INFAMOUS: DERREN BROWN
Derren Brown is touring again in what critics are already calling an amazing and unmissable new style show.
“Infamous” is the latest collaboration starring the brilliant Derren Brown and directed by Andy Nyman.
We don’t want to spoil the surprises or say too much, but we can reveal that the show has a really refreshing and exciting style that perfectly showcases the skills of the country’s most famous illusionist.
‘Infamous’ begins a major UK tour this month. For more information, show dates and tickets visit www.derrenbrown.co.uk – You can thank us later.
Hans Moretti (1928-2013)
The incomparable Hans Moretti has died and another brilliant magic star has been extinguished.
Hans and his wife Helga moved to West Germany in 1940 and trained there, learning the circus skills they would use to become one of the world’s greatest illusion acts. Respected worldwide, the Morettis were recognised in 1976 at International Federation of Magic Societies (FISM) (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques) where their Sword Box illusion won first prize in the Grand Illusion category.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Hans Moretti rose to prominence in the UK when he and Helga made several guest appearances on The Paul Daniels Magic Show on BBC1.
In 1979 a new act featuring their now famous Russian Roulette routine won first prize again at the FISM World Championship in Brussels, this time in the Mentalism category.
Hans Moretti’s contribution to the art of magic was extraordinary. Other illusions he invented include the Crossbow Escape Illusion and a Paper Tree Suspension (based on Robert-Houdin’s classic suspension ethéréenne). He also held 18 entries in the Guinness Book of Records including the October 1988 record for the Burning Rope Escape (based on Alan Alan’s original escape).
Hans Moretti was recognised with promotion to Membership of The Inner Magic Circle (Professional), this is the Society’s highest degree and has been awarded to fewer than 20 people since The Magic Circle was founded in 1905. In 1984 The Academy of Magical Arts presented Hans Moretti with a Performing Fellowship for his contribution to the art of illusion.
But for all these achievements, the most amazing thing about Hans Moretti was his personality, charm and sense of fun. His didn’t just avoid the razor sharp swords… he emerged from the box somehow changed into complete clown costume and full make up with a live chicken in his hands and another perched on his head!
Remembering that will always make me smile… and that is the real and enduring magic of Hans Moretti.
Jonathan Goodwin – Tough as nails
Professional danger man and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin is back with a new series of The Incredible Mr. Goodwin. The hit show sees Jonathan attempt a host of dangerous new stunts including free climbing skyscrapers and rolling a dice to determine how many fingers he will use to hang off a building.
Last week, viewers watched Jonathan successfully escape from a straitjacket, suspended by a burning rope 200 feet above ground from the London Eye.
He also appeared on The Jonathan Ross show with a new demonstration that was definitely not for the squeamish. With a modern twist on the ancient bed of nails stunt, Jonathan lay on a bed of just one nail which looked like it was supporting his body weight, then he held a breeze block to his chest only for celebrity guest Nicole Scherzinger to pulverise it with a sledge hammer.
The Incredible Mr. Goodwin is on Watch at 9pm on Thursday.
Variety is the Spice of Life
London’s Newest Variety Show at UCL is already a popular hit. With comedy, magic, juggling, music and mind reading, audiences have been revelling in the show that This Is Cabaret said would “not look out of place in a West End establishment”. Have a peek at last month’s show here
For a really fun and entertaining evening that’s a little bit out of the ordinary, we recommend you give this a try. The next show on 14th March will be hosted by Noel Britton and features a load of great acts including the brilliant Richard McDougall, the hilarious Preston Nyman and our very own pickpocket ‘The Man of Steal’ James Freedman.
Big congratulations to the (ever smiling and) multi talented Edward Hilsum who is producing this successful show. For tickets and more information visit his blog.
London Varieties is back!
With a move from its previous venue to the Leicester Square Theatre, Mat Ricardo’s critically acclaimed “London Varieties” is back for 2013. The new show, a run of six, is said to be bigger and packing in more variety than ever before.
Previously called the best new light entertainment show of the year by “The Stage”, Mat Ricardo’s extravaganza provides a platform for a collection of remarkably skilled performers who are all at the top of their field. Comedian Omid Djalili, fresh from his diving stunts in “Splash!”, headlined the first show, with other well-known acts to come such as Al Murray, Paul Daniels, Lisa Lottie and Peter Wardell.
To find out more about this contemporary fusion of cabaret, circus and magic, and to book tickets for this months show, click here.
Finding Nemo?
You never know what you might find when you’re trawling the net and this performance had Sharon Osborne gasping for air. While some magicians get a big thumbs up when conjuring a goldfish from mid air, the amazing Young-Jim Kim appeared on Korea’s got Talent recently and showed a dexterity in his fishy fingers that had us all hooked.
Dr Faustus
We all want what we can’t have. But what price would we pay to get it?
Our theatrical Illusion Designers James Freedman and Ben Hart, have been working with Director Dominic Hill to create the illusion elements for “Dr Faustus”, a modernised version of Marlowe’s disturbing tale of mankind’s greed for power and fame, with two acts re-written by Colin Teevan.
The tragic “Life and Death of Dr Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe, more commonly known as just “Dr Faustus”, is a story which may resonate in today’s society of craving celebrity status, more than it did when it was first performed in 1592. The central character, Faustus, has an unquenchable thirst for notoriety and will stop at nothing to obtain his desire of performing the black arts, even making a pact with the Devil!
We can’t tell you exactly what illusions we’re working on, but here’s a sneak peak of Kevin Trainor (Dr, Faustus) in rehearsals.
The play will run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 23 February to 16 March before transferring to the Citizens Theatre Glasgow from 5 April to 27 April.
Don’t miss Pete Firman in ‘Hoodwinker’
We had the great pleasure of going to see comedy magician, Pete Firman in his latest show ‘Hoodwinker’ last Saturday at the Bloomsbury Theatre. Pete, still fresh from winning Celebrity Mastermind, blew away the crowd with his mixture of mind reading, sleight of hand skills and illusions mixed with belly-aching laughs.
The Middlesbrough magician is touring for the next few months, visiting theatres all over the UK. For your chance to grab tickets before they all disappear, click here. Highly Recommended.
There Are No Words….
The London International Mime Festival (LIMF) concluded last night at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room. For the past eighteen days we have been amazed by unique acts of contemporary visual theatre from around the world, performing in great London venues including The Royal Opera House and the new Platform Theatre in King’s Cross.
Founded in 1977, the festival is crammed with creativity, and includes everything from wondrous art-circus to phenomenal puppetry and dark clown theatre.
Our favourites this year were the wonderful Compagnie 111, the extraordinary Gandini Juggling and The entrancing and most magical “Leo” from Circle of Eleven. It’s been the best festival that we can remember, and these breathtaking performances the LIMF have showcased regularly sell out, so for advance notice of next year’s festival, contact MIME London for more information on next year’s event.
And for information about our own selection of silent magical entertainment ideas, just say the word!.
