Where to See Live Magic

If you want to see some fantastic magic, here are a few places you will be able to do so. To find out about other events, keep an eye on the What’s On section of MagicWeek.

Click on the link if you'd like some magic at your own party.

Britain
America
Continental Europe

Britain

The Magic Circle

The Magic Circle in London has fairly frequent events and shows that are open to the public. The magic is excellent, of course, and it’s well worth having a look around Magic Headquarters. I have been there a few times with my friend Iain Moran and I have always loved it. The people are friendly and there is a special atmosphere, which I suppose must be described as ‘magical’.

It’s two minutes’ walk from Euston Station and thus easily accessible for those of us who live in the North West (although obviously even easier if you live nearer).

You can have a look at the rooms, museum and theatre on venue.themagiccircle.co.uk.

Three different events run regularly at The Magic Circle:

Meet the Magic Circle £34
Most Tuesdays – a complete evening including a museum tour, close-up magicians, a short lecture on the history of magic, refreshments and a 3-act stage show to finish

The Magic Circle Experience £12
Monday Mornings as per demand – a shorter experience including a Museum Tour, some close-up magic and a short stage act to finish

Close-Up @ The Magic Circle £15
Friday evenings once a month – This is a more intimate event, showcasing just close-up magic, with 4 performers giving a longer set.

In addition, there are often one-off shows that are open to the public. For details of all these events, see themagiccircle.co.uk/public-events.

Magic Shows

Magic shows are coming back into fashion and can be seen occasionally at various theatres around the country. If you’re on the mailing lists of your local theatres and arts centres, you should find out about shows this way. Another approach is to keep an eye on magicians’ websites for news about shows and tours. If you know about an upcoming magic show, do please let me know and I can publicise it on We Love Magic.

Here are some I recommend:

Simon Drake is a kind of meta-magician. The star of the legendary Secret Cabaret has created his own House of Magic in a secret location just south of the river in London, which you can visit when it’s open to the public. The place is amazing and the show is phenomenal. It’s an exclusive and extraordinary night out, in a different league from anything you can think of.

Click on the links to read my review of Simon Drake’s House of Magic on the We Love Magic blog and to find out more on the House of Magic website.

Richard Leigh is an extremely accomplished magician who creates and presents several different, fantastic shows around London.

Click on the links to see my reviews of Richard Leigh's magic shows, my interview with Richard Leigh and Richard Leigh's website.

John van der Put is another creative and original magician. From time to time, John, in association with his theatre company standnotamazed, puts on a cabaret show in which he appears as the now-legendary character Piff the Magic Dragon. If you ever get a chance to see this, you must absolutely not miss it! I'll let you know when I've got dates but keep an eye on MagicWeek, as well as John's own site.

Click on the links to see my interview with John van der Put, John van der Put's website and a clip of Piff the Magic Dragon on YouTube.

Derren Brown, the famous mentalist, tours frequently. I saw his Enigma show in Salford at the end of April (see the blog for my review) and I'd recommend you catch it next year if you possibly can. The tour dates are on Derren's blog.

Magicians’ Conventions

Magicians are always getting together to share their knowledge, sell tricks to each other and show off their latest effects. If you are a magical practioner, it can be both educational and inspiring to attend these conventions (I love them!). If you are a non-practising magic enthusiast, conventions provide opportunities to see great magic from all over the world, both at the gala shows and, if you get a ticket to attend the convention, at the close-up competitions.

There are often odd days of magic and little conventions on focused themes happening around the country (if you want to tell us about one you’re organising, please do) but these are the main events that happen every year:

Blackpool in February. Hosted by the Blackpool Magicians’ Club, this is the most important annual convention on the magic calendar worldwide. It takes place at the Winter Gardens, usually on the last weekend in February. The gala shows can be really amazing and they are open to the public. Book early, because all the magicians want to see it too!

The International Brotherhood of Magicians is, as the name implies, a global organisation and it is divided into ‘rings’. The British Ring has an annual convention in September, usually in either Southport or Eastbourne.

South Shields in March. South Tyneside Council sponsors a small but excellent magic festival in South Shields every year. There are usually two shows for the public, at the Customs House, as well as other events in the week leading up to the actual convention.


Magic at Your Own Party

Magicians are not just for children’s parties. More and more people are booking magicians to entertain them and their friends at adult parties – why should we grown-ups miss out on the fun?

You can request a mini-show of cabaret magic to take place at some point in the festive proceedings, but mostly people want strolling, close-up magic. The magician uses only small props that he carries in his pockets (cards, coins and so on) and strolls among the guests, creating magic right under their noses and often in their own hands.

For more information and ideas, see party magic.

If you’d like someone to bring magic to your next party, click on the link to find a magician.