Number 1366 - Saturday 29th August 2026

Irish Magic‑Fest - Dublin, Saturday & Sunday 12th & 13th September. From the organisers: A weekend of lectures, close‑up sessions, masterclasses and cabaret — built for magicians who like their mystery practical, their methods elegant, and their conversations late. Irish Magic‑Fest is a friendly, focused convention: strong lectures, real‑world close‑up, and time to chat with the people you came to learn from — without the fluff.

With Joseph Barry, John Lenahan, Chris Congreave, Chris Power, Jack Sharp and Cillian O'Connor. Venue: The Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square W, Rotunda, Dublin 1, D01 T6V6. Full details and hotels booking information: www.irishmagicfest.com. 29.8.26

MMR LIVE - A New Mentalism Event in Sheffield on 16th September. Mentalists from across the UK and around the world will gather at Heist Brew Co in Sheffield for the very first MMR LIVE on Wednesday 16th September. Created by mentalist Looch and born from the My Mind Rocks online mentalism community, MMR LIVE is an intimate one-day event dedicated entirely to mentalism - and you don't need to be an MMR member to attend.

The day features five special guest sessions, alongside dealers, demonstrations, jamming, networking and plenty of opportunity to meet, share ideas and spend time with fellow performers. Three of the five guest speakers have already been announced: Scott Creasey, Paul Brook and Phill Smith, with the final two guests still to be revealed.

Unlike a traditional large convention, MMR LIVE has deliberately been designed as a smaller, more social gathering where attendees can actually spend time together. There are already mentalists travelling from across Europe and nearly ten attendees making the journey from the USA for this inaugural event. And at just £35 for the entire day, MMR LIVE represents exceptional value for anyone interested in mentalism, whether you're a professional performer, magician looking to explore mentalism, enthusiastic amateur or simply passionate about the art.

MMR LIVE – The First Gathering. Wednesday 16th September 2026. Heist Brew Co, Sheffield. Tickets: £35. Places are limited and the event is now only weeks away. Full details and tickets: www.readmymind.co.uk. 29.8.26

Houdini Halloween 100 - The Magic Circle's spectacular centenary celebration of the life of the legendary Master Mystifier. Magician, escape artiste, daredevil, showman, aviation pioneer, silent movie star and scourge of spiritualists, Harry Houdini - being ever the consummate showman - made his 'final escape' on Halloween, 1926.

A century on, we commemorate his extraordinary life, and death, with this never-to-be-seen-again live biopic, written and presented by lifelong fan Paul Zenon, featuring signature Houdini effects and stunts, performed by a cast of very special guests.

What better place to stage this unique Halloween event than the very space where Houdini performed arguably the single most important and pivotal show of his career - the theatre of the London Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square. Monday 26th October. Doors 6.30pm, show time 7pm (2 hours, including interval). The Hippodrome is an adults only (18+) gaming venue, and Photo ID must be carried on the night to ensure entry - no exceptions will be made. See themagiccircle.live.

An additional performance will take place at Madam Lola's in Brighton (formerly the Hanbury Ballroom, 83 St. George's Road) on Thursday 29th October - originally a Victorian mausoleum and now a dedicated circus cabaret space. (Similar show times and also adults only) See: www.madamlolas.com. 29.8.26

Bonefide Magic - The Courtyard Theatre, Limited London run this November. From the promoter: The hottest British talent on the magic scene, Magical Bones, presents an 80-minute action-packed magic & illusion show, Bonefide Magic, for an exclusive two-week run at The Courtyard Theatre in London. A Britain's Got Talent finalist and 2nd place runner-up on ITV's The Ultimate Magician, Bones stands alone for sheer originality. Expect an awe-inspiring journey featuring the coolest breakdance moves, backflipping card tricks and, of course, jaw-dropping street magic. "A dazzling show... full of imagination and flair" ★★★★ The Guardian

Magic is often presented in a very particular way, but Bonefide Magic comes from somewhere quite different. Drawing from his background as a hip-hop dancer, he's built the show around that energy: sleight of hand, street culture, breakdancing, comedy and storytelling, brought together in an 80-minute live show.

