Number
1241 - Saturday 6th April 2024
Identity:
The Ultimate Magic Experience - Blackpool. Featuring Magician and
Illusionist Craig Christian and Elizabeth Best, as seen on Britain's Got Talent.
From the promoter: Step into the extraordinary realm of magic and mystery with
Identity: The Ultimate Magic Experience, in Blackpool! Prepare to have your
perceptions challenged and your imagination ignited in a show like no other.
Dive into a captivating fusion of cutting-edge illusions, mesmerizing
performances, and thought-provoking themes that will redefine what you thought
possible. Brace yourself for a sensory overload as we blend electrifying visuals
and mind-bending magic acts to create an immersive journey through the
exploration of identity.
Experience the thrill of witnessing world-class magicians including the
unforgettable Elizabeth, Britain’s Got Talent Semi Finalist, known for her
spellbinding performances. Join us as she takes centre stage and pushes the
boundaries of reality, together with appearances from the mysterious illusionist
and magician Craig Christian. Together, they’ll take you on a rollercoaster ride
through the depths of identity, where every twist and turn will leave you
spellbound.
Join us for an unforgettable evening where reality blurs, and the line between
illusion and truth fades away. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the
evolution of magic – grab your tickets now for Identity: The Ultimate Magic
Experience, book here:
www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com.
6.4.24
The
One returns! One Night... One Chance... One Winner... One Prize... £30,000.
Magic's Biggest Prize, The One, returns to the Blackpool Magic Convention in
2025. The competition is open to all stage and theatrical close-up performers.
For full competition entry details visit:
www.blackpoolmagicconvention.com. Prefer to sit back and watch it all
instead? Then register for the Blackpool Magic Convention 2025 at
www.blackpoolmagicconvention.com. Blackpool Magic Convention, 14th-16th
February 2025.
6.4.24
The
Magic Circle History Day - London, 8th June.
The Magic Circle History Day is taking place at The Magic Circle Head
Quarters, 12 Stephenson Way, Euston, London NW1 2HD, on Saturday, 8th
June. This event is dedicated to the study of the rich history of
Conjuring, its tricks, its performers, and magical
memorabilia. It is open to both members and
non-members of The Magic Circle.
This year's main guest is Geoffrey Durham, who readers will know for his
hugely playful character The Great Soprendo and later as himself via John
Fisher's 'The Best of Magic', numerous appearances on Channel 4's Countdown, and
his own one-man touring theatre shows. Geoffrey will be interviewed by Ian
Keable.
The day will feature notable international speakers, discussing diverse aspects on the history of magic, a buffet lunch in The Wesley Hotel (next door), tea and coffee breaks, an opportunity to mingle with fellow historians and collectors, and some surprise events. Doors open at 9am and the day lasts until approximately 6pm. Members £54.00 www.themagiccircle.co.uk. Non-members £60.00 www.tthemagiccircle.co.uk. 6.4.24
Say
Abracadabra, a 1954 film about The Magic Circle, is being shown on
Talking Pictures TV at 8.25pm on Sunday 7th April in the Talking
Pictures series 'A Lifetime Ago with the Baim Collection'. See
TV Magic. Harold Baim was a
director, writer and prolific producer of 35mm short features for UK
cinema release. For more information see
www.baimfilms.com.
6.4.24
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This week,
Geoffrey Durham on John Fisher's The Best of Magic from 10th October
1990.
See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To see more from The MagicWeek Video
Archive
Click Here.
6.4.24
Mark
Shortland - Comedy Night. Nathan Ward writes: The award winning Mark
Shortland will be performing his comedy magic alongside Jimmy Cricket and BGT's
Steve Hewlett at St Margaret's Church, High Street, Rainham, Kent ME8 7JH on
Friday 26th April at 8pm. Tickets £15:
www.eventbrite.co.uk.
6.4.24
"Paul
Daniels - A Tribute to a Legend" by Chris Cross. Chris writes: This is a
labour of love that has been in the works for some time. It's a full colour
hardback A4 coffee table style book, bursting with photographs and tributes from
some of the biggest names in magic. Do you have anything to contribute? Any
photos you have taken (onstage, backstage or candid), funny stories or
experiences you had with Paul, or anything else that may be good for inclusion?
Speak now before the final edit of my unofficial tribute book is completed and
goes to print! Email:
info@chris-cross.co.uk.
6.4.24
Festival
of Ideas: Close-up Vincent Gambini. World Premiere. Brighton Festival.
Close-up is a brief magic performance on headphones, for one spectator at a
time. Inside a working café, surrounded by unsuspecting customers, magician
Vincent Gambini invites you to sit at a table and watch a 10-minute performance.
