Our Very Own ‘Open Mic’ Night!

Try out a trick, get feedback, have fun!

Nathan Earl is once again hosting a ‘Hydra’ evening at the Circle. It’s our version of an ‘Open Mic’ night, it’s great fun and anyone can take part.

Here’s the idea. Suppose you’ve got a new trick, routine or idea you’ve been working on. Come along and try it out in front of your Magic Circle peers. They then give you practical, constructive and supportive feedback.

In other words, it’s a safe, supportive space in which to try out new material, far away from public scrutiny, and see if the Magic Circle hive mind can suggest improvements or help you with any problems you have with the trick.

The whole event is hosted and directed by Nathan, who keeps the mood fun, cordial and constructive. Each performer gets about five minutes of performance time, followed by five minutes of comments and feedback.

This is a tremendously useful opportunity for anyone developing a new trick or routine. It’s also great fun, as anyone who remembers the last one will agree! Back in the day, the great Tony Hanscombe used to host these ‘work in progress’ evenings on a regular basis. Nathan Earl has revived the idea and it could well become a regular feature on the club night calendar.

The last ‘Hydra’ event was held in the Devant Room. This one will take place in the Theatre, so anyone relatively new to stage work can learn about stage and mic technique and about working with a typical stage crew.

(There may be a fish and chips supper later in the evening but this is yet to be confirmed.)

Do come along and support this brilliant event. Obviously, the more people who attend, the greater the range and depth of feedback each performer will receive.

Any Apprentice or current member of the Magic Circle can take part. To book your slot, emailNathan Earl: nathanearl@themagiccircle.co.uk

Ricardo Rosenkranz, AIMC is the owner of one of Magic’s newest and most exciting venues, The Rhapsody Theater.
The Rhapsody Theater is a 200+ seat state of the art theater aimed at presenting fully staged long format theatrical magic performances. Having just opened the second season, Ricardo Rosenkranz is producing shows from Zabrecky, David Williamson, Joshua Jay, Andi Gladwin, Jamie Allan, Alexandra Duvivier, Kayla Drescher, Larry Hass and Ross Johnson.

A long-time student and close friend of Eugene Burger, Ricardo is a senior faculty member of the McBride Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas. He has performed in Penn and Teller’s Fool Us 3 times.
As The Physician Magician, Ricardo has staged highly successful, multiple runs of his own long format show since 2016. Now in his own space, Ricardo just completed the 70th performance of Physician Magician, his latest show.

In this latest visit to TMC HQ Ricardo will perform the entire first act of his show (55 minutes) including the likely participation of his close associate Balsamo. Following the performance Ricardo will lecture on the challenges and charms of creating a successful one person, long format, theatrical magic performance.

Details to follow


This lecture has it all: brilliant, creative tricks, insights from 30+ years of professional experience plus bargains, fun and exclusive offers! It’s going to be quite a night!
Jon Allen has been a full-time pro for 36 years, known primarily for his close-up work at social and corporate events around the UK and abroad. However, he’s also a highly successful stage and cabaret performer.
As a magical inventor, Jon is practically in a league of his own. Among other tricks and routines, Jon will be teaching several of his ‘signature’ pieces, including:

– His own multi-phase routine using a pen and a coin… with a surprise finale!
– A super simple peek with a business card.
– For any signed card routine, a fantastic finale using a move hardly ever used in close-up.
– The greatest impromptu routine ever that turns a child into a mega-star magician!
However, there’s a lot more to this scintillating lecture than just tricks. Jon will also be sharing: psychological nuances that make your audiences care more about your magic; the one word that will instantly improve your performances; how to use your props for more than just tricks and why Jon thinks one of the ‘classics’ of magic is a terrible trick!
One thing’s for sure: Jon is a very seasoned and assured lecturer. He has lectured at FISM, IBM (in the UK and USA), SAM, PCAM, TRICS as well as at clubs and events in Australia, China, Canada, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal and throughout the UK.
Like a good bargain? Jon will have several of his original creations for sale including ‘Perfect Score’, ‘Double Back’, ‘The Pain Game’, ‘Paragon 3D’ and ‘The Silent Treatment Stage Edition’. For those attending in person, Jon has prepared an exclusive package deal including several of his downloads plus a few items that he only rarely offers for sale.
We know you can’t all get down to our glorious HQ in person. However, if you can make it, this is going to be a great night of world-class magic from one of our home-grown stars. Make an evening of it, meet your friends in the club room and then enjoy a top lecture by one of the best in the business.
“Jon’s magic checks all the boxes for me: clever, funny, intellectual and relatable. He has always has been an inspiration.” — Garrett Thomas
“Jon is one of those rare performers who cares deeply about his magic. His lectures feature real world, killer effects that you will use!” — Richard Sanders
“Jon Allen’s magic is made for the real world. His lectures always feature strong, easy and entertaining routines you will want to add to your repertoire.” — Boris Wild

You’re Invited To A Birthday Party!

