Number
1337 - Saturday 7th February 2026
Mathew
Knight is The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year 2026! Charlie
Burgess reports: Mathew Knight was a double winner at The Magic Circle’s
Close-Up Magician of the Year Competition 2026, which took place on Monday, 2nd
February. Not only did the Nottingham performer win the overall award from a
small panel of judges but he also took home the Audience Choice Award - voted on
by over 100 members watching in the club’s theatre at their London HQ and over
100 watching online.
Mathew, who joined the Society 11 years ago, was overwhelmed by his win. “I’m
flabbergasted,” he said, paying particular tribute to his mentor, fellow
Nottingham magician Marc Oberon. He beat seven other finalists to the title.
James Pritchard was declared the Runner Up. The other finalists were Damian
Surr, Shang Ma, Alex Sprackling, Sid Quatrine, Alexander Crawford and Jason
Ouyang.
The Magic Circle President Marvin Berglas said: “The competition represented a
diverse mix of styles and talent and it was a real pleasure for our packed
audience. Mathew Knight was a popular winner - performing his signature
Invisible Date effect and some surprising productions. With the club going from
strength to strength I hope this year’s competition inspires more of our members
to try and win this prestigious title in the future.” Photo by
Brendan Rodrigues
Photography. Also see
www.mathewknightmagician.co.uk and
www.themagiccircle.co.uk.
7.2.26
The
"Up North" Magic Convention by Chris Cross & Enchanted Rabbit Magic,
17th-19th April 2026 at The Gibside Hotel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. From
the organisers: Get your full weekend, single day or gala-show-only
tickets now:
www.theenchantedrabbit.com
Friday 17th April: Evening Magic Show with
Chris Cross and Luke Jermay. Saturday 18th April: Dealers Showcase.
Lectures from Simon South, Oliver Tabor, Luke Jermay, Prof. Richard
Wiseman. Saturday Gala Show. Sunday 19th April: Kids Shows from Chris
Cross & Hayden Parker. Lectures from Marc Oberon, Quentin Reynolds and
Craig Petty.
What to expect:
• Up-close professional lectures
• A curated dealers area packed with rare magic
• Two spectacular evening Gala Shows
• Workshops, social sessions and networking opportunities
• A magical Sunday Kids Show for families
Spaces are intentionally limited to keep the experience personal and
immersive. Tickets are now available (full weekend & day options).
Secure your place here:
www.theenchantedrabbit.com. We look forward to welcoming you to a
magical weekend away up North! Chris Cross & Co.
7.2.26
Film
footage of Paul Daniels' "The Eldanis" from 1964. David
Britland just published this in
Cardopolis 48 and
thought MagicWeek readers would enjoy it too, and writes:
I was surprised to find this. It is a film of Paul Daniels and then wife
Jackie performing as The Eldanis. The show, put on by the Middlesbrough
Magic Circle in 1964, was filmed by Betty Cook of the Cleveland Cine
Club.
I remember Paul talking about The Eldanis act. He worked the clubs with
it before he found fame with his comedy. Paul and Jackie also performed
the act at magic conventions where they won a couple of competition
trophies. Their Liberace-style costumes and simultaneous card fans
performed to ‘beat music’ was widely praised. Here is a typical
reference from Abracadabra (24th April, 1965) published just a few
months after Betty Cook made her film: "On the other hand, speed was the essence of the show presented by the
Eldanis, featuring manipulations of cards and billiard balls, some silk
work, a good Zombie and, at the close, a silken cascade on which the
curtain fell and rose and fell again — it seemed never-ending."
While there is no sound to this video, Betty Cook has captured pretty
much the entire act. You’ll find it here at the Yorkshire and North East
Film Archive:
Paul
Daniels & The Eldanis - 1964. [Many thanks David, really good to
see this. I was amused that although it was silent it looked like he was
adlibbing something to an audience member at one point, offering just a
hint at what was to become his forte just a few years later.
Cardopolis is published monthly. See
www.cardopolis.substack.com DT].
7.2.26
Funky
Snake Magic Theatre - Leighton Buzzard, 13th February. From the
organisers: Friday
13th February is going to be another epic night of magic at Funky Snake
Magic Theatre. Get your tickets at
www.funkysnakeescape.co.uk. Since opening, our magic nights
have been a huge success! We bring you the best magicians from around
the UK.
5 star reviews across the board.
A thrilling atmosphere and always fantastic audiences.
On this show we will be joined by the awesome performers Pete Heat and
Garath Kaylan, hosted by Dave Allen.
7.2.26
Magic
at the Gatehouse, London. Join us, once a season, for an evening of Magic at
the Gatehouse presented by an exciting line-up of top magicians. Witness
miracles manifest before your eyes in an intimate theatre that puts you
at the heart of the magic.
Featuring: Tom Brace, Liam Ball, Wayne Fox and Marc Paul. 7.30pm (doors
7pm) on 16th February at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 1 North Road,
Highgate Village, London N6 4BD. Book here:
www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com.
7.2.26
Matthew
Wright Lecture - The Ulster Society of Magicians, 12th February.
From the organisers: The Ulster Society of Magicians are hosting the
“Hook” lecture by Matthew Wright on Thursday 12th February 2026 in
Belfast. Three-time FISM award winner Matthew Wright has built a
reputation for creating magic that resonates — close-up, parlour, or
stage, his work blends character, storytelling, comedy, and astonishment
into unforgettable performances.
