Number
1354 - Saturday 6th June 2026
South
Tyneside International Magic Festival, 17-18th October 2026. From
the organisers: This year is something special. For 2026, we’ve put
together a completely fresh line-up, with every single act appearing at
our convention for the very first time. Expect new ideas, new energy,
and plenty of surprises. We’re thrilled to welcome: David Penn & D4RYL,
Yann Frisch, Andrew Frost, Gabriel Werlen, Bron Ivy, Mark Bennett, Lee
Thompson, Iain Bailey, Sid Quatrine and Steffen Peddie. For more
information on each act
Click Here.
Our numbers are strictly limited (especially this year due to it being
held at the Little Haven) to around just 80 delegates, so do not delay!
Plus one of the key elements that makes our festival unique, is that you
get to spend quality time with all the artistes, all weekend, and be
very close to all the action! Ticket Details: We’ve kept things simple,
tickets are still just £120, which include All lectures, Close-up
Sessions, Saturday Night Gala Show and the Late Show. Book your tickets
here:
www.southtyneside.gov.uk. More on the Festival
Click Here. Also, just to let you know if you haven’t been before,
things kick off on the Friday evening with Magicbox’s family magic show
(separate ticket needed) in the Customs House, followed by a product
launch show and jamming at the Little Haven.
6.6.26
Brian
Conley’s Big Night of Magic - Saturday 4th July. News from The Magic Circle:
We are delighted to announce that award-winning magician, comedian and
entertainer Paul Dabek will be joining Brian Conley’s Big Night of Magic
at The Magic Circle on Saturday, 4th July.
Known to audiences worldwide, Paul has starred in The Illusionists on
Broadway and London's West End, appeared on major television networks including
the BBC and NBC, and most recently served as resident host of Cirque du Soleil's
Mad Apple in Las Vegas.
The event holds special meaning for Paul: "Wayne wasn't just one of the greatest
magicians our industry has ever produced—he was a friend and mentor. His
encouragement, humour and generosity had a profound impact on my life and
career. Like so many magicians of my generation, I owe Wayne a tremendous debt
of gratitude. It's a privilege to be part of an evening that celebrates the man
behind the magic"
Widely regarded as one of the most influential magicians of the modern era,
Wayne Dobson inspired generations through his television work, creative
innovations and signature wit. Paul will appear as part of
Brian Conley’s Big Night of Magic on Saturday 4th July, a special public
gala performance celebrating Wayne's life and legacy, and will also perform in
the Convention Gala Show on Sunday 5th July as part of The Magic Circle
Convention 2026 (note: the convention is now sold out). Saturday 4th July –
Brian Conley's Big Night of Magic at The Magic Circle, London. Book here:
tickets.themagiccircle.live.
6.6.26
Academy
of Magical Arts Creative Fellowship awarded to Matt Pritchard. Last weekend
The Academy of Magical Arts hosted their 57th Annual Awards Show in Hollywood.
During the night, Dr Matt Pritchard was awarded their Creative Fellowship for
his "awe-inspiring array of mind-bending illusions" and gleeful imagination. The
award was presented by Bill Nye, TV science presenter and pop culture icon. Matt
is now back in England, working on his next mystery!
6.6.26
Britain's Got Talent: Magic Catch-up, from Saturday's live Final:
"Rafferty Coope's magical hidden message has the whole Apollo smiling!
The Final BGT 2026"
YouTube
"Fabian Fox travels through time and surprises KSI with Harry Moulding! The
Final BGT 2026"
YouTube
Fabian was placed 9th and Rafferty 5th. Many congratulations to them both. 30.5.26
Michael
Vincent's Desert Island Tricks.
"Your magic can be technically flawless and still feel forgettable. This
conversation with Michael Vincent hit us like a wake-up call: the real goal is
the experience you leave with the spectator, not the applause for your hands.
Michael opens up about stepping away from performing to care for his mother,
then returning with a new approach built around purpose, discipline, and
audiences who choose to be there..."
YouTube. Brought to you by
www.alakazam.co.uk.
6.6.26
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival August 2026. Festival Magic listings featuring magic and magic related shows: Click Here. The Magic listings were once again compiled for MagicWeek by Peter McLanachan. Many thanks Peter! 6.6.26
David
Britland’s Cardopolis newsletter has hit the magical milestone of 52 issues.
Each issue features video tutorials of new handlings of vintage and forgotten
effects. The latest brings the Mighty Atom, a count-and-spell routine traced
back to Tom Storey whose pseudonym Vivian St. John caused much gender confusion;
Crossfire, a take on Stabbed in the Pack with origins reaching back to Louis F.
