2012 press info

Only 2 weeks to go...

The Mermaid Theatre Complex has recently undergone something of a renovation and extension which means that International Magic are very happy to announce that during the Convention later this year (November 16-18) the Dealers will now all be situated in the extended Newgate Suite. Not only will this allow easier access from the theatre between events, but also the new space will allow the Convention to feature even more dealers than in the past, alongside a new extra room where Michael Vincent will be performing short Parlour type performances before the Gala Show on Saturday and Sunday night. Alongside Michael's performance there will be, as always, strolling close up performers and with the foyer space of the theatre also being doubled in size during the building work, even more room to enjoy the pre-show entertainment. Convention co-organiser Noel Britten says "We've always considered we have the best facilities of any of the all-round UK Conventions in terms of the theatre for lectures, close up and stage but the dealers have always been tucked away slightly and a bit of a walk towards the back of the building, now that has all changed, and for us as a venue choice it has added the cherry to the top of the cake"

Press Release 27th October ...

International Magic Convention & Festival of Magic. Talent coordinator for the International Magic Convention and Festival, Noel Britten, writes, "In addition to all the events and outstanding talent in the line up of our Convention and Festival that have been announced over the last weeks, add over 30 dealers from 15 different countries (many of whom only appear at this UK Convention), 12 competitors from 9 different countries vying for the title of International Close Up Magician of the Year, extra walk around magic alongside Michael Vincent's' parlour-type pre Gala Show performances and an additional last minute surprise guest appearance. If you booked for all the Festival and Convention events (and many have!) you will have signed up for over fifty fantastic hours of magic over the seven days with 27 lectures, 13 individual shows, the presentation of the David Berglas Award, the Close Up Competition and much more - which works out at just over £4 an hour - surely the best magic value in the UK this year for such a range of outstanding international talent with true legends of magic and some of the best up and coming and new-to-UK talent around." And there's still just time to climb aboard!

Press Release 10th October ...

Just a few weeks to go before the London Festival of Magic and International Magic Convention. Unfortunately Joanie Spina and Andy Nyman have had to withdraw for the line up due to health and professional commitments, but we are delighted to announce that their places have been taken up by Anthony Owen (Head of Magic at Objective TV and Executive Producer for Derren Brown, The Real Hustle and overseer of all their Magic Shows) and Morgan and West (well known Penn and Teller 'Foolers') at the Monday session along with a soon to be announced special guest.

The rest of the line up over the course of the seven days remains unchanged including Juan Tamariz (The World's Greatest Magical Thinker and Performer), Jeff McBride, Simon Drake, Lukas, Arthur Benjamin, Rick Merrill, Stephen Bargatze, Woody Aragon, Thomas Fraps, Joe Atmore, Richard McDougall, Chris Cox, Rob James, Neal Austin, Vincent Hedan, Will Houstoun, Michael Vincent, Oliver Meech, Ian Rowland, Richard Wiseman, Peter Lamont, JoJo and Noel Britten. Alongside these named performers we have additional surprises with a Special Late Night Show on the Friday Night with a performer making his first Convention appearance anywhere (and recently reviewed in a major magic magazine as 'intelligent, magical, fantastically original and funny enough to kill you from asphxiation'), a superb speciality act in the Gala Show making his UK debut (who will not be announced so you get to experience the full beauty of his act live for the first time rather than on YouTube) and is one of the most magical acts you'll ever see, and of course the Presentation of The David Berglas International Magic Award whose recipient is always a closely guarded secret until the day (previous recipients include Uri Geller, David Copperfield, Derren Brown and Juan Tamariz).

The Close Up Competition has 12 performers from 6 countries including Japan, Korea and China, again with several performing in the UK for the first time. You'll be missing one of the great magical events of the year if you're not there. Tickets available from www.internationalmagic.com with the possibility of booking anything from a single evening show to the whole 7 days of magical hedonism.
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Press Release 3rd August ...

IFollowing last year's very successful Festival of Magic in the week leading up to the International Magic Convention we're repeating the concept again this year! So, each day between 12-16th November several top speakers and performers in a specialised field will be sharing their knowledge and expertise, and to unwind in the evening you have a chance to relax and watch a couple of magic based shows, all in the very intimate surroundings of the Bridewell Theatre.


