Number 395 - 19th January 2008
Derren
Brown: The System. Derren Brown has a system for winning at the
horses. In this one-hour special, the master of mind control anonymously
tells a single mum from London which horse will win at the next day's
races - again and again - culminating in a final, massive bet.
Investigating the psychology behind gambling and using his unique
combination of skills to create guaranteed wins, Derren proves his system
works every time. Not only that, but he explains it fully to us at home.
But how fool-proof is this system and will his participant, believing in
him and his predictions, risk her life-savings on one more race? As Derren
reveals: "I took a member of the public and I told her which horse would
win in a certain race; when it did win she was intrigued and I did it
again and again and she started to bet more and more money according to my
system. She's scraped together every last penny she could find and she is
risking it all on one final race. Is it really possible to predict every
time which horse will win? Welcome to The System." Friday 1st
February, Channel 4, 9pm. "It's a man's world: Derren Brown"
Click Here.
19.1.08
Geoffrey
Durham's eagerly awaited first book, Professional Secrets: A Life in
Magic, is now available for pre-order from his website, at a
special introductory price. "In his long-awaited first book, Geoffrey
Durham explores magical classics, including The Himber Ring, Selbit
Blocks, Gypsy Thread, Asrah Levitation, Coin in Bottle, Gold Medallion and
Magic Square. All these routines come directly from his close-up,
television, theatre and cabaret repertoire. His streamlined methods and
presentations are honed to perfection after thousands of performances. But
this isn’t just a book of tricks. Geoffrey shares his thoughts on
showmanship, patter, audience volunteers, rehearsal and more, in a series
of essays that aren’t so much magical theory as true magical practice.
Drawing on his vast experience of every kind of performance, Geoffrey
helps you learn from his mistakes. He sets you on the road to real show
business success..." We've been sent an advance copy, and will be
reviewing it on Saturday February 2nd - but don't wait until then, visit
the 'Magicians Only' section on
www.geoffreydurham.com today.
19.1.08
McBride
Master Class, Cornwall 2008.
Kernow Magic
are pleased to announce the return of Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger, for
a second UK Master Class, to be held at the Greenlawns Hotel in Falmouth
on April 4th, 5th and 6th. Each day will run from 12 noon - 9.30pm and the
first ten registrants will have the opportunity to perform for Jeff and
Eugene and have a personal critique recorded for future reference. Book
early as a number of last year's students have already booked for this
year. If you can't make the Master Class then Kernow Magic, in association
with Romany - Diva of Magic, are offering, for intensive small group
coaching "The Secret Sessions", to be held on April 10th and 11th in
Brighton. Full details of the Master Class and Secret Sessions can be
found at
www.magicmasterclass.co.uk or call 01326 211713 to book.
19.1.08
Only
four places remain for The Session 2008 next weekend! This
year's line-up is the strongest to date with Chad Long, Tom Stone, Matthew
J Dowden, Aaron Fisher, Michael Vincent, Alan Hudson (photo), Will
Houstoun, Dave Forrest, Ricky Smith and Ollie Mealing all either
performing or teaching (or both) over the weekend. Registrants are
travelling from all over the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada to attend.
Hurry!
www.sessionconvention.com.
19.1.08
Magic
Moments Day 08. Saturday February 2nd is
Magic Moments Day
where entertainers from across the UK will perform free shows to raise
money for charity and bring a moment of magic into the lives of those who
need it most. Harlow Playhouse is delighted to be hosting this year’s
flagship event. The show is produced by Jay Fortune Entertainments and
features such performers as Jeremy Beadle, Jonathan Goodwin, Scott
Penrose, Graham Hey, Kev Orkian, Blues Brothers Banned and, star of show,
Wayne Dobson. Book your seats early for what is sure to be a fantastic
night. Proceeds go to the
Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. Tickets £17.00 - £19.00 (£15.00 -
£17.00 concessions) showtime is 8pm and tickets are selling fast!
Click Here to book.
19.1.08
Magic
Moments Day 08. Magic Underground - Featuring Scott Pepper,
Oliver Tabor, Richie Austin, magic duo Galithia Collection and Grant
Martins. Magic Underground is an intimate magic show of incredible
sleight-of-hand and illusion, that you just won't believe! The show takes
place at The Underground Theatre, Eastbourne, and all monies raised go to
Georgie's Fund.
Saturday February 2nd at 7.30pm. Tickets £7.50 (£5 concessions). Pay on
the door or in advance via
www.richieaustin.com. If you live locally do support some of the fantastic
magic shows being staged by magicians in the UK, raising money for
important causes. See
www.magicmoments08.com – there’s still time to take part!
19.1.08
Magic
Moments Day 08. Momentum Magic - One venue, four shows. In aid
of Momentum.
Saturday February 2nd, Arthur Cotterell Theatre, Kingston Hall Road,
Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2AQ. 2pm: Mr Tiz goes to the Circus, (children's show 4+). 4pm & 6pm: The Magic Cavern (Family show 6+).
