Magic changes your view of reality and leaves you believing anything is possible. This year’s Edinburgh International Magic Festival programme opens the door to a world of visually astounding and cutting-edge magic from around the world. Illusionists, mind readers and conjurers from the Netherlands, France, America, New Zealand and the UK will enchant, inspire and astonish audiences from 1st to 8th July.
Do you see that close-up magician, Michael Neto, managed to make a pack of cards simply appear out of thin air today? It was amazing! And Gary James who will be teaching children at the Magic School this summer during the Festival did clever things with rope and string that we can only guess at.
We were at The Festival Theatre this morning for the press launch and it was truly magical! How did Michael Neto make those cards move with simply a spoon to help him? Is Festival Artistic Director, Kevin McMahon, excited at the prospect of the festival in July? We spoke to him to find out:-
Magic Festival Artistic Director Kevin McMahon by PMStephen
The Festival is not until July but we are going back to the Festival Theatre tonight for Paul Daniels in his show which will be a Salute to the Great Lafayette. We are told there are still tickets available.
The main festival programme remains a mix of Comedy Magic, Classic Magic, Close-up Magic and Mind Reading and begins with the Magic & Variety Gala Opening night at the Royal Lyceum Theatre on 1st July.
Hosted by international presenter and magician Nigel Mead, the evening guarantees to be a fast, furious, funny and magical mix of illusion, sleight-of-hand and mind reading and a magnificent opportunity to see many of the finest magicians in the world all under one roof including: comedy magician John Archer, who most recently fooled Penn and Teller on the ITV show ‘Fool Us’; Matthew Dowden, an award winning magician and sleight-of-hand artist inspired by Dean Martin and The Rat Pack; Antje Pode, a world class juggling act with astonishing skill and pace; incredible illusionists from France, Xavier Mortimer and Florian Sainvet; intriguing mind reader and consultant to the David Blaine and Chris Angel Shows, D. John Michael Hilford and the glamorous Diva of Magic Romany, one of the world’s only female magicians and past winner of Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year.
This year MagicFest has crafted even more unique magic events and formats in order to capture people’s imaginations. Enjoy a three course meal and magical Cabaret at the Royal Scots Club, experience a historical recreation of a Séance at The Real Mary King’s Close and find out about magic legend The Great Lafayette at Camera Obscura. In collaboration with Scotland’s foremost independent cinema, Filmhouse, MagicFest presents a series of recent and classic magic movies, each of which will be introduced by a magician performing at the Festival.
Current European Champion of Magic Dion, a finalist on “France Has Got Talent!” Florian Sainvet and the star of the Fringe 2009 and MagicFest 2010 Xavier Mortimer, present Parallel Realities, a world-class visual magic spectacle that merges the real and fantasy worlds together.
After sell-out shows last year, star of BBC ‘Real Hustle’ Paul Wilson, will return for his second year at MagicFest with an all new show. Magic School will also return with a new programme of magic for kids aged 7-12 and is a wonderful opportunity to learn magic from the President of the Edinburgh Magic Circle, Gary James.
As the only female magician at MagicFest, Romany, is not only skilled in the Marvellous Arts of Prestidigitation and a multiple award-winning international magician, Time Out described her as “…a flamboyant hybrid of Bette Midler and Mary Poppins… a fascinating mix of magic, original comedy and intelligent glamour…”
The main festival programme will feature magic shows from different genres, suitable for children and adults of all ages and once again all theatres are situated within five minutes walk from the Royal Mile.
Magic is at its best when seen live on stage with your own eyes. Only then can you let yourself slip into a magical world and experience true wonder. Immerse yourself in the extraordinary world of mystery and illusion from the 1st to the 8th July.
Be amazed, see things differently and “unbelieve it” at the Edinburgh International Magic Festival 2011.
