We preview the Blackpool Magic Convention with our hot take on which lectures, shows and performers you cannot afford to miss.  Listen to our exclusive interviews with Max Maven, Ben Hart and Magic Sam to find out what you can expect from their performances at the convention. All this and much more on this week's Talking Tricks.  

Talking Tricks with Kane & Abel

BLACKPOOL MAGIC CONVENTION PREVIEW

Tony Middleton joins us to discuss his journey to producing and performing two weekly West End shows in London and launching a magic bar Maskelyne & Cooke in the capital.  He tells us how stopping for a coffee in a hotel in St Pancras led to gaining a gig as the resident magician, producing shows for David Stone, Chris Dugdale and Mahdi Gilbert and the London Festival of Close-up Magic. He also chats about his Secret Cellar project, TV aspirations and much more.  

TONY MIDDLETON

Richard Filby joins us to discuss the London opening of his full evening variety show The Richard Filby Spectacule. Richard talks about what led to him finally getting his show off and running above a vintage clothes shop in London, breaking his foot the night before he was last set to open a show and his life and career as a full time street performer in Covent Garden. We also chat about his early beginnings in Australia, juggling, card throwing, magic, comedy and all the other amazing circus skills he posses.   

RICHARD FILBY

We gear up for Christmas by talking the miracles of Jesus with Christian magician Mark Watson. Mark gives us the full story behind Jesus's iconic miracles and his lesser known ones, plus how they have inspired magicians from Paul Daniels and Penn & Teller to Barry & Stewart and Criss Angel and Dynamo.  Find out the true meaning of Christmas and learn about these miracles. 

TALKING MIRACLES: JESUS CHRIST

Tiernan Douieb joins us to talk being a political comedian and preview the upcoming British General Election.  Tiernan tells us what led to him becoming a political comedian, discusses touring as the support act for Frankie Boyle and gives his predictions for this week's General Election. He also tells us everything we need to know about the GE and the party leaders.   

TIERNAN DOUIEB // GENERAL ELECTION PREVIEW

Tom Brace joins us to discuss embarking on a 30-day UK headline tour, finding the perfect blend of magic show to be fun for all the family but not 'too kiddy' and getting his start in magic with a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We also talk close-up magic gigs in London, disastrous opening nights, the best and worst way to hand out flyers and how to fail your Magic Circle entrance exam. Also, after the conversation takes a turn towards football, we reveal our starting eleven football teams made up of magicians.  

BRACE YOURSELF ... IT'S TOM BRACE

Kane & Abel are joined by fellow magicians to discuss the incredible The Amazing Jonathan Documentary following its preview screening at 98 UK cinemas and live Q&A session with Director Ben Berman conducted by Louis Theroux on November 19th 2019. Neil Kelso and Chris Cook chat with Laurence Abel about what we find out about The Amazing Jonathan during the documentary that was supposed to follow his final year after being diagnosed with a chronic heart disease. We also talk about whether or not the whole 'dying thing' was a prank, the ethics behind such a documentary and the key take home points. The film has an ending you will not see coming but you can listen to this podcast without fear of spoilers.  

THE AMAZING JONATHAN DOCUMENTARY

Chris Cook joins us to discuss trusting a real audience member with a real arrow to finish his show, his Tedx Talk, what makes a good trick and his highs and lows from more than half a decade at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Chris also reveal what led to him being named Wedding Magician of the Year and how a near death experience led to him taking magic more seriously.  

CHRIS COOK

Whether you know him as Ken Dyne, Kennedy or just that mind reader guy with the white hair you will know that he is one of the best mentalists on the planet. Ken joins us to discuss how his career only got started because he was showing off with mind reading on a date in a pub, inspirations from palm reading to Max Maven and Al Koran, corporate after dinner performing, how to turn the people in the room into bookings, trade shows and why he is trying to get fewer gigs. He also talks about how Billy Idol led to his iconic look, trying new material during professional gigs and writing his books. Plus, here's our link to Lefever.

THAT MIND READER GUY KEN DYNE

Ash Pryce and Theresa Dewa join us to discuss this year’s Edinburgh Horror Festival. We talk about this year’s programme, including everything from horror stand-up comedy and magic to theatre, movies, drag, poetry, Rocky Horror Picture Show and guided tours. We also discuss the history of seances, mediumship and spiritualist churches plus whether magicians tricks inspired faux-seances or if the charlatans inspired magic techniques used today. Plus we discuss the top horror movies of all time. The Edinburgh Horror Festival runs from October 24th to November 3rd. 

EDINBURGH HORROR FEST WITH ASH PRYCE AND THERESA DEWA

Dave Alnwick joins Talking Tricks to discuss thirteen full houses in a row at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and everything he’s learnt in his time at the world’s largest arts festival. Dave reveals why he is more inspired by authors Dan Harmon and Stephen King than other magicians, adding a narrative to his magic show, growing as an artist and structuring a magic show. He also discusses what led to him directing two shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, studying at the prestigious LIPA, and his  life outside of the festival.   To watch Dave’s #Literally the Best Magician show, download your own copy to keep here.    

DAVE ALNWICK

Kane & Abel preview their show SPLIT EGG: A Magic Show About Being Twins and discuss everything that led to it making its London debut. Find out the one question everyone asked that inspired the show’s concept, its name, narrative and two-year journey to opening in the UK’s capital. They also discuss the many magic and variety shows on offer in October including: Jay Adkins – A State of Mind, Griffin & Jones – Lock In Cabaret, Circus 1903, Neil Kelso I Draw Clouds, Beautiful Magicians Club, Seance: Conversations in the Dark by Christopher Howell and Darcy Oake. Plus Kane & Abel list their Top 10 Twins of all time. SPLIT EGG: A Magic Show About Being Twins is on at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden, London on Saturday 16th November at 9pm.

SPLIT EGG PREVIEW + TOP 10 TWINS OF ALL TIME

The ‘mind reader who can’t read minds’ Chris Cox joins Talking Tricks to discuss the latest West End run of The Illusionists, the upcoming Broadway run and what it’s really like to be a member of the world’s largest touring magic show. Chris also discusses his role in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, his BBC iPlayer series Mind Boggling Magic, consulting with Heston Blumenthal and much more. He also chats about starring in Impossible and Killer Magic and what it was like juggling his duel careers as a magician and producer at the BBC.

CHRIS COX

Enigmatic contortionist and magician Chris Cross joins Talking Tricks to discuss his upcoming tour of the North East, performing onstage with David Blaine during his UK tour and coming into ownership of Paul Daniels' former illusions. Chris also discusses his relationship with Paul Daniels and planned shows they had before his death, beating Mike Tyson in a test of strength, his two biggest challenges his career has faced, TV talent shows and why we are on the verge of a new golden age for live magic and much more.  

CHRIS CROSS

Regardless of if you know him as Kieron Lefever, Kieron Johnson or Kieron The Mighty you will know Kieron as one of the most inventive and highly-regarded magicians on the planet. He joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss being one of just seven known regurgitators on the planet and how it feels to create cutting-edge magic that is performed by other magicians on stage and screen. Kieron also talks about  using regurgitation to mess with airport security, getting into magic through ‘Cardtoon’, leaving the Navy and spending most of his savings on magic tricks, using maths to get money off sweets and why magicians are getting lazy. He also chats about some of his biggest inspirations in magic and shares top tips all magicians must hear.  

KIERON LEFEVER nee JOHNSON

Funny and fascinating stories from those working in the magic, comedy, circus and variety industry.

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Talking Tricks with Kane & Abel

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