8.45pm: Momentum Magic Gala Show (Adults only). Full details:
www.falseimpressions.com. Close-up magic will be presented in the
theatre bars and foyer throughout the day. Tickets range from £5.00 -
£25.00 Box Office: 020 8255 0945 or book on line at
www.falseimpressions.com.
19.1.08
Magic
Moments Day 08. Late Night Magic Charity Show - Friday 1st
February, part of 'Magic Moments Day 08' - with proceeds going to
Momentum this adult
comedy magic show is the first piece of magic to be presented on 'The
National Day of Magic' - "A feast of magic, comedy and variety acts for an
adult audience with pre-show close-up magic at 10.45pm and then the main
show at 11pm featuring Soft Cabaret, Zac Bauman, Benson and Malcolm
Marvelle and the lovely Rita. Tickets £14.00 (Doors and bar open at
10.45pm) Box Office 020 7287 2875. Book online:
www.falseimpressions.com. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street,
London, SW1Y 6ST (Map)
1 minute walk from Piccadilly Tube Station.
19.1.08
Pete Firman - Hokum at the
Bloomsbury Theatre,
15 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH (Map), on Friday 25th January at 8pm. Book
now:
www.thebloomsbury.com tickets are £10 in advance and £12 on the day
(£10 concessions). Tickets can
also be booked by calling 0207 388 8822. “Firman is a delight.” The
Independent. "If you are partial to a bit of magic with your comedy,
Firman is the best of the bunch." Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard. “The
audience is caught between guffawing laughter and amazed gasps.” The
Guardian.
19.1.08
SempertexBalloons.co.uk.
Graham Lee is back advertising with us once again with his Sempertex
Balloon range. The web shop
www.sempertexballoons.co.uk features balloon products and accessories,
busking bags, balloon aprons, cutters, pumps and more (with some great
volume discounts). For details about Graham's “Care & Share” Balloon Fun
Days, which are run all over the UK and include three workshops and a
mystery lecturer, visit
www.magicact.co.uk.
Graham is the current holder of “The European Balloon Entertainer of the
Year” award. There are upcoming days in Banstead, Surrey on Wednesday,
30th January and in Bristol on Wednesday, 13th February
Click Here for details.
19.1.08
Marc
Paul lectures in Scotland. Marc Paul, officially voted the "World's
Greatest Mind-Reader" by his peers, presents his only Scottish lecture of
2008 on 12th March at 7.30pm at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Theatre, 8-10
Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow G12 0QF (Map).
Tickets are £5.00 each for visiting magicians. Contact Club Secretary
Brendan Kirk on 013552 38746, or email
sca_secretary@fsmail.net to
book.
www.scottishconjurersassociation.org.uk.
19.1.08
Manchester
Circle of Magicians elected their first lady President at their Annual
General meeting by appointing founder member Anne Lever. Members were
informed that the club had enjoyed a very successful year with four
auctions, The North West Close Up Championships, Christmas Party and
lectures by Lennart Green, John Armstrong, Greg Wilson, John & Anne
Davenport, Marc Oberon, John Archer, Ali Bongo, Jack Delvin and Bruce
Kalver. Lined up for 2008: Lennart Green, Shoot Ogawa, Mark Shortland
Danny Hunt, Diamond Jim Tyler, Joshua Jay and Thom Peterson, with Jeff
McBride lecturing on Monday 11th February. The Junior Section now has 42
active members. The next Jumbo Auction is on Monday 28th January at
Salford Masonic Hall, Hemsley House, 41 The Crescent, Salford, Manchester
at 6.30pm. Membership of Manchester Circle of Magicians costs just £12.00
per year. Ring Derek Lever on 01253 810113 or visit
www.taurusmagic.net
for details.
19.1.08
A
Super Scottish Magic Auction will take place on Sunday 30th March in
the Perth Ex-Servicemen's Club, Perth. This event has been organised by
Perth Magic Circle for several years, but it was decided to change the
traditional October date to make it easier for visiting magicians to
travel. The format of the sale is also being changed slightly this year in
an attempt to make it more profitable for sellers and buyers alike. For
more information, contact the club secretary, Adrian Harris on 01738
628985 or email
adrian.harris@blueyonder.co.uk.
19.1.08
A
Night of Magic & Illusion. Andrew Green and Paul Roberts join forces
on Saturday 26th January to present, ‘A Night of Magic & Illusion’ at the
Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn. It will be Andrew’s fourth visit to
the theatre. Paul (formerly 'Merlin' at the Camelot Theme Park) is looking
forward to bringing his unique style of comedy magic to the show. Call the
theatre box office for information and tickets. Blackburn Thwaites Empire
Theatre, Aqueduct Road, Blackburn BB2 4HT (Map).
01254 680137.
andrew@modernmysteries.co.uk.
www.modernmysteries.co.uk.
19.1.08
MartinBreese.com.
There are always lots of interesting items on Martin Breese's website.
Just added, The Self-Manipulating Billiard Ball (see the online
video), and featured a couple of weeks ago, Blockbuster, plus the
Peter Duffie Range of Magic, magic from Terry Rogers and much more.
Visit
www.martinbreese.com to see what's new (scroll down the homepage).
