Number
1369 - Saturday 19th September 2026
Unreal
- A Festival of Magic and Performance. 7th-14th November. Battersea Arts Centre,
London. Curated by Tom Cassani, Augusto Corrieri and Tim Bromage. The world
can feel bewildering. Truth shifts. Reality slips. It's hard to know what to
believe. Unreal brings together extraordinary artists from across the UK
and Europe working at the intersection of magic and performance to present to
you a series of unreal acts for uncertain times.
Across five days, encounter incredible images, strange transformations and
moments of collective awe, as sleight of hand and stage illusion are reimagined
through theatre, choreography and live art. Unreal invites audiences
behind the curtain; questioning assumptions and asking us to look again at what
we see, hear and believe. Whether you're a fan of magic, curious about
contemporary performance, or simply searching for something unexpected,
Unreal is an invitation to experience the impossible, together.
Magic: An Illustrated History: Jim Dahl. An
oblique history of magic combining live vocals, illusion and puppetry.
A Mouthful of Tongues: Stina Fors. A performance about what a body can
hold, and what it cannot contain.
Black Magic and Iterations: Tom Cassani, Luis Sartori do Vale and Kalle Nio.
How much do you trust your own eyes? Witness a double bill of world-class
contemporary magic.
Lento e Violento: Valentina Cortese. Blending circus, dance, music and
magical illusion, Lento e Violento invites you to explore the fantastical.
Artist Talk: Unreal. Marisa Carnesky and Jo Bannon. Join
trailblazing artists as they discuss their performance practices and how they
explore magic within them.
Perpetuity (Work-in-Progress) Shambles Ensemble. Fusing visual and
physical storytelling, clowning and illusion, Perpetuity explores a life that is
never quite finished.
Liminal (Work-in-Progress) Hsiang-Sheng Teng. Blending performance magic
with live art, movement and film, Liminal invites audiences to explore the
boundaries between illusion and reality.
Oraculum (Work-in-Progress) Tom Cassani. A new show exploring mass
psychic reading to reveal how we unknowingly share similar experiences and
thoughts.
Escaping Oneself: Chloé Vivarès. A haunting, intimate performance
blending feats of memory, theatre, and humour.
Answer Me, Pythia (Work-in-Progress) Stina Fors. A performer. A dummy.
One voice between two bodies. What happens to a voice when the belief system
around it changes?
This Is Not A Magic Show: Vincent Gambini. A show about magic, about
theatre, but mostly about ourselves and how easily we suspend our disbelief.
Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN. 7th-14th November. See www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/unreal-festival for full details and to book. 19.9.26
Young
& Strange: The Joy Givers! Well they didn't make it into the final, but I
loved every moment of their semi-final America's Got Talent act! DT.
"Young & Strange Unveil The Greatest Magic Prop In AGT History!
Semifinals AGT 2026"
YouTube.
"Geno Ploeger Cuts Class To Perform Mind-Blowing Magic! Semifinals AGT 2026"
YouTube.
"America's Got Talent Semifinals 2026 - Results!"
YouTube.
Young & Strange hit the long and winding road as they play USA 2027! See www.youngandstrange.co.uk. 19.9.26
David
Ben Guest of Honour - The Session 2027. Coming all the way from Canada, we
are incredibly pleased to welcome David Ben as our Guest of Honour for The
Session 2027. David is one of magic's most knowledgeable historians and
collectors, but he's also one of the few who can truly do it all. The sole
protégé of the legendary Ross Bertram, he is adept at everything from close-up
to stage and can perform miracles with anything from cards to cutlery. We can't
wait to see what he'll share during his Guest of Honour Interview and Lecture.
World-Class Shows, Lectures, Exhibitions and More. Our schedule this year is
unreal. You'll see full shows from Guy Hollingworth, Siegfried Tieber, and Jason
Suran; lectures from FISM winner Hector Mancha, Wolfgang Moser, John Bannon, Avi
Yap, Luke Jermay, and many others; an evening with Cyril; interactive
exhibitions from Matthew Pritchard and Joshua Jay; plus more events still to be
announced.
Two Intimate Workshops. We're also hosting two optional add-on workshops during
The Session with two of our favourite magicians: Avi Yap and Luke Jermay. We're
keeping exactly what they'll teach a secret for now, but we have a feeling
you're going to love it.
The Session 2027 is shaping up to be one you don't want to miss. The Session has
sold out every year, and with a lineup this strong, we expect this year to be no
different. The Session. 8th-10th January. London Heathrow. See
www.vanishingincmagic.co.uk.
