Magician & mentalist

Teikyo School - Wexham

The Teikyo  Japanese School is based in Wexham in Berkshire. For several years, the Director Mr Yoshio Inayama, has asked me to perform close up magic for his students at their graduation. Sadly Mr Inayama is heading back to Japan this year and I know his students will miss him.

The school and its grounds are  truly stunning and offer a wide range of subjects and activities for their students. What I love about performing there is that the students are always so enthusiastic about the magic.

Funnily enough I lived in Japan in 1992 where I taught english as a foreign language and I also studied Shiatsu and martial arts arts and of course, magic.

Magician re-mixed

 I thought i would give you an idea of some unusual venues and situations in which I have had to perform. The above pic is myself performing at the Remix venue in Hitchin. Once a month organisers put on a variety programme consisting of burlesque dancers, comedians and a magician. I did some mind reading on some very enthusiastic and far out folks there. One of the favourite events of the evening is for the compere and his assisstant to sing to one of the songs of Sting and down a beer throughout the duration. (see pic below).

Sing for Sting

The next venue was the Cauldron Club at the Sugar Lounge in London. It is an alternative cabaret run by the  the lovely Tracey Starrevald, who also recites poetry. As Tracey was just trying out the new venue, which happened to be a  Turkish restaurant as well, she struggled to attract an audience and all the performers, including the story teller Nell Phoenix, had to perform for eachother - not the best idea ever. However the show went on and as they say, ‘it’s all good experience’.

The Sugar Lounge

The Sugar Lounge - Look at the cards and not the strange backdrop

Most people may assume we have luxurious venues with ample change rooms - wrong! During the busy Xmas season I was asked to perform some table magic and a small cabaret at the Windmill Pub in Ewshot in Farnham in Surrey.

Windmill Pub

The Windmill Pub (above) is run by some very friendly owners, but how would they know a cabaret artist would need to change somewhere? They didn’t have anywhere so promptly placed me in there fridge where they keep the keg’s of beer! Now I am from South Africa and the cold does not impress me, and then to place me in a fridge (thank goodness with beer and not stuffed animals!), does not make me happy!

The final unusual performance area was Covent Garden where myself and a shed load of hypnotists practised and demonstrated hypnosis on unsuspecting, but very willing victims..umm..volunteers.

 Hypnosis is very safe and rather relaxing state to be in. We all go into states of hypnosis several times a day, certainly just before you go to sleep and the moments just before fully awaking. Most television commercials lull your mind into these states and that’s why we end up singing jingles as adults from our childhood!

Look - two at once!

Steve Regrave salutes magic

As I live in Marlow, its always a pleasure to promote and perform in Marlow. I was asked to do magic at Geoff Wood’s 60th birthday bash at Court Garden House . The Higginson room is a  beautiful room overlooking Higginson park and the Thames. As you can see, Sir Steve Redgrave is a famous Marlovian and is a permanent fixture in Higginson Park.

Marlow Rocks!

I performed magic at the tables as well as a cabaret. Also performing that night was Geoff Jolliffe and his band (see picture). Geoff owns a prestigious garment shop in marlow called  ’ Jolliffes‘.

Etcetera Theatre in Camden

Some of you may not know that for several years now, Camden in London hosts the Camden Fringe in August similar to Edinburgh. Last year I performed my show at the Etcetera Theatre which is one of the 5 theatres that are used during the Fringe.  The theatre is above a pub called the Oxford Arms.

The Show was called ‘Reality Vaccine’ which consisted entirely of mentalism, and I was aided by the lovely Nikki Cambell, who was my creative director and technical Guru. She is also the creative director for the No Handbags Theatre Company based at the Windsor Firestation Art Centre.

Three victims..oops..I meant volunteers!

I use a lot of audience participation in my show, and I don’t make them embarrased or make them do anything that is difficult. It should be fun for them.. some even go may go to sleep.. or is that a trance…

Just close your eyes and reellaaaaxxxx....

Although the theatre is small, it really is intimate and cosy. Next year the Camden Fringe runs from the 2nd to the 29th of August.

Towersey Manor

Earlier I had the opportunity to perform for a Jan Rasmussen’s husband’s 60th birthday party in Towersey.

It took place at Towersey Manor where they had a cosy barn set up for a barn dance perfromed by the awesome barn dance band, Pump Action.

Swing your partners...yeehaaaa...

As you can see, they all got into the ’swing’ of things. I wanted to but I was too busy reading minds and vanishing coins!

The George Inn - Eton

Listening to the news last night that 6 pubs close down in London every week these days, I felt really saddened.

As a ‘foreigner’ from South Africa, I know how special the pub is considered by many visitors to these shores. It’s part of the great British culture. So I was thrilled, in the late summer,  to be asked by an owner of no less than 7 pubs in the Windsor area, Nick Long, to perform magic for his granddaughter’s Christening at one of his pubs, The George Inn in Eton. Nick had organised a private area where I did some close up for the guests at the tables followed by a small cabaret after their meal.

I travelled down to The New Forest recently to perform magic at the Wedding of  Christine Thomas and her fiance’. The reception was at the beautiful Rhinefield House.

Entrance to Rhinefield House

 The weather was stunning so I could prestidigitate outside in the stunning garden area.

Fountain gardens

Nothing like a relaxing afternoon performing for lovely guests and then to hit the M27 where there was a 10 mile queue! Time for a diversion, and if it hadn’t been for my car navigation equipment, I would have been late for my next gig. Don’t you just love modern technology!

The Language of Magic

 Liz Robertson asked me to to perform some close-up magic and a mentalism cabaret at her house in Maidenhead . Liz has built up a very successful business  in the teaching of languages which is based in Twyford. Her business is called Robertson Languages. She decided to to treat her hard working staff. They really were great fun - seen here in the photograph.

How many pockets have you got?

 I performed at Natalie Smith and her partner Robert’s wedding in Wetbourne recently. I have to say that without a satnav, I probably wouldn’t have found it. Hey, I’m a magician, not a navigator! The reception was held outside in a huge marquee very tastefully decorated. Thankfully the weather was perfect.

The photgraph was taken by professional photographer Allan Breeze who very kindly sent me some pics.

Och aye..pick a card..

Those of you who have visited Edinburgh will know what a beautiful city it is. However, when you add the excitement of the Edinburgh Fringe, you have a really fascinating and entertaining holiday destination in August.

I went this year with the focus of seeing a variety of performances and venues with the view of some day performing up there myself. As you can see in the first picture, I couldn’t stop myself entertaining on the streets, like many other buskers.

pavement art

As you can see in the second and third pictures, Busking can come in various forms from live statues to chalk paintings on the pavement.

If you have never been to the Fringe, get yourself there next year, there is so much going on that you are bound to find something that you will enjoy.