Number 298 - 11th May 2006
Derren
Brown shows Houdini-like knack for escaping Ofcom censure. "Derren
Brown's last outing for Channel 4, 'The Heist', has been cleared of
breaching broadcasting guidelines after complaints that it glamorised
armed robbery and was harmful to participants. It is the third time one of
the illusionist's programmes has been investigated by Ofcom after
complaints from the public. 'The Heist', broadcast in January, showed
Brown trying to influence a group of people to attempt a robbery. It
showed the selection process, including psychological techniques that
would guide the participants' decision, as well as the robbery attempt."
Writes Jennifer Whitehead in Brand Republic. To read the full story
Click Here.
Derren returns to our screens in a couple of weeks with a brand-new, continent-spanning six-week series of his acclaimed Trick of the Mind programmes, deploying his fusion of magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship in startling and stylish new forms. Having travelled around Britain in the last series, Derren takes his dark talents across to America and Europe. With his abilities to predict outcomes and behaviour patterns as sharp as ever, Derren executes a breath-taking routine across the streets and canals of Venice; visits Monte Carlo for a near-impossible memory feat with playing cards; and performs a perplexing effect on the iconic giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna (a landmark featured in Orson Welles The Third Man). There are three pieces filmed in the USA a dark experiment in the Valley of Fire, a cold reading routine in Hollywood and a sequence that has a dowser searching for a film-canister of water hidden in the Nevada desert. Back in home territory Derren influences a cinema audience to forget an entire film they have just watched and has an unsuspecting participant wake up in the middle of his own dream! Celebrity guests include Matt Lucas, Robbie Williams and Stephen Merchant. Every Sunday from March 26th for 6 weeks at 9pm. Objective Productions for Channel 4. 11.3.06
Feed The Children Variety Performance
- next Saturday! March 18th at the Bearwood College Theatre, Sindlesham,
Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 5BG (Map) at 7pm
- Starring Ali Bongo, Alan Shaxon, Loki, Fluke, Mark Shortland,
John Derris, Martyn James & Co., Jonathan Shotton, singer Becks and dance
troupe Show Perfection, plus close-up magic from Mike Alderman, David
Ball, Mike O'Brien and Kerry Scorah. Should be a great night. All tickets
now £10.00 each. To
book call 0118 932 0095 or visit
www.feedthechildren.org.uk. 11.3.06
Kidology
UK 2006 - A weekday convention for Children's Entertainers. Bookings
are now being taken for the second Kidology day and last year's event sold
out - so be sure to book early! Tuesday 5th September 2006, 9am - 6pm at
The Civic & Wulfrun Halls, North Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1RQ (Map).
Starring Andy Clockwise (photo) "Kidwise with Clockwise" Quentin Reynolds
"Re-inventing and Routining" Scott Penrose "Making your Children's Magic
Magical" Ian Thom "Magic with Puppets" and Ian Davis, Steve Dimmer & Moira
Fletcher "Ideas 'R' Us - Original Ideas and Children's Magic". Plus
specialised magic dealers, lots of chat, and lunch! Registration costs
just £30.00. Organised by
Albion Magic and
Practical Magic.
To book contact Practical Magic on 01691 690789, email
info@practical-magic.com.
Payment can be made by card or cheque. 11.3.06
Jeff
McBride and Eugene Burger to lecture at the Bath Circle of Magicians -
April 6th Saltford, Bath. Following on from workshops in Cornwall, Jeff
McBride and Eugene Burger will lecture at the Bath Circle of Magicians on
Thursday April 6th. This is their only other lecture in the UK before they
head off for Europe. It will be an evening of practical magic for all
skill levels with discussion covering the philosophy of performing
close-up, stand-up and stage magic. Tickets must be booked in advance by
calling Simon Lane on 01225 313551, first to reserve seats in your name,
followed by prompt payment by cheque. Limited capacity - book early for
this unique event!
www.mcbridemagic.com . 11.3.06
Marvin's
Meal Magic! There will be magic at every KFC in the UK, Europe, Asia,
the Caribbean and Latin America! From now through April 2006, the treat in
every KFC 'Kid's Meal' will be one of five collectable magic tricks. In
the UK Marvin's
Magic have been chosen to be the company that will supply the magic.