The Courtyard Theatre, Bowling Green Walk, 40 Pitfield Street, London N1 6EU. 3rd–6th and 10th–15th November. 7.30pm, with 3pm matinees on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th. Age Guidance: 7+ Tickets: £38.50 Standard | £71.50 VIP (prices include a booking fee) The VIP ticket includes a 20-minute close-up performance after the show, giving audiences the chance to experience the magic up close. See YouTube. Tickets: www.seetickets.com. 29.8.26

Jake Banfield: Hometown Magic. Fresh from reaching the live semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent, Jake returns to his roots with a live show full of modern magic, mind reading, stories and impossible moments. Hometown Magic promises a funny, heartfelt and unforgettable evening for local audiences. Jake grew up in Hornchurch and first discovered magic as a child at the local magic shop in Upminster – a visit that sparked a lifelong passion and led to a 15-year professional career performing at events and theatres across the UK.

Wednesday 2nd September. Tickets £24.70. Queen's Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT. Book via www.queens-theatre.co.uk or call 01708 443333. 29.8.26

Up North Magic Convention Wizards Weekend - 23rd-25th April 2027. From the organisers: The final annual "Up North Magic Convention Wizards Weekend" by The Enchanted Rabbit Magic Emporium and Chris Cross will take place next year on 23rd-25th April 2027.

Starring: Harry Robson, Matthew Wright, Ibni Rocks, Craig Petty, Luke Jermay, Howard Blackwell, Thea & Ryland The Kid Magician, Mike Sullivan with the legacy of Wayne Dobson, Colin Bourdiec and Darren Bonas - plus special guests!

Chris Cross has decided that it is the final annual convention, but that it could return in the future - maybe in 3 years, 5 or 10! Just whenever he feels like it, basically. This is an intimate weekend with the registrations capped at 75. It's a great chance to enjoy magic by learning, sharing, chatting, being inspired and making friends!

Tickets are now for sale for this final event for the time being. Could be a long time before I decide to do this again! So get your early bird tickets now while you can. Only £85 for 3 days of magic, lectures, dealers and shows. Day tickets and show only tickets also now available: www.theenchantedrabbit.com. 29.8.26

JeanLuc Bertrand's Magic Circle Lecture, open to guests. From The Magic Circle: This Tuesday 1st September, Live at The Magic Circle Theatre at 7.30pm JeanLuc Bertrand's "What Remains of Magic Once the Method is Forgotten?"

JeanLuc Bertrand will be flying in from Paris to explore a form of magic built not on the accumulation of effects or technical display, but on impact, rhythm and lived experience... Timing, silence, eye contact, positioning, laughter, the invisible elements that can turn a trick into a moment. Convinced that magic should create a suspension of reality rather than simply demonstrate skill, JeanLuc has built his work between two worlds: theatre and private performance.

His approach has been shaped by an international career, collaborations with some of the world's most prestigious brands, and award-winning shows in Parisian theatres. From close-up to stage, from mentalism to hypnosis, he has developed a cross-disciplinary approach in which magic becomes a language in its own right, living, fragile and precise, where the audience is the co-author of the performance. Everything is meticulously scripted and structured, almost like a movie plot. And yet, leaving the feeling of absolute improvisation.

Free to Members, all guests £20 payable at the door. This Tuesday, 1st September (not the usual Monday, due to the Bank Holiday) at 7.30pm at The Magic Circle, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD. Arrive from 6.30pm. 29.8.26

BBC's The One Show visited Breathe's Magic Intensive Therapy Programme on Thursday, culminating in a performance at The Magic Circle in London. See iPlayer and www.breatheahr.org. 29.8.26

Prospero, a new marked deck. Chris Tennant has teamed up with acclaimed designer Phill Smith to create Prospero — a new marked deck built specifically with working magicians in mind. Featuring a brand-new visual marking system, Prospero combines easy readability with a deceptive one-way back, gaff-friendly white borders and the ability to add your own information for stacked and memorised-deck work.

The Prospero Kickstarter is now live, with Red, Blue and Black & Silver "Tuxedo" editions waiting to be unlocked as stretch goals. Discover Prospero and back the project here: www.kickstarter.com.

