Number
1371 - Saturday 3rd October 2026
Hullusion
2026 - just days away! Hullusion returns to Hull on Sunday 11th October
for its second convention, following the success of last year's sold-out
inaugural event.
This year's line-up features Peter Turner, Paul Draper, Paul Martin, Laura
London, Fay Presto and John Bannon, with a packed programme of lectures and
demonstrations, plus a busy dealers' hall.
Organised by Karl Hemmingway, Kerry Scorah and Russ Appleby, Hullusion aims to
provide a friendly, relaxed convention for magicians of all levels, with plenty
of opportunities to learn, meet fellow performers and discover new magic.
Hullusion 2026 - Sunday 11th October, The Goodfellowship, Hull. Tickets and
further information:
www.hullusion.co.uk.
3.10.26
Derren
Brown Only Human. Directed by Andrew O'Connor. Limited London Season,
10th October 2026 - 30th January 2027. Following a sold-out UK &
Ireland tour, multi-award-winning master showman Derren Brown brings his
extraordinary new live show Only Human to the West End.
In this brand-new production, Derren Brown combines mind-reading,
psychological illusion, and breathtaking storytelling in a way that is
both deeply personal and utterly electrifying. Only Human explores what
it means to be human our perceptions, our beliefs, and the fragile
line between reality and illusion.
Smart, unsettling, and wildly entertaining, this is theatre at its most
compelling. Some experiences stay with you. This one could change you.
Prepare to have your mind blown! Note: not suitable for children under
12 years. Apollo Theatre, London
www.london.derrenbrown.co.uk. "Derren Brown on the real secret of
his craft: 'Magic is sort of easy'"
www.thetimes.com.
3.10.26
Exonian 90th Anniversary Magic Convention
in Crediton - this Wednesday! Wednesday 7th October 2026 at The Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton 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. Starring Eric Tait,
John Archer, Nikola Arkane, Fizz Wizz Pop, Magic Sam, Johnny Clavo and a mystery
guest. Wednesday 7th October. See
www.sleightofhand.co.uk.
3.10.26
How
Houdini Made Magic - Derren Brown reveals the man behind the legend, in
new series for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. The ten-part series reveals how
Harry Houdini's rise from poverty to global stardom changed magic, media
and fame forever.
Across ten episodes, Brown examines the many identities inhabited by
Houdini throughout his life: performer, self-publicist, innovator,
sceptic, media pioneer and cultural phenomenon. Drawing on historians,
biographers and leading magicians, the series explores how Houdini's
relentless drive to succeed took him from childhood poverty to global
stardom, and why his methods feel remarkably familiar in today's age of
influencers, viral moments and personal brands.
Derren Brown says: "Most people know Houdini
as the man who escaped from handcuffs and water tanks, but the more
deeply I explored his life, the more fascinating he became. He wasn't
simply a magician or escapologist. He reinvented himself again and
again, understood publicity better than almost anyone who came before
him, and seemed to instinctively grasp many of the techniques that
underpin modern fame. What emerges is a story that feels surprisingly
contemporary, and one that says as much about our world as it does about
Houdini's."
How Houdini Made Magic will air on BBC Radio 4 across two weeks from 19th
October, and will also be available on BBC Sounds from that
date, with all ten episodes available to listen to in full.
3.10.26
MMR
LIVE The Highlights. We've got a fantastic month ahead at MMR, and
it starts with something we've been looking forward to sharing ever
since our very first MMR LIVE in Sheffield. This month sees the release
of Part One of our MMR LIVE highlights. We recorded some brilliant
sessions on the day, and throughout October we'll begin sharing that
material with members who couldn't be there in person - starting with
selected highlights from our first live event. You'll get to experience
some of the thinking, ideas and conversations that made the day so
special, including sessions from Scott Creasey and our own MMR members
Nik Pledger and Ross Bartels. See
www.www.mymind.rocks.
3.10.26
UK
Hub of the FISM Academy announced. From
FISM International, via Facebook:
We are delighted to announce the launch of the UK Hub of the FISM
Academy; bringing the Academy's vision to the United Kingdom, and creating new
opportunities to learn, connect and develop within our international magic
community.