The special Kid's Meal bags are branded 'Marvin's Magic' as are the tray
liners, and of course the tricks and instructions. Marvin Berglas, creator
of Marvin's Magic, said "We are obviously pleased to have been chosen to
partner KFC in the UK the only magic licensor they have chosen globally.
This highlights the high recognition for our brand and the interest in
magic." So it's bye bye 'Happy Meals' and hello KFC 'Kid's Meals' for me
for the next month or two then! 11.3.06
Ian
Rowland has just returned from a six week whistle-stop tour around the
world where, as well as a few shows and lectures here and there, he also
wrangled with a boa constrictor, tangled with a tarantula (see photo!),
and made friends with a very, very bad-tempered crocodile! Interested
readers with a taste for travel tales can take the full tour via Ian's
site at
Click Here. On Tuesday April 11th, Ian will present
his full lecture at Blackpool Magicians' Club - it'll be devoted to close-up
mentalism and his own original card work. BMC lectures are normally
strictly for members-only, however if you are not a member and wish to
attend contact Derek Lever, who may be able to issue a small number of
guest tickets (although space is very limited).
www.ianrowland.com. 11.3.06
Gaston
Quieto has been booked to appear at the South Tyneside International
Magic Festival, replacing Daniel Garcia who has had to cancel due to
illness. Gaston Quieto is an international award winning magician, with
many TV appearances to his name. He'll be performing close-up and also
lecturing on magic featuring cards, coins, and finger rings; including
tips on how to maximise the impact your magic makes, corporate work, and
how to get more of it!
www.southtyneside.info. 11.3.06
Scott
Penrose lectures at the Nottingham Guild of Magicians on Thursday
March 16th. Scott currently divides his
time between magic consultancy work, performances, illusion construction
and other magic related projects. Passionate about his magic this should
be an excellent evening. 7.45pm - 10.15pm (doors open at 7pm) Visiting
Magicians £5.00. Venue: Pond Hills Lane Community Centre, Pond Hills Lane,
Arnold, Nottingham NG5 8DR (Map).
More information from Freddie Wilkinson on 0115 9614551
www.nottinghamguildofmagicians.co.uk. 11.3.06
Robert
Harbin Original Origami. Mark Parker emails with the news that a
number of pieces of origami made by the late Robert Harbin are currently
listed on the Martinka Auction website (enter 'Harbin' to search). A full
story accompanies each item, together with a certificate of authentication
prepared by Scott Penrose. To visit the site
Click Here. 11.3.06
Congratulations
to Noel Qualter, winner of the London Society of Magicians Stage
Competition (Bridger Lewis) last week. The competition, judged by two
laymen and a magic judge, was seen by a packed clubroom at Davenports.
Noel's act was a mixture of magic and mind reading concluding with an
effect where Noel apparently predicts a spectators whole life - with
proof!
www.noelqualter.com. 11.3.06
Philip
Partridge will present his children's show/explanation/Q&A session at
the Leeds Magical
Association on March 28th at 7.30pm. Philip has performed at many high
profile events including Brooklyn Beckham's birthday party. He recently
appeared on the Weakest Link special entertainers edition, and has
also performed for Prince Charles. There will be a £5.00 door charge.
Venue: The Quaker Meeting House, 188 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9DX (Map)
www.philippartridge.co.uk. 11.3.06
Tony
O'Magic in association with The Works proudly presents An
Evening of Magical Entertainment with The International Brotherhood of
Magicians on Wednesday 29th March at 8pm at The Works, Hollins Mill Lane,
Sowerby Bridge, Halifax. Telephone 01422 834821. "Presenting Brian Sefton
(photo) - The master of manipulation performs his multi-award winning
display of pure magic, as performed at The Magic Castle, Hollywood. Peter
Greenwood - Associate member of The Inner Magic Circle shows us the
lighter side of magic. Tony O'Neill - The local talent delivers dazzling
close-up magic with his customary style and panache." To book call The
Entertainment Store 01422 355344. General enquiries to:
talk2tonyo@hotmail.com. 11.3.06
Jack
Stephens is featured in
Magic
Profile this week.
