Coming up with new tricks is hard, especially when you’ve been performing for the best part of three decades. Eventually you just run out of things to juggle. That’s why cabaret star, juggler, magician, and all-round entertainer, Mat Ricardo, handed that part off to the general public for his upcoming tour, Mat Ricardo vs The World.
Nearly a year ago, he challenged fans and naysayers alike to suggest the most difficult, impressive feats of balance, magic, strength and escapology they could think of, with the promise that he would learn and perform those feats on tour in 2018. Well, it’s 2018 now, god help us, and it’s time for Ricardo to show us the fruits of his labour. Previews of the show begin next week, before its full debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.
While, “the world,” might imply a certain global presence on Ricardo’s part, thus far the dates announced for the tour have been UK only. Tickets for some are already available, and you can see a listing of tour dates and locations here.
Ricardo got started in the craft in Covent Garden back in the 80’s, and, despite numerous TV appearances and a side line in corporate shindigs, still regularly hits the streets for a little light busking. He attends busking festivals around the world, and in 2017, he won the People’s Choice award at the Ottawa Streetfest.
Also, for the next few weeks he’ll be posting up videos of tricks and skills he learned for the tour that didn’t make the final cut. Like this one, for example:
My new one man show is all about learning tricks suggested by YOU.
But what about the tricks that didn't make it into the show? Well, every week, for the next few weeks, I'll give you a little look at something you made me learn, but that didn't end up in the show. pic.twitter.com/O8r8N7tpyt
— Mat Ricardo (@MatRicardo) June 6, 2018
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to call Richard Essien, better known as Magical Bones, one of the coolest magicians the UK has produced in years. I mean, this promo for his 2011 hip-hop illusion show, Sleight of Dance, was made the best part of a decade ago, and it’s still slicker than a lot of vids released this year.
But Sleight was just the start for the London-born magician and dancer, who went on to star in the successful West End magic show Impossible and appear in Around the World in 80 Tricks. Fresh from a superb closing performance at the 2018 BAFTA TV awards, Bones will be performing his new show Black Magic at the Underbelly Festival Southbank.
Black Magic is more than a eye-catching reference to Bones’ skin color. The show is a tribute to Henry “Box” Brown, a slave-turned magician from the 1800’s who freed himself by hiding inside a wooden crate and mailing himself to abolitionists in Philadelphia. After his escape, Brown became a famous abolitionist speaker, magician, and showman.
Magical Bones will be performing Black Magic at 5pm on June 13th and July 2nd at The Underbelly Festival in London. Tickets are available now and cost just £17.
Oh, and if you’re wondering where you might have seen Bones before, he was the dancer in the excellent music video for Mint Royale’s catchy remix of Singing in the Rain.
With a run time of nearly two-and-a-half hours and with show-only tickets starting at just £12.50, Michael Jordan’s High Jinx, Magic, Illusion and Circus Show is an evening of entertainment that’s easy on the wallet.
The show features an eclectic mix of magic, escapology, dancing and circus tricks, delivered at a breakneck pace.
Jordan, a former Magic Circle magician of the year winner started High Jinx back in 2004, but his career really took off when he appeared on Fool Us with Penn and Teller. Jordan began performing regularly at Viva Blackpool three years ago and, in November, 2015, he married fellow performer, Tamsyn. The couple now produce High Jinx together.
“The show is a fast-paced mix of magic, illusion and circus delivered in a contemporary way to appeal to all ages,” Jordan explains. “We have brought in the High Jinx Dancers and some special guests to ensure there is something for everyone.
“Our show is often a child’s first experience of theatre so we like to make it both a magical and memorable one.”
The High Jinx Magic Illusion and Circus Show will be appearing at Viva Blackpool throughout 2018. Show-only tickets start at just £12.50 and “Show & Dine” packages start at £32.95. A 15% discount is available for bookings of four or more.