The fifth Edinburgh International Magic Festival brings the most innovative and talented performers from all over the world to Edinburgh for eight days of abracadabra, and the Scottish Storytelling Centre is proud to play host, as it has done every year, to a stellar line-up of bibbity bobbity boo action.
This year magic collides with theatre, science, comedy and psychology as performers from the widest fields of interest come together to give festival goers the most magical experience possible.
Kevin McMahon, Edinburgh International Magic Festival Director, said: “Five years ago we waded into the busy Edinburgh festival market aiming to get live magic in front of the public and to find acts that didn’t just amaze, but also excited and inspired. Now over 5000 people come to MagicFest each summer. In the last few years there’s been a groundswell in the Scottish magic community of performers willing and able to create innovative shows.”
In the Year of Homecoming Scotland, local magicians feature prominently, and the Centre’s hosts Glasgow magician Michael Neto, who represented Scotland at FISM World Championships of Magic in 2012 and has claimed Scottish Champion of close up magic four times.
Tragic Magic is a hilarious and touching one man show fusing magic and theatre, written and directed by Sonic Boom Theatre Company, which explores the dilemma for a magic man when he has to choose between his long suffering fiancée and his career.
Plus, there will be plenty of home-grown magic talent being showcased as part of the Festival’s annual Under 18s War of the Wizards and Open War of the Wizards contests.
Luke Jermay – famed for his intuitive ability for accurate predictions and who has worked with Criss Angel and Derren Brown – returns to the Edinburgh Magic Festival after his critically acclaimed 2013 festival debut Sixth Sense with the premiere performances of his brand new show Strange Power.
Jermay is focusing his intuitive eye on the audience in this highly interactive show with the audience in the driving seat; Let Jermay predict what lies ahead for you!
The Centre is also delighted to host a special one-off event with magician and psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman at the helm in his MagicFest debut. In Mind Magic, on Monday 30 June at 7.30pm, Wiseman invites you to peek beyond the smoke and mirrors and discover the secret science of sorcery. Learn the hitherto hidden psychology employed by some of the world’s greatest illusionists, how to detect lies, and discover why the hand is rarely quicker than the eye. An international bestselling author, Wiseman’s YouTube channel has over 1 million subscribers and 200 million views.
Plus, the Storytelling Centre loves providing entertainment for all the family to ensure youngsters enjoy the magic of live performance from a young age, and who better to deliver a family show than current British Children’s Entertainer National Champion Colonel Custard who promises fun for all the family with slapstick comedy and “blow your brains” magic.
Magical Mayhem promises what is says with juggling, levitation, unicycling and loads more surprising crazy antics along the way.
Edinburgh International Magic Festival: 27 June – 4 July 2014
Tickets available online at www.magicfest.co.uk by calling Hub Tickets on 0131 473 2000 or in person at Hub Tickets (The Hub, Castlehill EH1 2NE)
Keep up with the magic on social media:
Tweet @magicfest and Like facebook.com/edmagicfest