A big thank you to the President of the Magic Circle Marvin Berglas and his team
for sharing this project and for taking this important step in working together
with FISM for the future of magic.
Together, we invest in the next generation. Together, we build the future of
magic.
www.facebook.com/fisminternational.
Photo, L to R: Fabio Rossello, Peter Din, Andrea Baioni, Marvin Berglas, by Brendan Rodrigues Photography. 3.10.26
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This
week, the second-best looking man in British magic, Russ Stevens, on 'The
Big Stage Magic & Illusion Special' from 29th December 2000. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The
MagicWeek Video Archive
Click Here.
3.10.26
Hudson
& Hudson present Married At First Sleight - October Dates. The
funniest magic show you will see this year! The hilarious comedy magic
show from husband and wife magicians Hudson & Hudson. The show has
incredible mind reading, unbelievable magic, stand up and sketches. It's
for anyone who enjoys humour with their magic, all performed in a
relatable way from a married couple who also enjoy a bicker!
Alan Hudson is best known for his appearances on ITV's Britain's Got
Talent, ITV's The Next Great Magician and was a winner on
Penn & Teller Fool Us. Kat Hudson also performed on Penn &
Teller: Fool Us in Las Vegas, although she didn't fool them... which
she is reminded of by Alan every day. On BGT, Kat's act got an instant
standing ovation from the judges and went viral, amassing over 100
million views online. The pair have performed everywhere from The Magic
Castle in Hollywood to The Magic Circle in London.
YouTube.
www.hudsonandhudson.co.uk.
Thursday 15th October: The Old Woollen,
Leeds.
Book tickets.
Friday 16th October: The Royalty, Bowness-on-Windermere.
Book tickets.
Friday 23rd October: Helmsley Arts Centre.
Book tickets.
3.10.26
Tiffany
Allen at My Mind Rocks. On Wednesday 21st October at 7pm UK time,
we're joined live from Paris by Tiffany Allen - "The New Georgia
Wonder". Tiffany is one of the very few performers in the world still
presenting this extraordinary style of act today. She'll be
demonstrating the act, discussing its history and thinking, and teaching
members how these remarkable demonstrations are performed.
It promises to be a fascinating session and something very different
from anything we've hosted at MMR before. Alongside all of that, our
regular Jams, Sunday Sessions and community activity continue throughout
the month. October is going to be a very good month to be inside MMR.
See
www.www.mymind.rocks.
3.10.26
The
Experience - Canal Cafe Theatre, London, Saturday 3rd October. From
the promoter: Step into the captivating world of magic, mind-reading,
comedy, and daring escapes with Mind Bender's electrifying live show
The Experience. Now touring across Canada, Ireland, and the U.K.
including a special stop in London The Experience is a
high-energy, interactive spectacle that blurs the line between reality
and illusion. From impossible feats of mentalism to Mind Bender's
shocking body bag escape, this is a show you have to see to believe.
As seen on Canada's Got Talent and following 15 years of sold-out
performances, Mind Bender continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
You paid for the whole seat... but you'll only need the edge. Whether
you're out with family, on a date, or simply looking for something
unforgettable, The Experience delivers a night of wonder,
laughter, and jaw-dropping moments. Written & Performed by Jordan Mind
Bender. Running time: Approx 60 minutes. Ages Guidance: Ages 15 and
above.
www.canalcafetheatre.com.
3.10.26
Luke
Oseland's 'Watch and Learn' Lecture - The Ulster Society of Magicians,
5th October. James Hobart writes: On Monday 5th October The Ulster
Society of Magicians will be welcoming Luke Oseland to the society to
present his lecture "Watch and Learn".
Visiting magicians welcome by advance agreement with the Secretary James
Hobart j.hobart@btinternet.com.
Admission £25 payable at the door.
Luke has built a reputation in the magic industry for creating highly
visual, direct, and hard-hitting magic. Across his professional career,
he has released over 70 effects and worked behind the scenes with some
of the biggest names in magic. His magic has been seen performed by:
Dynamo, Troy, Stephen Mulhern, Xavier Mortimer, Magic Singh, and many
more.
In recent years, Luke has taken his magic to the stage, performing his
own solo shows as well as productions such as Insane Magic (UK) and The
Purple Rabbit (Australia). He also achieved a lifelong ambition by
appearing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us with his original creation, The
Mouse Trap Act.
