The Nottingham
Guild of Magicians
Latest News
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Last Updated - 28 June 2009 |
See below for the latest news on the Guild, or on magic-related issues of interest.
Please email the Guild with any items you'd like to see included here.
The Evening of Magic and Illusion on Sunday 13 September 2009 will be held at The Nottingham Arts Theatre, George St, Nottingham, NG1 3BE (Box Office 0115 947 5925).
NOTTINGHAM GUILD OF MAGICIANS PRESIDENT’S NIGHT – AN EVENING OF MAGIC AND ILLUSION
On Sunday 1st February at the Bonington Theatre Arnold Nottingham, The Guild of Magicians staged their bi-annual show, on this occasion in honour of their in-coming President Marcel Burn.
Directed and stage managed by Andrew Morrison and his trusty crew of Roy Bond and Graham Colvan, the show was glitzy. As the audience arrived in the auditorium they were greeted by an eight foot “Grim Reaper” - Roy Bond’s alter ego.
The show was opened with a routine by the Lorna Leighton School dance members who performed magnificently again to open the second half. Their theme was in the Burlesque genre.
Let the magic commence.........Kevin Burke treated the audience to an amazing book test , his command of the audience demonstrated his acting background. He then concluded with a breath taking version of Russian roulette swapping the familiar gun for a series of hangman’s nooses chosen at random by audience members. Kevin had lectured on “outs” during the afternoon and the writer was on the verge of praying the he didn’t fall to Murphy’s Law as he stepped off his podium to hang himself. The tension in the audience was tangible – the relief of his success audible.
Danny Hunt and Annette Claire further built that uncertain unease amongst the audience as Danny demonstrated his commensurate skills of escapology as he wowed the gathering performing his version of the water tank escape. Audiences love to wonder at escapology without the curtains of old. This was truly amazing.
Tony Stevens, who compered the show, entertained to close the first half with his inimitable quick-fire style – hilarity was truly the result of his slick performance.
John Archer created the degree of comical mayhem which only he can. The Magic Circle’s Stage Performer of the Year was taken to the hearts of the audience. Magic Square, balloon swallowing and relentless quick fire patter left the audience gasping for breath. His deft performance on the ukulele punctuated his set. An excellent performance!
Amethyst closed the show with a stunning display of illusions. Their smooth choreographed act with Annette’s singing is a spectacle to behold. Their performance is polished and their props are immaculate. It seems that there is nothing that this couple cannot walk through, escape from, or apparently re-assemble disparate parts of their person from a series of containers. America is to welcome them shortly and welcome them they will. Fab guys!
The next Guild Show will be on 13th September 2009 at the Nottingham Arts Theatre, George St, Nottingham, NG1 3BE (Box Office 0115 947 5925) and will form part of the celebrations for what is their 70th birthday.
03 December 2008
Members of the Nottingham
Guild of Magicians were out in force to help support BBC Radio
Nottingham's Big
Night Out.
It was the third time that the Guild had been asked to be involved in the evening's entertainments which aim to show Nottingham residents that the city centre is a safe place to visit in the evening for everyone.
Launched by the station's breakfast show presenter Andy Whittaker hundreds of people took to the city streets on Wednesday December 3rd to sample low-cost menus put on by the city's leading restaurants as well as free skating sessions in Old Market Square, special offers on tickets at local theatres and street entertainment.
A team of magicians once again put on free demonstrations of close-up magic at the Bell Inn in the city centre. These have become among the most popular of the events mounted for the free night out and once again the ancient pub was packed with onlookers.
At the same time Nick Brunger staged two specially themed performances of Gothic Magic at the Galleries of Justice, a museum of crime and punishment in Nottingham's ancient court and prison complex in the historic Lace Market.
Each perfomance was built around authentic tales of gruesome crimes from Nottingham's past and concluded with Nick "cheating the gallows" by stopping his own heartbeat!
Nick was assisted by Graham Harper and Andrew Morrison, who got the audience in the mood with a succession of magic tricks - all of them topped by Graham's gut-churning party trick of eating live maggots!
