In this refreshingly unconventional lecture, Steve
looks into the importance of learning through failure. While we all recognise
the necessity of investing hours in honing our craft through practice, he
reminds us that the journey doesn't end there. Embracing our flawed, and often
horrendous (in Steve's case) early performances whether in front of friends,
family, or a paying audience, is an essential part of the learning process,
despite how horrifically embarrassing it may be. You'll even enjoy video
evidence of the aforementioned horrors. Every failure is a funny story.
With a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years, Steve openly shares his own
stories of painful failures, (some rather recent!) which have been instrumental
in his continuous growth and development. In this candid presentation, he'll
analyse recent and historic works in progress, helping you to overcome the fear
of mistakes. Monday 6th November at 7.30pm at The Leicester Magic Circle,
Braunstone Civic Centre, 209 Kingsway, Braunstone, Leicester LE3 2PP
www.theleicestermagiccircle.co.uk.
4.11.23
New
Release from Mark Leveridge Magic. Earlier this year MLM released the first
two volumes in the new Four-midable Magic Series of trick ebooks (namely,
Four-midable Card Magic and Four-midable Mental Mysteries), each of
which contains four previously unpublished routines of a particular type
extracted from the E-Club Pro resource. Now Mark Leveridge is pleased to
announce the publication of volume 3 in the series, Four-midable Coin
Creations, which features the following coin routines. Cash Withdrawal
– a marked coin vanishes from an envelope and appears in an onlooker’s closed
hand. Seeker Coin – an initialed coin vanishes and is found in the centre
of the deck resting on a signed card. Loose Change – two coins magically
change places in the cleanest of ways. Magnetic Coins – amazingly visual
mini-matrix effect in which coins jump around beneath cards. No gimmicked coins
are required for any of the effects and the 30 page e-book describes everything
carefully and is supplemented by 41 colour photo illustrations. This download
costs just £12.00 (£6.00 for members of E-Club Pro) and you can watch dems of
all four included routines at
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
4.11.23
Magician
impossible Ben Hart on his latest show, Britain's Got Talent and teaching Tom
Cruise magic. "Sophie Clarke chats to world-renowned magician Ben Hart about
performing in Belfast for the first time, reaching the final of Britain's Got
Talent and teaching Tom Cruise magic on the set of Mission: Impossible..." Read
the full story in
www.irishnews.com.
4.11.23
The
Session launches a new initiative for 2024. Damian Jennings writes: For The
Session this year we’re launching a new initiative called Basecamp. The idea is
that some people are really intimidated by conventions, especially if they’ve
not been to one before. Worried they won’t know anyone, not knowing what to do,
etc. Or maybe people are just a bit shy or want to make new friends. That’s what
Basecamp is for.
Basecamp attendees will get a special pin, to let people know they are part of
it. They'll also get special events and reserved tables for the jamming sessions
and at mealtimes, run by Vanishing Inc. team members. This means there is always
a safe space to go, where they can meet new people and hang out. See
www.vanishingincmagic.com/blog/basecamp.
This year we’re also running our Youth Scholars programme. This gives young magicians under 18 (plus a parent or guardian) the chance to attend the convention for free. For details Click Here. 4.11.23
Free
Mentorship Opportunity for Young Magicians at MagicFest! Would you like to
get some expert mentoring to work on an act that will be part of the Edinburgh
Magic Festival this Christmas? Following the success from last year, we’re
delighted to bring back the Future Magicians programme at MagicFest - a guided
mentorship programme - to assist and encourage young magicians who want to build
positive rehearsal habits and make high quality work. It's free for young
magicians to take part and you'll work with professionals to create an act ready
for a live theatre performance at the end of December 2023!
This opportunity is limited to 5 young magicians (aged 12-19) who already have some magic experience and want to progressively build an act toward a deadline performance at the Magic Festival. There are two spaces left - be quick - deadline has been extended to 9th November. Register your interest here: www.magicfest.co.uk. 4.11.23
Influence.
Thursday 19th October to Saturday 2nd December, Collective Theatre, London.