His previous lecture focused on sharp, high-impact "10-second miracles"
designed for social media. Now, in Watch and Learn, Luke takes a
completely different approach.
Luke will perform effects and acts that have taken him round the world,
before diving into
detailed explanations. He will, of course, throw in some of his fun
rapid-fire visual effects too!
You'll experience the magic exactly as an audience would, before
stepping behind the curtain to learn the thinking, structure, and
methods that make it all work. Expect practical stage and close-up
routines, clever bits of business, and plenty of offbeat, creative ideas
you can adapt into your own performances.
Alongside the material, Luke will also dive into the bigger picture: how
to build and structure a show, market it effectively, and start creating
your own performance opportunities in an audience led Q&A.
Whether you're looking for strong new material or insight into crafting
a full act, Watch & Learn offers both inspiration and real-world working
knowledge.
3.10.26
Iain
Bailey Lecture - South Downs Magicians, 7th October. Des King
writes: Iain is an award-winning magician and pickpocket. He has over 16
million views on TikTok and has been featured on the 13M Subscriber
"Daily Dose of Internet" YouTube channel. He performs at Weddings,
corporate functions, churches and private parties. His magic is fun,
interactive and easily relatable to any age group. Iain is also a
creator and has created magic tricks that many other magicians perform.
Visiting magicians are welcome to attend for a fee of £8.00. The meeting
starts at 8pm and is held at The Parish Hall, High Street, Handcross,
near Crawley, West Sussex RH17 6BJ. See
www.iainbailey.com
and
www.southdownsmagicians.co.uk.
3.10.26
Jason
Simmons's 'The Hypnotic Edge: Psychological Tools for Magicians' Lecture
- The Surrey Society of Magicians, 8th October. Paul Dickson writes:
Jason Simmons is a professional hypnotist, mentalist, magician and
comedian who has been performing for more than a decade. His work spans
comedy hypnosis, mindreading and magic, giving him a particularly useful
perspective on the psychological tools that performers can use to shape
an audience's experience.
His lecture, The Hypnotic Edge: Psychological Tools for Magicians,
asks a deceptively simple question: what if one of the most important
secrets in a magic performance isn't the trick itself, but what's
happening in the spectator's mind?
What to Expect: How principles of suggestion can strengthen a magical
effect. Using authority and confidence to increase belief and impact.
The importance of pacing and how it influences an audience's experience.
Psychological approaches to audience management. Practical techniques
designed to deepen reactions without having to change your existing
material. Applications for close-up, cabaret and stage performers.
Jason's background gives the subject some
genuine practical grounding. Alongside his magic and mentalism, he
performs comedy hypnosis professionally and has spoken at the UK
Hypnosis Convention on presentation and performance. His own writing
also explores the crossover between magic, influence and hypnosis.
There's no therapy lecture here. The emphasis is firmly on usable
performance tools: ways of increasing impact, control and belief while
continuing to perform the magic you already know. If you're interested
in audience psychology, spectator management or simply getting more from
the same tricks, this should offer a rather different perspective from a
conventional magic lecture.
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. 3.10.26
The
Magicians' Podcast Network. Featuring multiple new magic podcasts each week,
with
interviews, TV magic nostalgia and lots and lots of fun. Become a paid
subscriber now and gain access to their full archives as well.
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MagiciansPodcast
Subscribe on Spotify:
www.spotify.com
Subscribe on Apple:
www.podcasts.apple.com.
3.10.26
The
Oct/Nov 2026 E-Video Newsletter. Mark Leveridge's latest online
video presentation is out and features the following contents. The
Teach In learn a neat and sleight-free method for the
signed-card-to-box plot called Encased. Pro Peeks extracted
from the Teach In Archive section of E-Club Pro comes a table top coin
routine called Impossible To Follow. The Table Magician Unplugged
part 20 of the series based on The Table Magician e-book tells you how
to remember which tables you've done. The Trick Box here's an
improvement of a classic method for the cut and restored card which was
published in the 4th Collected Card Magic volume. Web Offers
save £6 on The Coin and Purse Collection E-Book and £4 on the card
routine Hide And Seek. 60 Seconds To Success I suggest how to
avoid buyer's remorse when purchasing magic. To gain free access to this
40 min E-Video Newsletter sign up for any of the E-Clubs, details for
which can be found at
www.markleveridge.co.uk/#e-prices.