19.9.26
Ben
Hart: Hex - Limited London Dates. Fresh from another critically acclaimed
run at the Edinburgh Fringe and sold-out shows around the world, multi
award-winning magician and real-life witch Ben Hart (Britain's Got Talent,
Killer Magic, The One Show) returns to London with Hex. This show
celebrates and showcases the very best of Ben Hart's creations to date. Funny,
dark and baffling, he's an altogether new species of conjurer... Hex is a
curated collection of Ben's favourite and most exciting material from the last
decade, alongside new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell
on you.
An entirely unique voice in magic, Ben Hart is a multi-award-winning magician
and member of The Inner Magic Circle who brings together enthralling
storytelling, sharp wit and indisputable charm, to create magic shows that are
unforgettable, funny, dark and profoundly baffling.
"Casually jaw-dropping" The Guardian.
Underbelly Boulevard Soho, 6 Walker's Court, London W1F 0BT 7pm Tuesday 29th September - Friday 2nd October, 3pm & 6.30pm Saturday 3rd October & 2pm Sunday 4th October. 1 hour 40 minutes including interval. Age 12+ recommended. From £16.50. www.underbellyboulevard.com. 19.9.26
Daniel
Chard Lecture - The
Nottingham Guild of Magicians, 1st October.
Andrew Hickling MMC writes:
What is the lecture about?
Two hours of strong and visual card magic taken from Daniel's working repertoire.
Material designed to be performed in the real world, ranging in difficulty from
beginner to advanced. This isn't your dealer demonstration style lecture,
everything will be taught in an informal “session style” manner, tailored to the
learning style of the attendees. Although Daniel's medium of choice is card
magic, you will find ideas and theories you can apply to other areas of magic.
His mission is to leave you inspired to practice and take your magic to new
heights.
Join us for a fantastic evening of magic on Thursday 1st October at 7.30pm at Nottingham Guild of Magicians, Pondhills Lane Community Centre, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 8DR. Guest magicians £10.00 on the door, or book through the guild website www.thenottinghamguildofmagicians.co.uk. 19.9.26
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This
week, The Mind of David Berglas (full show) broadcast on Channel 4 on
Christmas Day, 1985. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The
MagicWeek Video Archive
Click Here.
19.9.26
Evolution of Magic
- Back in Blackpool for 6 nights only, in October.
From the promoter: What's on in Blackpool? Step into the unknown with
Evolution of Magic, one of the longest running magic shows in the UK.
In an intimate Las Vegas-style showroom, world-class magicians Craig
Christian and Elizabeth, two-time Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist
(2019 and 2024), invite you to experience illusions that defy explanation.
Craig's mastery of ordinary objects like cards and coins will leave you
questioning what's possible, while his unpredictable and mysterious
performances keep you on the edge of your seat.
Elizabeth's magic connects directly with the audience, blending
mentalism with visual wonders that challenge your perception of reality. You
won't just watch the magic, you'll feel it around you. The show moves fast, with
moments that blur the line between illusion and reality. The Evolution of Magic
is not just a show, it's an unforgettable experience.
14th, 17th, 24th, 27th, 28th & 30th October. See
www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com.
19.9.26
The
First Humanoid Robot Magician on the Las Vegas Strip. As the world debates
whether robots will replace human workers, a magician in Las Vegas has already
cast one in his show, Hacked.
Hacked, a new technology magic and mentalism experience opened mid-July at
Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce inside Mandalay Bay, featuring what is believed to be
the first humanoid robot to perform as a magician on the Las Vegas Strip. His
name is Navitron. Alongside British technology magician Keelan Leyser, he walks
out in front of a live audience and they perform together.
Hacked is Leyser's creation, three years in the making, built around the
questions that define this generation. Can you trust what you see? Would you
know if a deepfake was sitting right in front of you? When did your phone become
more important than the person next to you? Where is all this technology
actually taking us? Can technology predict your future? And what happens when a
robot learns your job faster than you did? In Hacked, all of those
questions get answered, live, through mind reading, illusion, and a little bit
of magic. See
www.fox5vegas.com and
www.fox5vegas.com and
www.fox5vegas.com. For more info and to book visit
www.hacked.vegas.