Influence tells The Magician’s story. Bringing back a long-forgotten act, Kit
Young stars in this story of deception and revenge. Descended from and inspired
by a long line of mentalists, conjurers, and illusionists, for the first time he
brings his skills in acting and magic together, to present an enchanting journey
through a long-forgotten act, brought back to life.
With a few new surprises along the way, the work challenges the audiences’
powers of perception, and asks them if they can really believe what they see and
hear? Full of twists and turns, Influence plays with illusion, throwing into
question the difference between truth and deception, reality and fiction. Magic
Consultant: Scott Penrose. 19th October to Saturday 2nd December at Collective
Theatre, Hornsey Road Baths, 2 Tiltman Place, London N7 7EET. To book tickets
visit
www.collectivetheatre.co.uk. "...cleverly fogs the boundary between
performance and reality" The Stage.
4.11.23
Ian
Kendall’s Magic Show, London, Monday 20th November. Edinburgh magician Ian
Kendall is coming down to the Hen & Chickens Theatre in Islington on Monday 20th
November to put on a full evening show of magic for everyone (over 18, because
it’s in a pub. Ian has been called the "Sleight of Hand King" by the Sunday
Times, and "Highly entertaining... Impressive magician’s skill" by the Scotsman.
Tickets are £12.50 and available from
www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/ian-kendalls-magic-show.
4.11.23
Andrew
Paul Smith lectures for The Surrey Society on Thursday 9th November. Adam
Mosley writes: Andrew Paul has been studying magic and sleight of hand since a
very early age. Having been involved in magic for over 35 years, he has gained
valuable insight into not only the how’s, but the why’s behind performing strong
magic. As the manager of Alakazam Magic for nearly 10 years, Andrew has learnt
valuable tips and ideas from some of the best in the business and his deep
interest and active study of not only methods but theories, is evident in his
approach.
This is more than a lecture, this is an interactive conversation highlighting Andrew’s experiences and beliefs in magic, illustrated with examples from close-up and stand-up pieces involving playing cards, coins and mentalism, which are explained throughout. Members are free and visiting magicians are welcome for a £10 entrance fee. The lecture takes place in East Horsley, Surrey at 8pm. For full details please contact Adam Mosley addmoses@hotmail.com. 4.11.23
Javier
Jarquin Card Ninja - The New Victory Theater, New York, November 10th – 26th.
Stand-up comedy meets standout card tricks when Javier Jarquin captivates with
wry wisecracks and dazzling displays of dexterity. You won’t believe how far,
how fast, how flawlessly he flicks a playing card at its target! A sold-out hit
at festivals around the world and viewed over a million times online, this
one-man-many-cards show will have you laughing and gasping in equal measure.
Born in Costa Rica, and living in the UK for the last 10 years, Javier Jarquin was raised in New Zealand by Latin American and Chinese parents. Growing up, he loved martial arts films and pretended to be a ninja. Instead, he became a computer programmer and would fling business cards while bored at work. One day, he got a card to boomerang and thought, “Let’s take this on the road!” Since moving to London in August 2010 he has established himself as a UK circuit regular and headline act. He has performed on the same bill with top names such as Jimmy Carr, Stewart Lee, Jo Brand and Paul Daniels. Javier Jarquin Card Ninja. November10th-26th. Book here: www.newvictory.org. 4.11.23
Martin
Peirce on Craig Petty's Magic TV: 'Talk Magic'.
Every week Craig Petty sits down and chats with a well known magician; a
creator, a performer, or someone who has had a positive impact on the Magic
Community. This week: "Martin Peirce - the background and creative process
from of one of the most fooling magicians"
YouTube.
4.11.23
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This week,
Paul Zenon, Paul Zerdin, Peter Brough and Bruce Forsyth on "It shouldn't happen
to a Television Performer" 20 years ago. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To see more from The MagicWeek Video
Archive
Click Here.