Christianer's The Obedient Card (1917); and Impromptu Haunted Deck, inspired by
the late Gordon Bruce, who is also warmly remembered in this issue. Read it at
cardopolis.substack.com.
6.6.26
This
month inside My Mind Rocks we step into the fascinating world of Bizarre Magick
- an area rarely explored in depth within modern mentalism communities, writes
Looch. The main June course content is titled The Bizarre Three Some and
features myself, Terry Tyson, and Jamie Daws discussing, exploring, and
attempting to answer the question… just what is bizarre magick? Alongside
discussion and performance theory, we explore storytelling, atmosphere,
symbolism, emotional engagement, and how to create performances that feel like
genuine experiences rather than simply demonstrations of method.
We’re also excited to welcome Jamie Daws as this month’s special guest lecturer.
Jamie will be presenting an exclusive live lecture for members on Wednesday 24th
June at 8pm UK, teaching several of his favourite bizarre magick pieces
alongside the presentation and thinking behind them. As always, MMR also
continues with weekly Tuesday Members Jams, Sunday Sessions hosted by Dave
Moses, and the monthly live session with Looch. Join us Today!
www.mymind.rocks.
6.6.26
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This
week, Something Strange with Max Maven, from 1993. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The
MagicWeek Video Archive
Click Here.
6.6.26
Ferrybridge
Day of Magic, Sunday 5th July. Travis Perkins is pleased to announce the
date for the Ferrybridge Day of Magic: Sunday 5th of July 2026. With Lecturettes
and the Showette, Dealers and traders, the day looks like it will be another fun
event - put it in your diary now. More news as we approach the day!
The venue is The Community Centre, The Square, Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire WF11
8PQ. Doors open at 9.45am and the day ends at 5pm. For more information please
visit our
Facebook page Ferrybridge Day of Magic
or email Michael Shepherd
gmfs@shepherdholdings.co.uk or Danny Hunt
info@amethystmagic.com.
6.6.26
11th
European Magic History Conference. September 9th–12th 2027, hosted at The Magic
Circle, London. Join us in London for the 11th European Magic History
Conference, hosted at The Magic Circle. Enjoy a full programme of expert
lectures, exclusive access to rare magic archives, and unforgettable evening
events—including a Gala Dinner and Show at Brick Lane Music Hall. Your
registration includes all lectures, refreshments, Thursday’s welcome event with
buffet and show, and Saturday’s gala experience. Optional Friday evening and
Sunday programmes are also available. Early booking recommended—seating and
dealer tables are allocated on a first-come basis. See
www.emhc2027.com.
6.6.26
Beyond
Illusion: The Making of a Magician, UK Premiere, Free Tickets.
From the makers: This weekend sees the UK Premiere of documentary Beyond
Illusion: The Making of a Magician at the Lumiere Cinema in Romford followed by
a special Q&A with magician Dean James and director Matt Routledge.
An aspiring magician grappling with mental and physical health challenges,
strives to earn a coveted spot in the prestigious 'Magic Circle.' Beyond
Illusion delivers a gripping yet uplifting journey as Dean James, with over 30
years experience relying on memory magic, must relearn the art of sleight of
hand. Guided by his friends’ mentorship he trains for this ultimate challenge,
with his journey of passion, resilience, and rediscovery revealing not just the
craft of magic, but the enduring pursuit of a lifelong dream.
This documentary showcases the extraordinary magical talents of Dean James, Kay
Dyson , Paul Pickford, Pete Jackson, Lance Bowe and Rod Hogg. View the Trailer:
YouTube.
Join us for a magical, fun filled evening with live magic performances before
the screening starts. This will be a truly unforgettable evening for magic
enthusiasts of all ages. Sunday 7th June at 6.30pm (film starts at 7:30pm) at
Lumiere Romford, Level 3, The Mercury Shopping Centre, Mercury Gardens, Romford,
RM1 3EE. Free Tickets available here:
www.eventbrite.com.
6.6.26
I.B.M.
British Ring Convention, Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre and Opera House, 19th &
20th September 2026. Artist Announcement from the organisers: Matricks is a
powerhouse in the world of illusion, with a proven track record of delivering
mesmerizing performances at top events and venues worldwide. Their presence on
prestigious stages like the West End's ‘Wonderville’ and The O2 and Wembley
Arena in London is a testament to their undeniable talent.