It’s party time at The Magic Circle… and you’re invited!
The South London Magic Society was founded in 1948 as ‘The London Magic Guild’. It’s still going strong, 75 years later, so naturally we’re having a birthday party! To celebrate, members of the Society are presenting their own special show at the Circle. All are welcome, including guests (provided they are registered in the usual way).
The Society proudly claims to be one of the friendliest magic societies of all. It’s also one with close ties to the Magic Circle. In fact, about 90% of the current membership are also members of the Circle. Over the past three years alone, the Society has helped and encouraged over 15 magicians to achieve their Magic Circle membership.
So, what will you see on the night? It’s going to be an absolutely first-class magic show featuring plenty of variety. The show will include a broad range of magical styles, from dazzling close-up effects to cabaret and stage magic. What’s more, for one night only, the enigmatic ‘Miss Primm’ will grace us with her presence — an act so shrouded in mystery that we can say no more!
This very special evening will also showcase the spellbinding magic photography of Mark Hesketh Jennings, whose brilliant photos are well known to all Circle members.
Come along to the Circle, sign in a guest or two if you want, see your friends and enjoy a top-class magic show in our very own theatre! It promises to be a wonderful night and one that honours the close links between the Magic Circle and all regional clubs and societies. Be part of the celebration and enjoy the party!
Website: http://southlondonmagic.co.uk


Hosted by Laura London

This is going to be a fabulous, fun-filled, magical cabaret show for all to enjoy — and non-member guests are welcome! If you have friends who have always wanted to visit our wonderful HQ, this is an excellent opportunity to bring them along.
The remarkable show will bring together elements of music, magic, burlesque, circus and comedy to create an enchanting evening of rare treats and delights. Hosted by our very own Laura London, this is going to be a talked-about evening that you don’t want to miss!
It’s the third time Laura has put together a show of this kind. Harry de Cruz and Dee Christopher will both be taking part plus burlesque and cabaret star Felicity Furore (the photo shows one of these three performers — see if you can work out which one). However, the rest of the line-up is intentionally being kept under wraps to preserve the element of surprise. Laura promises you’ll see magicians new to the Magic Circle stage plus a few faces you do know presenting new acts that you don’t!
“It’s been fun to put this all together,” says Laura. “I want the atmosphere to be like a cabaret club from the moment you walk in the door. And it’s definitely a show you want to attend in person if you possibly can. Cabaret is all about the ‘live’ mood and feeling in the theatre and there will be plenty of audience interaction.”
This is the only show of its kind that you’ll see at The Magic Circle this year. It’s going to be a top-class showcase of some of the finest magic, cabaret and burlesque artistes performing today. And remember: your non-magician friends are welcome provided you register them in the usual way.


Celebrating With Styles!

This is going to be amazing!
The ‘Legends Of Magic’ nights at the Circle are always popular — and with good reason! These interviews are fascinating, surprising and fun, plus they give us all an opportunity to learn from a star of magic sharing literally a lifetime of experience.
Recent ‘Legends’ nights starring Terry Herbert and George Kovari were a delight from start to finish. This time it’s the turn of the wonderfully entertaining John Styles and believe me — you do not want to miss this very special occasion!
John is a highly accomplished magician who was one of very first to have a restaurant residency (at ‘Smollensky’s On The Strand’). He has also worked as a consultant and magical advisor on a range of TV and film projects spanning several decades — which he’ll talk about during the interview. As if that weren’t enough, John is the world’s leading expert on the quintessentially British art of Punch & Judy! He has presented P&J shows all over the world — including places where this form of entertainment was completely unknown. And if all that’s not impressive enough, John was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the Arts!
John will be interviewed on stage by our very own Noel Britten and there will be plenty of stories and video clips to enjoy along the way.
If you’ve been to a ‘Legends’ night before, you’ll know that the atmosphere, in both the clubroom and the theatres, is always lively and enjoyable. We’re all ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’, so to speak, and it’s a privilege to be able to learn from someone who is ‘magical royalty’. Get down to the HQ, have a great evening and let’s make sure John gets the attendance he deserves!

Watch the live stream