Magic Moment: "...one of the children, picked up my magic wand and started
tapping all items in the room with it, seeing what would happen to them. I
thought this a beautiful moment and so very magical. I will always
remember the way this young boy thought that the wand is what did the
magic."
11.3.06
On
Sunday 5th March, Richard Graham won the
Southend Sorcerers Society Stage Competition for the third time in a row.
The competition was closely fought as always but Richard came out on top,
performing 3 Fly III, Daryl's Acrobatic Knot and Brian
Caswell's Trilogy routine with some other comedy items. Richard was
delighted with his win and maintains his achievement of holding both the
stage and close-up trophies for the club. Enquiries to:
richardgraham.magic@tiscali.co.uk. 11.3.06
Wayne
Dobson is now stocking Mick Hanzlik's Supalok which Wayne
features in a routine on his 'Unclamped' DVD - visit
www.waynedobson.co.uk for details. 11.3.06
Congratulations
to Mario Morris from South Wales winner of the Fellowship of Christian
Magicians UK Stage Competition which was held at Hoddesden on February
21st. Mario presented a "daring, but funny, escape!" to take first place.
He also presented his lecture "The Parallels of a Street Performer." Mario
is running a three day 'School of Busking' course (mentioned last week). For more information visit:
www.mariomorris.co.uk. 11.3.06
Paul
Stockman's two hour Mind Illusion Show plays at The Keay Theatre, St
Austell, on July 1st, at the Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare, on July 8th and
at Princess Pavilion, Falmouth on October 26th and 27th: "Mind magic,
psychological entertainment, mind control, call it what you like. You will
remember this show for the rest of your life." Paul's just returned from a
successful trip to Las Vegas and regularly performs at corporate
functions, dinners and special events up and down the country. 11.3.06
Tony
Griffith: Creative Magic Lecture and Teach-in. Tony's recent day on
March 5th is reviewed by Alan Jones this week,
Click Here. 11.3.06
Paul Gordon has just returned from a five-date seven day lecture tour in the States which included an appearance at Ray Goulet's Magic Arts Centre in Watertown. On the two spare days he filmed a new lecture DVD for a magic dealer, did a workshop for specialist cardmen, and visited, and performed at, Eddie Gardner's Diamond's Magic in Peabody. His next lecture is back in the UK at Portsmouth on Monday March 13th - see What's On. 11.3.06
Magicians wanted for Charity Fun Day in Teddington. Cathy Maker emails: "The event is on Saturday the 25th of March from 10am - 4pm. We have got people coming throughout the day to entertain the kids and we are providing some relaxation in the form of massage and reflexology for mums etc. (general idea is that while the kids are being entertained, the mums can relax). We can be quite flexible on the time slots available. We are raising money for two different things - I am trekking through Namibia to raise money for the Parkinson's Disease Society and my friend Perrine is doing the London Marathon for the NSPCC. We think it will be a great opportunity for people to showcase their work. Teddington and the surrounding area is very child focused and I know that there will be a lot of people there that would hire a magician for a children's party or special event. We are happy to hand out leaflets/fliers to help them to promote themselves." If you'd like to offer your services please contact Cathy directly for more information on 07949 600 477 or email cathy.maker@virgin.net. 11.3.06
The Associated Wizards of the South recent One Day Convention is reviewed by Marc Dominic this week, Click Here Congratulations to Chris High of Gillingham, Kent, winner of the RSVPMagic.com £300 DVD lucky draw that we featured in MagicWeek number 296 "Jailed killer's magic books ban" Click Here "Magic Circle backs killer's bid to learn conjuring" Click Here "Sarah Wilkinson is impressed by 'Ahrobase'" Click Here "The Great Hanks Family" Click Here "Magic man's hideaway does a disappearing trick" Click Here That's it for this week. Your UK magic news is always welcome - have a magic week, Duncan. 11.3.06