Having shared the stage with music legends like Westlife and Adam Lambert, as
well as renowned acts like Cirque du Soleil, Matricks continues to set the bar
high for the world of magic and illusion. With appearances on numerous hit TV
shows and events like Britain's Got Talent, ITV's Big Bash and Disney Plus and
alongside internet influencers like The Sidemen & Mr Beast, Matricks has been
seen by over 300+ million people worldwide.
They certainly have solidified their standing as one of the best in the
business! Matricks is The Illusion Act to see live. Whether you see them in
theatre, stadium or on TV shows you will be entertained, surprised and amazed.
Matricks Illusion will be performing in our Gala Show, giving a lecture and will
have their dealer stand. For tickets
Click Here.
6.6.26
Abra
index updated. Dr. Michael Colley writes: When I started indexing Abra (the
first part was published in 1982) I only included articles with titles. As a
result, many items were omitted, included the majority of Editorials, some of
which were controversial and stimulated prolonged mail exchanges in the
magazine.
I decided to revise the Index, now including Editorials, Newsbits, Reviews of
Tricks etc., none of which were originally included. There is the possibility of
more Categories, so what was originally listed just as Cards may now also have
Transposition, Double Backed Card, Svengali Deck etc. as additional categories.
There is more extensive cross-referencing.
After over a year the revision of the first 50 volumes has been completed. This
has resulted in an additional 5,759 entries in the first 50 volumes, giving a
total number of entries of over 36,000, as opposed to the original 30,334.
The index is available as an Access database, with full search facilities and
also in Excel, PDF and CSV formats (the latter for importing into other
databases) though these do not have the search facility.
Indices are also available to The GEN, Magigram*, Club 71*, Demon Telegraph,
Jinx, Goodliffe's Magic Monthly*, Magazine of Magic – Goldston, Magic Circular
(Vols.1-100 Photographs only), Magic Mag – Lever, Magic Magazine – Andrews,
Magic Wand - Armstrong, Mind & Magic – Ted Lesley, Pentagram, New Pentagram,
Magic – Stanyon, Trixy and The Wizard,. There is also an index of Names and
Pictures, though this does not include names in Abra or the magazines above with
an asterisk but does include 3103 Pseudonyms/Stage Names
The Colley-cted Index collates all the above into one index. Please contact Dr.
Michael Colley cmcolley@tiscali.co.uk
for full details and sample subset of the indices.
6.6.26
Ian
Rowland presents The Best Secrets I’ve Learned in Almost 50 Years of Magic &
Mentalism. It's not just mentalism and cold reading, Jonathan Royle Writes:
Just wanted to add that Ian Rowland's Lecture on Tuesday 9th June at The Order
of the Magi, Manchester, is not just about Mentalism and Cold Reading, as this
video shows
YouTube.
Ian will also be teaching stuff that magicians and card workers will love, as
well as the Cold Reading book that Derren Brown says is the definitive work on
the subject (which saved my life, so to speak, on one occasion as per
www.roylehypnotist.substack.com). Tuesday 9th June: Tickets and more info
Click Here. £10 in advance, £15 on the night or free to paid-up members.
Join here
www.orderofthemagi.co.uk/membership.
6.6.26
New Release in the Leveridge Legacy Collection. Here is one of
the physical products added to the Legacy Collection for June. Jumbo Witch
And The Prince. This is a delightful story trick which is perfect for
children’s entertainers needing something new for their 3-6 year olds shows. The
story is told of an ugly witch who fell in love with a handsome Prince. When the
Prince found out about the witch’s feelings, he banished her from his castle. In
a fit of rage the witch cast a spell and turned the Prince plus a number of
other things around his castle into frogs!
Four colourful pictures of frogs are shown and one placed aside for a moment. A
little girl from the audience is enlisted as a Princess, and she has to blow
kisses at the frogs in order to turn them back into what they were before they
became frogs.
One at a time three of the frogs magically change into a dustbin, a vacuum
cleaner and a watering can! Good job she didn’t try to marry any of those frogs!
Finally she blows a kiss at the frog placed aside at the start and it turns into
the handsome Prince!
This comes with all the colourful Jumbo size cards, and instructions featuring
10 colour photo illustrations. Price: £30.00. For info and to watch dems of all
the remaining products still available in the time-limited Legacy range, go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
6.6.26
Kane
& Abel Magicians: Twin Feats. Kane & Abel recreate the twin study they
participated in as children, but with the most magical outcome. June dates
include the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival on June 6th and the Bigg Theatre in
Biggleswade on the 20th. Tickets available from
www.kaneandabelmagic.com.