19.1.08
International
News. "Artist of the Year 2008". The independent German “Artist
Magazine” have just nominated Lex and Alina for the “Golden Artist Gala”
as the best quick-change artists of the year for the "Golden Artist
Magazine" award. In recent years David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Peter
Marvey, Hans Moretti, Marvelli and the Magic Orvellis have all been
nominated. in the past the awards have included singers, magicians and
variety artists. And now, for the first time, quick-change artists. This
is the most important German show-biz award. Lex and Alina:
www.quick-change-show.com.
19.1.08
Jeff
McBride lecture at The British Magical Society. Jeff McBride lectures
at The British Magical Society on Tuesday 12th February at 7.30pm at the
Selly Oak Ex Servicemen's Club, 8 Selly Hill Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham
B29 7DL (Map).
Admission for non members is £10.00. For more information contact John
Price 0121 706 5614.
19.1.08
Merlin
Magical Society Dealers Showcase. Saturday 26th April, 9am - 5.30pm,
entrance £10.00 (or £8.00 in advance - see website) Potters Bar United
Reform Church, Tilbury Hall, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6
1BZ (Map).
With ten dealers and demonstrations throughout the day, plus a couple of
small lectures including a special lecture by Keith Bennett.
www.merlinmagicalsociety.co.uk.
19.1.08
The
Quitters. "'I've given up you can tell can't you. Just by looking at
me? I’ve got the look of a non smoker... that clean iceberg lettuce fresh
look.' A couple smoking, two lives driven by those little white death
sticks. Is it ever ok to really need something? To need someone? An
acceptance is reached, an understanding gained, he quits giving up, she
quits giving in; everyone needs a vice in the city." Fusing movement,
magic and physical theatre, standnotamazed present ‘The Quitters’, a
search for the line between love and need. Tickets are available from The
Place’s website
www.theplace.org.uk
www.standnotamazed.com.
19.1.08
Jon
Allen provided the magical entertainment for the 2nd birthday party
for Jean-Christophe Novelli’s gastro pub ‘A Touch of Novelli’. As well as
the sumptuous food, guests were treated to some sumptuous magic, despite
Jon having severely injured his back the same afternoon. To book a table
visit
www.atouchofnovelli.com.
19.1.08
Ashley
Turner performs his comedy mind control Act 'Stupid Mentalism' for Fun
House Comedy @ The Maze comedy club in Nottingham on Thursday, January
31st. Visit
www.funhousecomedy.co.uk for more information and tickets.
19.1.08
Family
close-up entertainers wanted. John Harding emails: "Following our
success in the North of England my company, Archimage Productions Ltd, is
now looking for more family close-up entertainers. We have weekly
restaurant residencies to fill in Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Cheltenham,
Swindon, Portsmouth, Poole and Southampton. If you perform close-up,
balloons or anything else suitable and are interested please email your
details to
magic@johnharding.co.uk, putting the name of the town as the subject.
Thanks, John Harding"
www.johnharding.co.uk.
19.1.08
Berkshire Magicians' Evening of Magic, Illusion, Mentalism and Fun. Close-up, mentalism, classic magic, stage magic, dancers... and a bar! What more could you want on a Saturday night! At the Shinfield Players Theatre, Shinfield Park, Whitley Wood Lane, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9DF (Map) on Saturday 26th January. Doors open 6.30pm with close-up magic in the licensed bar. Curtain up 7.30pm. Tickets are £10.00 each bookable in advance by calling 01189 310 981. 19.1.08
Magician Wanted. David Lewis emails: "International, residential training centre in Hampshire (SO32 3LH, near Winchester) is looking for a magician to perform once a month, throughout the year, on Tuesdays from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Fee paid: £90. Free cordon bleu dinner beforehand at 7pm (to get to know audience and fill up stomach) also available." For further information contact David Lewis david.lewis@rlcglobal.com. 19.1.08
UK Escape Artists (UKEA) 2008 Maidenhead Meeting. Saturday 5th April, 10am - 5pm, at the Salvation Army Hall, East Road, Maidenhead SL6 1PJ Entry £12.00 (£6.00 juniors) which includes food and drink. For more information and to book email rileysmagic@yahoo.co.uk. 19.1.08
Congratulations
to Stuart and Jayne Loughland, AKA Safire Illusionists - the couple
have just been made Honorary Members of the North Wales Magic Circle. See
What's On for tour dates •
Daniel Alexander reviews the Close-up Success Seminar staged by
Phil Jay and Chris Dugdale in London earlier this month,
Click Here • Alan Shaxon replaces Pat Page on February 3rd in
Nottingham, see What's On •
More lecturers have just been added to our
Lecturers page, including
Chris Priest and Mark Cosby • "Magic on the plate"
Click Here • "Hocus pocus: Magic takes center stage at this weekend's
swap meet."
Click Here • "Trick with magic items is knowing their worth."
Click Here • "Magician: Anything is possible."
Click Here • "Jay Alexander, rock's favorite magician, takes show to
Novato school benefit."
Click Here • "Magic kingdom"
Click
Here • "Now you see it – a feast of magic"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed. Have a magic week,
Duncan.19.1.08