3.10.26
Lee
Hathaway's Desert Island Tricks.
"A Covent Garden magic stall in winter, a boat that hosts magic sessions and a
career that somehow threads through it all to The Magic Circle. We sit down with
Lee Hathaway and get the kind of candid, craft-obsessed conversation that only
happens between people who have lived magic for decades. Along the way, Lee
talks about the uncomfortable truth most working performers feel: you can
"unlearn" technique when life gets busy and getting it back is less about time
and more about calm, repetitive focus..."
YouTube. Brought to you by
www.alakazam.co.uk.
3.10.26
Max
Fulham Lecture - South London Magic Society, 6th October. Simon
Rosselli writes: Max is a comedian and ventriloquist who has quickly
established himself on the comedy circuit with his effervescent delivery
and sharp improvisation. He can regularly be seen at comedy clubs and
cabaret shows around the country. In 2025, Max made his debut at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a sell-out run of his show Max Fulham:
Full of Ham which also received a nomination for best debut show at
the Leicester Comedy Festival awards.
Max's fresh approach has earned him recognition in the variety world,
and he has been invited to lecture and lead workshops internationally.
Highlights include hosting Gala Shows at Blackpool Magic Convention
(Blackpool Opera House), as well as being invited to America to perform
and lecture at the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Convention.
In this lecture Max will cover ventriloquism and puppetry techniques as
well as ways to kickstart your creativity and generate ideas. A lecture
that should have takeaways for all sorts of performers even if you never
intend to pick up a puppet! Tuesday, 6th October. 8pm-10pm. Doors open
at 7.30pm. £10 for non-members, which can be used towards membership if
you decide to join. South London Magic Society, West Beck Club, 1 Sidney
Road, Beckenham BR3 4PX.
www.southlondonmagic.co.uk.
3.10.26
Steve
Best Shoots. "André Vincent Comedy, Clowning and Bangers & Gash"
YouTube.
3.10.26
The
Magic Hour Halloween Special.
We've got two cracking shows, both with a little extra spookiness added to make
your Halloween an unforgettable experience! This year we celebrate the world's
most famous magician Harry Houdini, who died on Halloween in 1926. Expect a
special nod to him during the show, with a dedicated magic routine fit for the
King of Magic. Choose from The Magic Hour (also in it's 13th spookiest year) at
the Sheraton Grand Park Lane, and Magic at the Temple in the hidden Freemasons
Lodge at Andaz Liverpool Street.
The Magic Hour, set against the backdrop of the dark wood panelled drawing room,
features, among other strange goings on, a Victorian sιance. Magic at the Temple
in the hidden Freemasons Lodge at Andaz Liverpool Street, explores stories of
witches and magic with macabre edge.
Don't miss these special anniversary shows! The Magic Hour runs on Friday 30th
October, and Magic at the Temple on Saturday 31st October. These are both hugely
popular dates anyway, but more so this year, so book early to avoid
disappointment.
www.magichourshow.com.
3.10.26
"Inside
London's new Blue Note jazz club in Covent Garden"
www.secretldn.com.
3.10.26
"Debbie
McGee joins the cast of Grease on tour"
Click Here "'The bullet catch is incredible': Britain's Got Talent
magicians to bring their hit show to Leeds"
Click Here "Magicians charity 'shocked' after former youth branch
chairman admits child sexual abuse"
Click Here "Award-winning Inverclyde magician Calum McVittie's
story"
Click Here "Arizona magician finishes as runner-up on America's
Got Talent"
Click Here "Jamie Allen brings the magic: 'Amaze' celebrates one
year in NYC"
Click Here "Pakistan's Got Talent finds its first winner (and a
whole lot of feelings)"
Click Here And finally, this was fun: "Magician Performs Leather
Jacket Magic Tricks. Penn & Teller: Fool Us"
Click Here That's it for another week. Your UK magic news is
always welcomed. See you next week, Duncan.
3.10.26