'Real Magic' (BBC Radio Bristol) Top Weekend Comedy Pick (The Sunday Times)
'True showmen' **** (Broadway Baby) 'Unusual, impressive and magical' ****
(World Magic Review) 'Contemporary, Comedic and Charismatic' ***** (Channel 44
Adelaide).
6.6.26
Mysteries
of the Magi... New evidence shows Magi Magazine was first published in
October 1909 writes Jonathan Royle: Until recently it was believed that the club
journal of Manchester's The Order of the Magi Magic Club had first been
published in May 1910, although as was recently discovered and rectified there
was some confusion with the numbering of volumes over the years (see
www.orderofthemagi.co.uk). Now fresh evidence published in "The Wizard"
Magazine in September 1909 along with other things published in the Wizard
strongly point towards the first magazine (or paper as they called it then) as
having been published in October 1909, as explained here
YouTube.
It has never missed an issue since then, each month still being sent to members
inboxes packed with quality content.
6.6.26
Masters
of Magic World Convention - Saint-Vincent, Aosta Valley, Italy. May 14th-16th
2027. From the organisers: The greatest magic event returns to the Aosta
Valley. Three days of magic, packed with grand galas, lectures, workshops,
competitions, dealers and encounters with the greatest masters of magic in the
world. For more information and to book, visit
www.mastersofmagicconvention.com. Early Bird tickets to June 7th!
6.6.26
Exonian 90th Anniversary Magic Convention - Crediton, 7th October. Ozzy D writes: The Exonian Magical Society's 90th Anniversary Magic Convention has just got better. We have now added UK Family Entertainer of the Year Magic Sam to our already impressive line up on Wednesday 7th October at The Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon EX17 6DF. With 4 lectures, a close-up magic show, a workshop, a three-course meal and an evening show. £75 full convention. Daytime only registrations also available. Featuring John Archer, Nikola Arkane, Eric Tait and Johnny Clavo, and now Magic Sam... Only 80 places available and this always sell out, so if you are considering attending for the full day now is the time to get your tickets: www.facebook.com. 6.6.26
News
from The Order of the Magi, Manchester. Jonathan Royle writes: England's 3rd
oldest magical association "The Order of the Magi" has started releasing video
footage from its archives and also publishing features on members past and
present. Footage of the 1995 New Members Night is now online
Click Here and
Click Here for a video feature on our members who are "Legends of Card Magic
Tricks". Here's a 1995 Magi Members Show at Manchester Grammar School
Click Here and videos from an online charity event run during the 2021 lockdown
Click Here.
You can find other Magical Videos on our YouTube Channel where new archive footage will be posted on a regular basis at www.youtube.com/@orderofthemagi1881 and don't forget that with a packed year of lectures and social events ahead now is the perfect time to come and join us: www.orderofthemagi.co.uk/membership. 6.6.26
Stranded
with a Stranger: David Rhodes.
"A lot of magic advice lives in theory. David Rhodes brings something
better: a working performer’s list of eight routines he’d keep if everything
else disappeared, plus one book, one non-magic utility item, and one thing he’d
banish from the art. David’s story starts with a familiar arc, going all-in on
magic in his twenties, stepping away for years into the corporate world, then
coming back with fresh eyes and sharper taste..."
YouTube. Brought to you by
www.alakazam.co.uk.
6.6.26
Terri Rogers on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. Stephane Grappelli plays Walking my Baby Back Home. Little and Large, Tony Brutus, the Barcias, Terri Rogers and Lonnie Donegan also perform. Thursday 18th June on Talking Pictures TV. See TV Magic for details. 6.6.26
Comedy Legends. Barry Cryer pays tribute to the heroes of comedy who he has worked with over his many years in the business, starting with Tommy Cooper. Sunday 14th June on 5Select. See TV Magic for details. 6.6.26
For
Sale & Wanted. The free MagicWeek classified ads have been going strong
since issue number 1, back in July 2000. Please double-check the T&Cs to make sure your
ad appears. For Sale
Wanted. DT.
6.6.26
Matthew
Garrett's recent lecture for the South Downs Magicians is reviewed by
Paul Sturgess this week,
Click Here • "The Magic of the Mind to
amaze with an evening of science, illusion and discovery"
Click Here •
"Every Britain’s Got Talent winner from Harry Moulding to Paul Potts –
and where they are now"
Click Here • Your UK magic news, big and
small, always welcomed - please submit by Thursday if possible, absolute
deadline 12 noon Friday. See you next week, Duncan.
6.6.26