In his new lecture The Hook, Matthew shares the ideas and philosophies
that shape his magic. Rather than focusing on methods and mechanics, he
explores the deeper questions: Why this effect? When should it be
performed? Where does the meaning truly lie? Drawing on his own creative
process, Matthew demonstrates material from his professional repertoire,
then dissects not just how it works, but why it connects. You’ll
discover how to craft presentations that reflect your own personality
and passions, transforming a trick into an experience your audiences
will care about.
This lecture is for everyone — from the curious hobbyist to the seasoned
professional. You’ll learn practical tools to strengthen your
presentations, develop stronger narratives, and most importantly, to
“hook” your audiences from the very first moment. As a student of Eugene
Burger, Matthew learned to search for depth and meaning in magic. In The
Hook, he passes on those lessons, showing how you too can elevate your
performances into something memorable, personal, and powerful. Thursday
12th February. The lecture is open to visiting magicians by prior
arrangement with the Secretary for a fee of £25.
www.ulstersocietyofmagicians.com.
7.2.26
Craig
Petty's Desert Island Tricks.
"If you’ve ever been told to perfect five tricks and repeat them forever,
prepare to toss that rule out. Craig Petty joins us to make a fearless case for
evolving your set, testing ideas in the wild, and embracing marketing as part of
the craft. Please note: There is strong language throughout this podcast and
therefore, it might not be appropriate for some of our younger listeners."
YouTube. Brought to you by
www.alakazam.co.uk.
The MagicWeek Video Archive.
A new magic clip or show every week! This week, Omar Pasha on John Fisher's
The Best of Magic from 3rd October 1990. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To see more from The MagicWeek Video
Archive
Click Here.
7.2.26
Matthew
Wright Lecture - Medway Magical Society, 17th February. From the
organisers: Three-time FISM award winner Matthew Wright creates magic
that stays with you long after the applause fades. Across close-up,
parlour, and stage, his performances fuse storytelling, character,
comedy, and astonishment into moments audiences don’t just watch — they
feel. In his powerful new lecture, The Hook, Matthew goes beyond
methods and mechanics to reveal what truly makes magic connect. Instead
of asking how an effect works, he asks the questions that matter most:
Why this effect? When is the right moment to perform it? How do you give
it meaning?
Through demonstrations drawn from his professional repertoire, Matthew breaks down not just the workings of his material but the thinking behind it. You’ll learn how to shape presentations that reflect your personality, your passions, and your point of view — turning tricks into experiences your audiences genuinely care about. Perfect for hobbyists and professionals alike, this lecture delivers practical, immediately usable tools to help you: Create stronger openings. Build engaging narratives. Instantly “hook” your audience from the first moment.
A former student of Eugene Burger, Matthew brings depth, intention, and
humanity to every piece of magic he performs. In The Hook, he shares
those lessons openly, showing you how to elevate your magic into
something memorable, meaningful, and uniquely yours. Tuesday 17th
February. Tickets: £5 members, £10 non-members. Email the club secretary
secretary@medwaymagicalsociety.org.uk for tickets. Medway Magical
Society, The George, 344 City Way, Rochester, Kent ME1 2BH.
7.2.26
Luke
Oseland
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 "Luke Oseland returns to
discuss his incredible rise in magic"
YouTube.
7.2.26
The
E-Video Newsletter Feb 2026. Mark Leveridge is pleased to announce
the availability of his latest 45 minute online video presentation,
which features: The Teach In – this time Mark explains a way of
showing, with one ribbon spread, that any one of four cards is the only
printed card in a double blank deck. Pro Peeks – a Mark’s Monthly
Message video discussing how to start your act strongly has been lifted
from the E-Club Pro files. The Table Magician Unplugged – part 16
from The Table Magician e-book rounds up a selection of do’s and don’ts
when working at restaurant tables. The Trick Box – here is a
simple effect called Business Card Swap which teaches a versatile
envelope switch requiring no stack or gimmicks. Web Offers – save
money on The Security Pen coin and purse routine and the penetration
effect called Missing The Point. 60 Seconds To Success – advice
is offered on why you should prevent a booker from interfering with your
dinner function table plans. To watch the complete 45 minute
presentation, simply sign up to Mark's free E-Club Lite at
www.markleveridge.co.uk/#e-prices which also provides you with his
monthly email newsletter, and the weekly Back-Chat blog.
7.2.26
Potter
& Potter Auctions - The Games We Play: Puzzles, Games, & Playing Cards.
February 19th. Following on the heels of our 'Artifacts of Play'
auction, this sale will celebrate the pastimes of yesteryear and the
recent past. The auction will feature antique and modern playing cards
and gambling memorabilia, elaborate vintage board games, and puzzles and
curiosities (including an extensive offering of rare paper dolls) from
various collections.
www.potterauctions.com.
7.2.26
Potter
& Potter Auctions - Literature of Legerdemain. February 28th.
Featuring the collection of magic bibliographer Stephen Forrester, this
premier sale will feature highlights from his library of rare, old, and
unusual conjuring books from the seventeenth century to the present day.
www.potterauctions.com.
7.2.26
The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, 12th February. "Tony Christie sings Amarillo and Old Man River, and Frances Yip sings Make My Life a Bit Brighter. Terri Rogers, Alan Randall and Eddie Flanagan also star." See TV Magic for details. 7.2.26
"Nothing
less than magic"
Click Here • "Notts man crowned 'Best Close Up Magician of the
Year'"
Click Here • "Prudhoe's Paul Innes named UK’s top wedding magician"
Click Here • "Is magic back? Or did it never leave? A magician
weighs in on the trend"
Click Here • "Conjuring up the cash - An Evening of Magic in aid of
Portrush Lifeboats"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - big and small!
See you next week, Duncan.
7.2.26