4.11.23
Paul Zerdin: Puppetman - last few tour dates. The America’s Got Talent winner is back with a brand-new comedy show for 2023. Join Paul and an array of 'funny and sharp-tongued' (The Observer) creations including Sam, Albert, Baby, Roger the bodyguard and an urban fox, as he takes to the road with a show which promises that 'when you are not laughing, you will simply be left in awe' (Three Weeks). As seen on Lost Voice Guy’s Christmas Comedy Club (ITV), Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (BBC1), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), and Tonight at The London Palladium (ITV). Magicians will be interested to know that there’s quite a bit of magic in this new show, including a Zig Zag illusion performed by Paul's old man puppet character!
Saturday November 4th Radlett Centre
Sunday November 5th Shrewsbury Theatre Severn
Wednesday November 8th Leicester Curve
Thursday November 9th Solihull Core Theatre
Friday November 10th London Leicester Square Theatre
Saturday November 11th London Leicester Square Theatre
Sunday November 12th London Leicester Square Theatre. 4.11.23
Jamie
Williams AIMC will be taking his brand new lecture on the road in 2024 and
invites all magic clubs to get in touch for lecture details and to book:
djwilliams@themagiccircle.co.uk.
4.11.23
South Downs Magicians Secondhand Sale of Props and Effects - tomorrow, 5th November. From the organisers: South Downs Magicians are hosting a secondhand sale of props and effects on Sunday, 5th November at Handcross Village Hall, High Street, Handcross RH17 6BJ. Doors open to buyers from 9am. We aim to be finished by 1pm. Refreshments will be available from our members. Ample free car parking. Easily accessible to A23, A24 and M25. A small free lecture is planned. There is a local restaurant for those wanting to eat that's just a 5 minute walk from the venue, offering really good food. www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk (Note: Sellers' tables are now all sold out.). 4.11.23
Bess
the other Houdini - Upstairs At The Gatehouse, London - final week. Escape Artists Theatre Company presents Bess - The
Other Houdini, the startling true story of Harry Houdini’s beloved wife
and her breakdown in the aftermath of his death. The world knew Bess as
Houdini’s loyal partner, both on and off stage, his inspiration, his
guiding star - or was their perfect marriage their greatest illusion?
It is 1929, the height of the Spiritualist frenzy. Houdini, the world’s
first Superstar, has been dead two years and all attempts to contact him
have failed. Yet surely if anyone can break through from the Other Side,
it’s Harry. Meanwhile his widow, Bess, his beloved partner both offstage
and on, is alone and lost, her fragile health already stretched thin by
years of living in daily fear as her husband was buried alive, flung
manacled into icy rivers and dangled upside down ten stories high in a
straitjacket. Now she is deeply in debt, struggling with addiction and
desperate to stay in the public eye.
When she is accused of rigging a séance, and with the press hounding her
as a fraud, she is forced to flee to a private sanitarium. Does she
truly believe her husband has reached out to her from the Beyond? Or,
haunted as she is by her own memories and hallucinations, can she even
tell the difference? As she battles with her own demons, she stumbles
upon devastating clues about Houdini’s secret life, leading to the
revelation that their perfect marriage may have been the greatest
illusion of them all... For more info
and to book
Click Here.
4.11.23
Book
a magic lecturer for your club today. Visit the MagicWeek
Lecturers
page!
4.11.23
"Derren
Brown reveals he's haunted at night by awkward meeting with ex-US
President"
Click Here • "Penn & Teller Don’t Mind Being Fooled"
Click Here • "And for my next trick... the Moon will vanish!
Magician David Copperfield announces latest stunt that's been in the
works for the last three decades"
Click Here • "This Nyack magician is headed to (off) Broadway"
Click Here • "Look Inside a Magician’s Treasury of Magic Mementos
and Eccentric Ephemera Set to be Auctioned in Chicago"
Click Here • "Sunderland's Fire Station hosting magic and comedy
with Pete Firman"
Click Here • "Magician Joshua Jay to Launch New York Residency at
Mastercard Midnight Theatre"
Click Here • "Las Vegas magician Mac King shares advice on getting
started in the art of illusion"
Click Here • "International comedian and magician Mark Clearview to
appear in Sidney"
Click Here • That's it for another week, see you next week, Duncan.
4.11.23