Number 189 - 7th February 2004

Paul Daniels: Above the Below. It looks like it's going to be a good year for Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee. The mean spirited decision from their local council's planning department, who constantly frustrated their plans to rebuild their home on stilts following endless flooding from the Thames, has finally been overturned. Now the couple can get back to normality and look forward to an exciting new home. Read the full story from the BBC: Click Here. Following on from the success of Paul's The Magic of Max Malini at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year the show is being taken to London, from 1st to 20th March 2004. The venue is the Jermyn Street Theatre, in the heart of London's West End (Map). This is an intimate 70 seat theatre and should be the ideal venue for magic. Tickets are £57.00 each. For more information, and to book, contact the box office on 0207 287 2875. 7.2.04

British illusionist Leo Ward, now based in New Zealand, has just signed a two year contract headlining aboard Holland America Line's Westerdam, strating in April. Leo will present a full illusion show featuring his current material together with two new sequences: A motorcycle vanish, and re-appearance in the house (currently being built by Chris Murphy at Oz Illusions in Australia) and the "Table of Death" (also under construction, by Bill Smith's Magic Ventures in the States). Set design is by Hugh Durrant, a top-flight West End theatre designer, and the show will play in the ships stunning 1,000 seat showroom. www.leoward.com. 7.2.04

South Tynside's International Magic Week gathers pace. On the Friday (March 19th) Mr Trix lectures and performs children's magic, Greg Wilson lectures, Marc Paul lectures and in the evening there's a Gala Show featuring Luke Jermay, Greg Wilson, and Marc Paul. On the Saturday there are dealer demonstrations, lectures from Banachek and Boris Wild, close-up sessions and an evening show with Christian, Sylvester the Jester and Banachek. And on Sunday lectures from Luke Jermay and Sylvester the Jester. For more information, on what sounds like an excellent new magic event, and registration details, visit: www.southtyneside.info. 7.2.04

Brighton's Klub Magic goes from strength to strength. Martin Breese reviews Monday's show this week, Click Here. Next month: Mel Harvey, Jack Delvin (photo) and Romany. www.klubmagic.co.uk. 7.2.04

Sheffield Circle of Magicians present a Grand Auction Night on Wednesday 18th February at 7.30pm. The venue is the Three Cranes Public House, Queen Street, Sheffield. All enthusiasts are welcome. £3 for visitors. Contact: Simon Green, Secretary, on 0114 248 8725 or sdnjgreen@classicfm.net. 7.2.04

Luke Jermay's Skullduggery DVD is all set to be launched by Alakazam.co.uk at the Blackpool Convention, and can also be pre-ordered right now for an estimated dispatch date of February 25th. The disc features material from 7 Deceptions, variations on that material, and some previously unpublished work, Click Here. Alakazam are also excited to be able to offer Heirloom by Jamie Badman and Colin Miller. For more on both of these new releases visit www.alakazam.co.uk. 7.2.04

The Turkish TV series "Hokus Pokus" mentioned a few weeks ago in MagicWeek is still looking for highly polished, professional, illusion or manipulation acts from the UK. They are also interested in "unusual and strange" acts, as long as they are magic related. Lee Alex writes "There is a good possibility that a second series will be produced which means we have four more programmes in this series and another 13 programmes after that - that's 17 more programmes to fill!" Interested performers should email Lee at info@magicconcept.net for more information. (Photo: Peter Marvey and Lee Alex) 7.2.04

The Twins, the world's only identical twin illusionists, made magic and pantomime history this year by making a fully working Helicopter appear on an empty stage in less than 4 seconds just so that so that Cinderella could get to the ball on time! The Twins played the Fairy Flunkeys at The Royal Theatre, Nottingham, alongside Bobby Davro and Danny La Rue, from mid December to the end of January. www.thetwins.co.uk. 7.2.04

Mindreader Paul Starr of Northern Ireland is about to embark on the biggest challenge of his career as he sets out to raise half a million pounds for Alzheimers N.I. in memory of his mother Gertrude who passed away in January. Authority has been given by the Alzheimer's Association. In order to raise money he will be performing shows with the proceeds going to the Association. Telephone Paul Starr on 02838 832034. 7.2.04

The Order of Magi in Manchester ran a Children's Colouring Competition on their website over Christmas featuring custom made magic sets as prizes. Compiled by members of the Magi Council the sets contained tricks, puzzles and illusions. The competition attracted nearly 200 entries. The winner in the 5-7 year age group was Claire Collins from Stockport and in the 8-11 group Alexandra Hilton-Byrne from Swinton. Only two further sets will be made, one for Wittus Witt to add to his collection in Germany and the other will be for The Magi Centenary Exhibition in 2009. 7.2.04

The Ace Magic Circle present 'White Magic' on Wednesday February 11th at St. Mary's Social Club, Trent Road, Birchley, Billinge, Near Wigan. It promises to be "a fantastic evening of illusion and manipulation from one of the best magicians (Michael White) this club has ever produced." Tickets are £3 for adults and £2 for Juniors and concessions. Doors open at 7.30pm and the show starts at 8pm. Following the show Michael will lecture on how he turned professional at just 17. The club has been going for 20 years and the evening is designed to raise awareness and hopefully encourage a few more magicians to join. They meet on the second Wednesday of every month. For more information telephone the secretary on 07901 990 220 or email steelemagicinc@aol.com. 7.2.04

Is David Copperfield planning to set up a unique magic holiday resort? Click Here Photos • Oops... The Norwegian Cruise Lines ship Pride of America sank in Bremerhaven quay in Germany last month, Click Here • And the winner is... Thanks to everyone who entered our competition last week - £50 worth of magic goodies are on their way to David Bodycombe in Surrey. No two entries were the same and all (well nearly all) were unrepeatable! • Paul Brignall lectures at the Edinburgh Magic Circle together with a special guest at the Edinburgh City Football Club, Greenside Place, Edinburgh on Monday 9th February at 7.30pm (Admission: £5.00) • "Glen David Gold's 'Carter Beats the Devil' sold more than 100,000 hardcover copies, and Entertainment Weekly ranked it in 2001 as the sixth best fiction book" writes Phillip Zonkel Click Here. To order from Amazon.co.uk Click Here • Congratulations to FISM champions Scott and Muriel on the announcement of their upcoming wedding in Holland. We worked together in Japan a number of times so, knowing Scott, I am sure the wedding will be full of surprises. I'll never forget trying to get through customs once with Scott carrying a gigantic holdall complete with a very realistic false arm sticking out of the top... customs were not amused • Jason Fenn's appearance on BBC's Working Lunch will now go out at 12.30pm on Monday 9th February (originally planned for last Friday) • We've been asked to pass on this link: www.second-hand-juggling-equipment.co.uk which we are happy to do. The site's owner would welcome some advertising so if you've got an old set of clubs that's the place to go to • When sending in news please include a post code with venue address details so that we can provide a www.streetmap.co.uk link to help readers • That's it for this week, see you next week, Duncan. 7.2.04

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