19.9.26
Newmarket
Magic Shindig,
7th November. Organiser
Wayne Goodman writes: Newmarket Shindig tickets are now on sale for the most
relaxed convention of the year. On November 7th, in Newmarket, the doors
open for the 5th Newmarket Shindig. This year we have Mark Bennett,
Vinny Sagoo, Michael Murray and Craig Petty and with almost double the
magic dealers, it's going to be the best one yet. All the details are at
www.wgmagicshop.com
and tickets are selling, grab yours now.
19.9.26
Max
Maven joins the Jay Fortune Conjuring Archive. British fine artist Jay
Fortune has released his latest work in the Jay Fortune Conjuring Archive: an
Estate-authorised fine-art portrait of the late Max Maven. More than a year in
development, the portrait is being offered as a limited Hand-Embellished Edition
of just 15 worldwide, with each edition individually embellished and signed by
Fortune. The work became available for acquisition on Friday 18th September,
following a private viewing for members of the Archive's Collector Circle. The
portrait has been warmly endorsed by the Estate of Max Maven, who described it
as “magnificent” and said it “really captures Max”. See the full portrait here:
store.jayfortune.co.uk/product/max.
19.9.26
Andrew
Murray Lecture – British Magical Society, 22nd September. Phil Sweeting
writes: Andrew is a professional magician and mind reader with a long track
record in corporate and private events. He's a Gold Star Member of The Inner
Magic Circle, won The Magic Circle's Close-Up Magician of the Year in 2004, and
is one half of the mind-reading double act DNA (Britain's Got Talent finalists
in 2017).
He will be presenting his new close-up magic lecture – blending close-up magic with mind reading. If you're interested in strong, audience-tested mind reading and the practical realities of presenting it for real crowds, this should be a fascinating evening. Come along whether you're a mentalist already or simply want to add more “mind” to your magic. Visiting magicians welcome (£10 on the night), and there's a free buffet. Evening starts at 7.30pm at our club house, Stirchley United WMC, Hazelwell Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2PR. Good parking on site and short walk from Bourneville Station. 19.9.26
New
in MLM Select. Here is another addition to the limited-time list of routines
released from the E-Club Pro vaults and made available for general sale. Your
Place Or Mine? Two regular coins are shown and one has a sticker with the
performer's initials on it attached to one side, the other a sticker with the
spectator's initials. The spectator holds his coin in his closed fist, the
magician takes his. Without any fishy moves, the two signed coins change places.
Straightforward to do, this only requires two ordinary coins. Price: £7.00
(£3.50 for members of E-Club Pro). To watch a dem and to order go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
19.9.26
Magic
at the Temple. Andaz, Liverpool Street, London - Autumn Dates. Magic.
Deception. Secrets. Enter the hidden Masonic Temple at the 5 star Andaz hotel
and be inducted into the secret society of magicians for one night only!
Following the 13 years success of The Magic Hour, Tony Middleton ‘Sonic' -
London's top parlour magician - opens the door to a hidden world of illusion,
codes and secret messages in one of the most awe-inspiring venues in London.
As seen on Penn & Teller Fool Us. Associate of the Inner Magic Circle.
Finalist in the OffWestEnd Awards and Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year
competition. TripAdvisor Hall of Fame and Travellers Choice Award. Named in the
Top 10 Halloween experiences in London- Metro.
New autumn dates: 26th September, 17th, 24th, 31st October, 7th, 14th, 28th November. For more info and to book visit www.magichourshow.com. 19.9.26
Bron Ivy Lecture
- The Surrey Society of Magicians, 24th September. Paul Dickson writes:
Bron Ivy is a magician with a particular love of storytelling, warmth and
audience connection. She began learning magic as a way of sharing stories and
has since become an Associate Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star.
In 2026 she also became the first woman to win Family Entertainer of the Year at
Blackpool.
Her lecture, The Forgotten Art of Kindness, explores an aspect of performance
that can sometimes get overlooked among methods and moves: how we connect with
the people watching us, and how the way we treat an audience can help turn a
trick into something genuinely memorable.
What to Expect:
Bron's approach to making a meaningful connection with an audience.
How to create an engaging and emotive story around a piece of magic.
The role of kindness and respect when working with spectators and volunteers.
Ideas drawn from Bron's experience across children's, family, parlour and stage
shows.
Ways of making magic feel more personal and memorable, regardless of the type of
material you perform.
Practical thinking that applies well beyond family entertainment.