[If you've ever found yourself struggling with a traditional marked deck due to poor lighting conditions or distance, then here's the antidote. You really will love the practicality of this deck, which I enjoyed seeing a prototype of last week. It's excellent! DT]. 29.8.26

The Insider. Romany, the Diva of Magic chats with Damian Jennings. "Romany shares her inspiring journey from a corporate career to becoming a renowned magician, discussing her persona development, show evolution, and insights on performing at sea and as a woman in magic..." YouTube. 29.8.26

EverythingMagicPro achieves 1 million views. Scott Perry writes: Last week, my YouTube review channel "EverythingMagicPro" www.youtube.com/@everythingmagicpro99 reached 1 million views! 1 million views is a massive milestone! I would like to thank everyone in the magic community for supporting me. Cheers to the next million and helping to educate magicians around the world with my reviews that are translated to over 20 different languages of some of the best magic tricks, books, and props. New and old! "What Is Magic? With Teller - The Magician Who Never Speaks, Speaks!" YouTube. 29.8.26

Christian Magicians UK 40th Anniversary Conference, February 2027. From the organisers: We were originally part of the American Fellowship of Christian Magicians and ten years ago became Christian Magicians UK. We hold a conference every February, where we invite magicians to perform and lecture and have workshops and masterclasses. The conference is full board and runs from 1pm on Monday 8th February to 2pm on Thursday 11th (Monday Lunch – Thursday Lunch). The venue is Kings Park Conference Centre, Kings Park Road, Northampton NN3 6LL.

Magicians already booked include Jay & Joss, Richard Pinner and Andy Clockwise with more in the pipeline. This is a action packed week full of magic, fun and fellowship and a chance to meet and share over a coffee or a meal. You can come for a day or the whole conference. Booking is through the website www.christianmagiciansuk.org. We look forward to meeting you. 29.8.26

The MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This week, 'The Real Tommy Cooper' from 2001. See The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The MagicWeek Video Archive Click Here. 29.8.26

Stranded with a Stranger: Luke Murray. "Luke Murray sends in his desert island list and it is an incredible working mentalism set: strong openings, clean mid-show impossibilities and a closer with competition-winning impact. We also owe Luke a bit of an apology for the "hidden prize" runaround, so yes, that gets addressed too..." YouTube. Brought to you by www.alakazam.co.uk. 29.8.26

The Disappearing Man - Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Packed with theatrical flair, live magic, and emotional punch. One last act. One final illusion. But every trick has a price. Returning to the once-glittering Clacton-on-Sea, washed-up magician Bazza Cadabra is ready for a final comeback, determined to reclaim the spotlight and prove he's still got what it takes 20 years on... From multi-award winning writer Kenny Emson. 15th-31st October. Tickets from £14.70. Queen's Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT Book via www.queens-theatre.co.uk or call 01708 443333. 29.8.26

MLM Web Offer #2 Aug/Sept 26. The second reduced price effect currently on offer is a classic Mark Leveridge multi-phase trick entitled The Okito And Boston Box Routine. As the title suggests, this uses a matching pair of coin boxes, although the audience is only ever aware of one. Coins jump in and out of the box, penetrate through a deck of cards, multiply unexpectedly in number before amazingly morphing into a completely different set of coins. Combining sleight of hand with some cunning routining, this feature effect is designed as a one-off presentation on a close up mat and comes as a downloadable TricKlip Video containing a live performance and full explanation. The special reduced price is just £4.00 (a saving of £3) and you can watch a dem and order at www.markleveridge.co.uk. 29.8.26

British Ring Youth Show. From the I.B.M. British Ring Convention Team: We are so excited to have the magicians of the future performing in their very own show! Our performers for the Youth Show are: Lena Poole, Thea Petty, Emma Williams, Ryland Petty and Harry Williams

Entry to this event is included with registration for the Convention. 19th and 20th September, at Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre. To register visit: www.tickettailor.com. For more convention information visit www.britishring.org.uk. 29.8.26

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) part 3. Nicole Lee writes:  In the last installment of this three-part series, we take a look behind the scenes of the December 2025 show "Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular" featuring Liberty Larsen, Fernando Velasco, Richard Young, and Sam Strange. See www.canadasmagic.blogspot.com. 29.8.26

Jamie Williams Lecture - York Magic Circle, 7th September. Adrian Salamon writes: An Associate of The Inner Magic Circle and recipient of WOW Magazine Magician of the Year, Jamie has established himself as one of the most exciting creative forces in contemporary magic. Described by Craig Petty as "one of magic's greatest creators", Jamie's work is performed by professionals around the globe. He is the mind behind a string of modern classics including Celebrikey, Star Draws, Movie Quiz, and the Penguin Magic Trick of the Year Sticker Kicker — effects known for combining commercial impact with devastating method.

