Number 70 - 27th
October 2001
Dominic Wood and
Hayley-Anna Dancy backstage at
The Young Magicians' Club 2001 Junior
Day on Sunday. Hayley-Anna (Blackpool) won the stage competition in a
keenly fought competition, and Robert Temple (Sunderland) won the close-up
competition. Many congratulations to both of them. TV star Dominic Wood
emceed the Gala show, rounding off a great day of magic held in The Magic
Circle's superb London headquarters.
27.10.01
Alistair Cook
featured in a ten page spread on magic in Friday's ES magazine.
Alistair is currently working on a Trigger Happy style magic show
with the makers of Big Brother. David Blaine, photographed 100 feet
up perched on top of Wellington Arch in London's Hyde Park, formed the
core of the feature that was read by millions of Londoners. The article,
written by Kate Spicer, goes on to include the Harry Potter phenomenon and
says (quite rightly) "what is interesting is the effect these two [Blaine
and Potter] have had on breathing new life into what seemed to be, in
Britain, a dead craft." Other magicians mentioned included Sav, Paul
Zenon, Guy Hollingworth, Simon Drake, Derren Brown, Danny Buckler,
Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, Paul Daniels ("It's not his fault,
bless him, but Daniels over killed magic"), Houdini and David Jarre. Once
again more proof that magic in the UK performed a major u-turn on a
very icy road - and got away with it!
27.10.01
Jim
Steinmeyer has a good looking new website
www.jimsteinmeyer.com
and is the man behind some of the world's finest illusions - from
the original concept for vanishing the Statue of Liberty to one of my
favourite illusions 'Shadow Theatre.' He also invented 'Interlude' and
'Origami,' two illusions that have unfortunately been pirated in the UK many times
(Interlude has been pirated and sold as the "A Frame"). Remember pirated
illusions are 'stolen goods' produced without the permission of their
creators. More on illusion piracy
in back issue number 0033
27.10.01
On Sunday January 27th
2002 Mark Leveridge is hosting The Interactive Magic Experience
'ImagE' at Colston's Collegiate School, Bristol. A day offering those who
are serious about learning some top magic the best opportunity to do just
that! Aldo Colombini, Patrick Page, Mark Leveridge, Paul Gordon and Mike
Austin will each present a genuine hands-on workshop to groups of no more
than 20. Each instructor will present his workshop three times during the
course of the day. The workshops will take place in individual rooms with
time-tabling ensuring that no more than three workshops are taking place
at any one time. Each workshop will last a minimum of 60 minutes and a
maximum of 90 minutes. Doors open 9.30am and the first workshop begins at
10am. Conventioneers will be able to select which of the workshops they
would like to attend, and the programme will be designed so that there
will be time to attend all five during the day if desired. For more
information on this exciting day visit
www.markleveridge.co.uk
27.10.01
The Magic Circle
Awards Banquet and Show takes place on Saturday 17th November at The
Post House Premier, Bloomsbury, London WC1. Star cabaret including John
Wade, John Styles, Nicholas Einhorn and Poland's Salvano. The David
Devant is awarded to the person who, in the opinion of The Magic
Circle, has made a significant contribution in advancing the art of magic
or has given outstanding service to magic internationally. This year's
award will be presented to John Gaughan MIMC. Tickets from Brian Miller
(Visa and MasterCard only) Telephone: 020 8478 1175.
27.10.01
Jon Allen will be
appearing on The Big Breakfast (Channel 4) on Tuesday morning
between 7am and 9am, being interviewed, and performing close-up magic
throughout the show.
27.10.01
The Church Farmhouse
Museum, Greyhound Hill, Hendon, London NW4 telephone 020 8203 0130 are
currently presenting an exhibition of magic 'Do you believe in Magic?'
until 6th January (Closed 24th, 25th Dec and 1st Jan). On display are rare
items from The Magic Circle collection and from the vaults of Davenports,
Britain's oldest magic shop. The exhibition coincides with the publication
of Magic Aid a new book featuring magic from Paul Daniels, David
Berglas, Fay Presto, Mandy Davis, and a number of other magicians,
all in aid of children's charities.
27.10.01
The
Mid-Ulster
Magic Circle Northern Ireland, will be holding their Halloween Convention
today, Saturday 27th
October 2001 at The Fitzwilliam International Hotel, right beside
The Belfast International Airport. There will be "Best Magician in
Ireland" Competition with Cash Prizes, Two Top Lectures and Dealers.
For more information contact Joe Glover 02838 325079 or Des Callaghan
02894 453667. 27.10.01
The Portsmouth and District Magic Circle Jumbo Sale and Exchange Day takes place on Sunday October 28th at the Malins Community Centre. Doors open at 9am and tickets are £8 and include close-up, a lecture by Barrie Richardson, and a Gala show. For more details contact: Harold Straker, 9 East Lane, Titchfield, Portsmouth PO14 4AD 27.10.01
We don't normally try and cover international magic news, however here's something out of the norm that caught my eye: KCNA, the official news agency of North Korea, have announced that North Korea have set up an official magic society. The aim of the association, formally established on Wednesday in the capital Pyongyang, is to "contribute to the development of the country's magic, and to foster ties with magicians around the world." Although magic has not figured prominently in North Korean culture so far, Circuses are popular in Pyongyang, diplomats say. From Reuters. 27.10.01
Magician Jez Rose is presenting an evening of comedy magic "A Rose Among Thorns" in cabaret at the Limelight Theatre, Queens Park Centre, Queens Park, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP21 7RT on December 21st. Tickets: £4.00 to £7.00 Telephone: 01296 431 272 27.10.01
I've
added a number of magic books to the MagicWeek
Book Shop that we run in
association with Amazon.co.uk
• Here's a reminder: Barrie
Richardson will be presenting his lecture at the
Northamptonshire Magicians' Club on Tuesday
30th October 2001. They meet at the Red Lion Public House,
Brafield-on-the-Green, Northamptonshire. The Lecture will start at
8pm and there will be a £4 charge for visiting magicians. Website:
http://go.to/nmc/
• Lord of
Illusions
(Cert 18)
is on tonight at 10pm on the Sci-Fi channel - not a great movie but there
are a few amusing bits including Billy McComb at the Magic Castle and one
or two gory illusions • Well, that's all for this week - let MagicWeek
know your news, see you next week, Duncan.
27.10.01