This isn't simply a lecture for children's or family entertainers. If you
perform close-up, parlour or stage magic and want audiences to remember you and
the experience, rather than just remembering that they saw a clever trick, there
should be plenty here to think about. Thursday 24th September at The Surrey Society of Magicians, Nomad Theatre, Bishopsmead Parade, East Horsley,
Leatherhead KT24 6RT. Doors 7.30pm. Lecture 8pm. 15-minute interval. Ends
10pm. Visiting Magicians are welcome with a £10 fee, payable on the
door.
www.surreysocietyofmagicians.co.uk.
19.9.26
Desert
Island Tricks: SOS I Oliver Meech.
"Magic gets stale when we keep reaching for the same props, the same
references and the same “safe” structures. So we invited Oliver Meach back for a
Desert Island Tricks SOS and he did something no one else has done yet: he
replaced every trick on his original list with a completely new set, chosen to
showcase how he thinks about modern card magic, close-up mentalism, and
audience-first interaction..."
YouTube. Brought to you by
www.alakazam.co.uk.
19.9.26
Limited
Jack-Pack giveaway. Javi & Iñaki, Mnemonic Mystery Cards, write: We are the
creators of Mnemonic Mystery Cards, and we have developed a new deck that
combines a mnemonic system with a set of magic effects, allowing the performer
to memorise and use the deck in a very different way. Before our official
launch, we would love to put the deck in the hands of experienced magicians and
get their honest feedback — what they like, what could be improved, and whether
they would actually use it in performance. We are therefore looking for a few
interested magicians who would be willing to test the deck and share their
thoughts with us.
Anyone interested can have a look at our Instagram account to get a better idea of what we are working on: www.instagram.com. We're giving away five decks to selected magic lovers who want to test-drive the Jack-Pack before its official release. Write CODE in the Instagram comments to apply. We'll select testers within coming days. Also see www.mnemonicmysterycards.com. 19.9.26
The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. "Elaine Delmar sings You Are the Sunshine of My Life and Alvin Stardust performs My Coo Ca Choo and Jealous Mind. Also featuring performances from the Vernons and Paul Daniels." From 1975. Thursday 24th September on Talking Pictures TV, see TV Magic for details. 19.9.26
Children's
Entertainer Magic Mr Steve is starring in The Spooky Magic Show this
October.
A magical story for young families, which is spooky but not scary. With lots of
fun, illusions and puppets. It's at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, on 3rd
October (11am & 2pm), the Friargate Theatre, York, on 30th October (11am & 2pm), and
at the Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford
on 31st October (1.30pm & 3.30pm).
YouTube.
19.9.26
The X Files with Ricky Jay. "The Amazing Maleeni. On the Santa Monica pier a magician amazes the crowd with his superior ancient magic tricks. However Mulder and Scully are soon brought in when the headless corpse of the magician is found in his car leaving only his twin brother, Albert and his rival, LaBonge as suspects. After some strange scenarios we are left with the question, who murdered the Amazing Maleeni, or is it all another amazing trick?" Monday 28th September on 5Action, see TV Magic for details. 19.9.26
Kyle
Sarocen. Chris North writes: I am sad to report the passing of Kyle Sarocen
on 11th September following a long battle with prostate cancer. Kyle was
extremely active and influential in the magic scene in the Norfolk area. Along
with his partner Stephen he founded The Gathering in 2016 which was set up as an
informal group where magicians could chat, relax and socialise and has proved
extremely popular over the years and will continue as part of his memory and
legacy. In 2017 and 2018 he created and produced The Family Festival of Magic in
Great Yarmouth, a two day event open to the public which included outdoor events
and theatre shows. Kyle will be long remembered for the opportunities he gave
his fellow magicians and his ‘cheeky persona' which always enabled him to get
things done!
19.9.26
"Penn Jillette and Piff the Magic Dragon on the
finale of their current UK tour - Richard Herring"
YouTube
• "Penn Jillette is Piff The Magic Dragon's Dad -The Chris Moyles Show"
YouTube
• Piff & Pop's Magic Shoppe reviewed by Jonathan Royle
Click Here • "Iconic
US comedian reveals he loves to visit ‘grungy clubs' incognito when he
visits Scotland"
Click Here •
"Penn Jillette and Piff the Magic Dragon set for York"
Click Here • "How a real mentalist secretly rigs his mind-reading
act"
Click Here •
"Memorize an entire deck. One story at a time."
Click
Here • "Young Wiltshire magician praised for inspiring charity work"
Click Here •
"Long Island's Michael Carbonaro returns home for Paramount magic show"
Click Here • Many thanks for your news this week, see you next week,
Duncan.
19.9.26