As a lecturer, Jamie has shared his material both in the UK and internationally, including appearances at The Magic Circle and a standout lecture at the Blackpool Magic Convention that many attendees named "the hit lecture of the weekend". Expect a lecture packed with real-world, battle-tested close-up magic — routines that have been honed in professional performance environments, refined through live audiences, and built for maximum impact.

7.30pm on Monday, 7th September. £5 for non-members. Plenty of free parking (including disabled), and of course, a fully licensed bar! York Magic Circle, 302 Thanet Road, York YO24 2NW www.yorkmagiccircle.co.uk. 29.8.26

Merlin Magical Society Magic Auction - Potters Bar, 3rd September. John Clayton, Secretary of the Merlin Magical Society, writes: On Thursday 3rd September, the Merlin Magical Society are holding a magic auction. The first section will be the sale of props of retired magician Paul Platford. After we have auctioned Paul's effects, we will then continue with an auction of effects from members of the Merlin Magical Society. There will be lots of goodies up for grabs. Doors open at 7.30pm for 8pm start at Little Heath Parish Hall, Thornton Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1JJ. Free entry for non-members wishing to attend. For any non-members wishing to sell, there is a £5 charge, but they must let me know in advance. Here is a link to our web page with all the details: www.merlinmagicalsociety.com/auction. 29.8.26

Northamptonshire Magicians' Club Sale & Exchange Night. Ahead of our winter schedule the Northamptonshire Magicians' Club is having a Sale and Exchange night on 1st September 2026. Start time is 7.30pm. Tables are free to members, £5 to non-members. Sorry, no traders. If you want to book a table email: northamptonshiremagiciansinfo@gmail.com. Entry is free, please support the raffle!

Northamptonshire Magicians' Club meetings are held at Woody's Bar & Restaurant, Clannell Road, (Tesco Car Park), East Hunsbury, Northampton NN4 0JF. Woody's is located in the Tesco Mereway car park. You receive up to four hours free parking while the store is open. You must validate your vehicle registration using the iPad inside the venue. Please make this the first thing you do when you arrive. Arrival time is completely up to you! Woody's has a separate bar area where you can meet and socialise with food or a drink before the meeting starts. We're looking forward to seeing you there, please support the raffle. Further information: www.northamptonshiremagicians.uk. 29.8.26

Jean Ellison (Jeani) Funeral Arrangements. Stephen Brown, Membership Secretary for Derby Magic Circle, writes: Jeanni was widely known and respected throughout the magic community including the Derby Magic Circle, IBM British Ring No.25 and the Northern Magic Circle, not only for her magical contributions, but also for her work supporting many charities year after year. She will be sadly missed by us all, especially by Clive who was, as always, at her side when she passed on Thursday, August 13th, 2026.

Funeral to be held on Tuesday 15th September 2026. 12.00 noon Service at: Littleover Baptist Church, Thornhill Road, Littleover, Derby DE23 6FZ. Burial at Nottingham Road Cemetery, Chaddesden, Derby DE21 6FN. At approximately 1.00pm, Celebration of life at Littleover Social Club, 61 Blagreaves Lane, Littleover, Derby DE23 1FQ.

For catering purposes please let Clive know, email: clivejeanmagic@gmail.com if you are going to attend. By request it is not necessary to wear black. Bright colours and smart casual would be acceptable. Also by request, Family Flowers only please and any donations will go to Rainbows Hospice. 29.8.26

"Magician Dynamo returns to Australia" Click Here • "Northampton magician who dreamed of career outside Royal & Derngate stage door is now a West End star" Click Here • "Best Magician: Jen Kramer" • Click Here "Walker's Shortbread's "Magic Taxi" brings touch of Speyside magic to Edinburgh Fringe" Click Here • "Christian Illusionist Matt Adams showcases impressive tricks" Click Here • "‘The Magicians Table' in Cleveland [USA] review: Mostly mystic, largely boozy fun" Click Here • "Magicians, hypnotists, mentalists continue to cast spell on Las Vegas" Click Here •  Your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 29.8.26

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