In front of your very eyes, playing cards transform inexplicably and sugar cubes
vanish without a trace. But as you listen to the magician’s pre-recorded voice
and the sounds of the café on headphones, the line between reality and fiction
becomes increasingly thin: is this a real café, or a film set filled with
actors? Combining expert sleight-of-hand with the dreamlike nature of cinema,
Close-up invites you to briefly reimagine everyday life as an uncanny
illusion. Supported by Farnham Maltings and Attenborough Centre for the Creative
Arts. Friday 24th May. See
www.brightonfestival.org.
6.4.24
Tom
Bolton 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 "Tom Bolton on the rise
of The Magic Corner and more".
YouTube.
6.4.24
The
April E-Video Newsletter. Mark Leveridge is pleased to offer his latest half
hour online video presentation which has the following contents. The Teach In
– Simplex ACAAN allows a spectator to choose any card and have it arrive at a
numbered position in the deck selected freely by him. Pro Peeks – this
time there is an explanation of a coin penetration effect called Melt taken from
the E-Club Pro Toolbox archive. The Table Magician Unplugged – part 5 of
the series based on The Table Magician e-book concentrates on tables in
restaurants and hotels. The Trick Box – originally published in the 7th
Symposium Book, The Make Weight offers you a quick, quirky coin and banknote
idea. Web Offers – the Four-midable Card Magic E-Book and the coin
routine Slo Mo are both offered at generous discounts this time. 60 Seconds
To Success – making space in your life for creative thinking time can prove
invaluable for developing your magic. Access to the complete 33 min presentation
is free, you simply have to be signed up to Mark's E-Club Lite. To get more
information and to register go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
6.4.24
Steve Hewlett & Friends - Pavilion Theatre, Gorleston, tonight! Top TV Comedy Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett and Friends: Fiesta - The Gloria Estefan Tribute, The Fiesta Dancers, and Richard Griffin - Multi-award winning magician. Saturday 6th April 2024 at Pavilion Theatre, Pier Gardens, Gorleston, Norfolk NR31 6PP www.gorlestonpavilion.co.uk. 6.4.24
Passing,
a new short film from UK-based artist Jo Bannon: You are invited to pay
attention to the barely visible but highly choreographed ways in which we all
perform, or pass, on stage and in everyday life. Watch Augusto Corrieri (aka
Vincent Gambini), a sleight of hand magician, and Sindri, a visually impaired
dancer, as they unveil the magic of their hands, a virtuosity in their
movements. It is a strange duet, a funny kind of twinning, a kinship. Their
skill is to appear at ease, to pass as if they’re not doing anything remarkable
at all. You can watch the film here:
YouTube.
More info:
www.mayk.org.uk.
6.4.24
Houdini's Greatest Escape - UK Tour. Harry Houdini is the world's greatest
entertainer. Just as his death-defying escapology stunts have him, and
his wife Bess, on the cusp of a career-defining performance for King
Edward, he finds himself framed for murder by a gang of criminals in
cahoots with the chief of police. Can Harry & Bess escape the plot and
clear their names? And how is their rival, The Superstar Spiritualist
medium, involved?
All will be revealed in this hilarious 39 Steps-esque thriller, played
out in New Old Friends' (Crimes on Centre Court) inimitable,
award-winning style of physical comedy, sparkling wit and just a touch
of chaos. Featuring a hard-working cast of four playing multiple roles
on an almost harder-working set, this show will have you laughing and
gasping throughout at the magic of theatre and the 'real' magic of
illusions designed by TV's Pete Firman. See
www.uktw.co.uk for more info and to book.
6.4.24
Just Like That, Wednesday 17th April on BBC Radio 4 Extra. "Milton Jones celebrates the comic genius of Tommy Cooper, the 'unattractive young man' once rejected by the BBC for his 'poor diction and unpleasant manner'." See TV Magic for details. 6.4.24
News
Deadline reminder. MagicWeek welcomes your UK magic news (major and minor),
but please remember the news deadline: Thursday if possible; final deadline 12
noon Friday. Many thanks, DT.
6.4.24
"Golden
Buzzer - Mark Lewis receives surprise Golden Buzzer! Auditions, Canada's
Got Talent 2024"
YouTube • "Interview with Card Manipulator & Magician Jeff
McBride"
Click Here • "'A part of who we are': how a Black queer magician is
carrying on a long tradition"
Click Here • "Teen Magician Cillian O'Connor opens up about being
autistic & stuns us with his magic tricks!"
Click Here • "The Magic Prank Show review – so bad it made me yearn
for the Jeremy Beadle years"
Click Here • "Watford magician 'deeply grateful' to join The Magic
Circle"
Click Here • "Debbie McGee opens up about loneliness after Paul
Daniels' death as she tries to move on"
Click Here • "America's Got Talent star Murray SawChuck claims he's
been 'unfairly targeted' after being banned from exclusive Hollywood
magic club"
Click Here • "The Greatest Magician is coming to the Harlow
Playhouse"
Click Here • "Victorian-Era Magician Captures History’s First
Astronomical Film"
Click Here • That's all for another week. Many thanks as always for
your magic news - see you next week, Duncan.
6.4.24