As you can see from the schedule below, each day's session includes at least one of our International guests for the Convention so you have a real chance to spend more time with them and pick their brains on detailed aspects of their work.

And, as last year, we have a sliding scale of prices for the Festival sessions so the more you book the cheaper they become (prices are all kept the same as last year too)!
The actual Convention commences on Friday evening at the weekend has all the usual favourite events The Close Up Competition, the presentation of The David Berglas Award, and two tremendous Gala Shows - one Close Up and one Stage.

Our lecturers this year include, as always, an International range of talent, covering everything from close up to stage. We welcome back old favourites such as Jeff McBride Juan Tamariz and Rick Merrill; newcomers to London such as Eric Mead, Stephen Bargatze; and are particularly proud to present with his first ever live Convention lecture, the star of 'The Secret Cabaret' and his very own 'House of Magic' Simon Drake.

Our Gala Show again mixes the very best of magic and variety acts from around the world for a incredible evening of mystery laughter and wonder. Noel Britten, the talent co-ordinator for the Convention and who is the regular annual host of the show says "I have truthfully never been as excited at the line up for the show as I am this year. One of the acts is being kept secret. With him having never performed before in the UK, I want people to see his act live rather than on youtube . All I can say is that if I won the lottery I'd employ him to perform his show daily - it is without doubt one of the most magical and hypnotising acts I've ever seen."
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Convention Press Release 28th July 2012:

Eric Mead makes his London debut later this year at the International Magic Convention (November 16th, 17th 18th). Eric will be lecturing and also performing in the Close Up Gala. Considered one of magic's most celebrated 'thinkers', Eric has a wealth of experience in many fields of magic from bar magic, to a period working in comedy clubs, to his present work as one of America's busiest corporate mentalists. His first major book, “Tangled Web,” was praised for its many routines covering bar magic, close-up magic, strolling, mentalism and stage work. But it is the chapters that include seven instructive essays and two chapters devoted to work with a memorized deck and a systematic approach to Vernon's "Trick That Cannot Be Explained" that show his real in-depth thinking. With both Eric and Juan Tamariz booked for the Convention there's going to be a "stack" of things to talk about and see!

Convention Press Release 8th June 2012:

Juan Tamariz and Jeff McBride are the first two of many headline names to be announced to appear at The International Magic Convention at The Mermaid Theatre in central London later this year. The 41st Convention (known affectionately as Ron’s Day after it’s founder Ron MacMillan) will run from the 16th to the 18th of November and will continue it’s long standing reputation of bringing you some of the best known names in magic along with underground stars and breaking talent at, what are widely regarded as, the best Magic Convention facilities in the UK.

Juan will be lecturing and performing within the Convention and also presenting his One Man Show on the Saturday Night as an extra event. This show will be held at The Bridewell Theatre and continues the Convention’s desire to showcase some of the world’s greatest performers in a solo show environment. We know that the audience this year will experience the same sort theatrical and memorable event as those who have attended Rene Lavand and Max Maven’s shows in previous years. Tickets to this show will be sold separately to the main Convention and will act as an alternative to the Gala Show on the Saturday (but don’t worry if you want to see the Gala Show it will be repeated as always on the Sunday night too - Martin MacMillan who runs the Convention has always been keen that Conventioneers get the chance to see ALL the events of the weekend and not have to make choices between one event and lecture or another).

Jeff McBride, another universally recognised figure in the world of magic will also be appearing over the weekend not only as a lecturer but we are also delighted that he will be performing several of his pieces that have become modern day classics in the Gala Show. More names will be announced over the next few weeks along with full details of the Festival Of Magic (Nov 12th – 16th).

The Festival runs at the Bridewell Theatre in the week leading up to the Convention (12th-16th November) with each day being themed around a particular aspect of magic allowing real in-depth analysis of themes, performance and technique. Tickets will be available for individual days and also discounts will be available for multiple day purchases – so check out the full programme of days before making your purchase. The Festival ran for the first time last year and was an unqualified success in allowing magicians to spend more time with some of the stars of the Convention in a more ‘niche’ environment than the general Convention allows.

“Last years Convention celebrated the 40th annual Convention and we pulled out all the stops with people saying it was one of our best ever. We set the bar high and look forward to reaching it again this year.”

Noel Britten, Convention Event Co-ordinator