Magic Worlds Exhibition, Liverpool
Reported by Geoffrey Newton


I recently visited the World Museum in Liverpool to see the Magic Worlds exhibition, which is on until 2nd March. This is a touring exhibition curated by the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood.

There was a continuous running big screen video featuring some real classics of magic like Paul Daniels performing the Chop Cup (1985), The Great Soprendo (Geoffrey Durham) newspaper tear which I think is the Gene Anderson version. There was also the very sophisticated Lance Burton in action and Robert Harbin performing his Zig Zag Girl illusion on television in the 1960’s.

It was clear that the Liverpool Mahatma Magic Circle were considerably involved in this exhibition as they had been presenting close up magic performances and Magic Shows there. Some actually featured on another large screen video including Keith Cooper with a very slick rope routine and Michael Diamond presenting the vanishing cane in newspaper.

There were showcases both large and small, some depicting old magic sets and others with Harold Taylor’s stage costume and optical devices like zeotropes. There was an inter active Find The Lady game featuring Rick Tynan – call me smug but I won!

This is a great exhibition for young and old alike, there’s even the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for children to dress up in, and follow that part of Alice in Wonderland.

If you have the chance, do go and have a look it is very interesting. (18 October 2013 - 2 March 2014)

 

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
 

© Geoffrey Newton, January 2014

 

Back

 

© www.magicweek.co.uk