Talking Tricks with Kane & Abel

We preview the Blackpool Magic Convention with our hot take on which lectures, shows and performers you cannot afford to miss.  Listen to our exclusive interviews with Max Maven, Ben Hart and Magic Sam to find out what you can expect from their performances at the convention. All this and much more on this week's Talking Tricks.  

Tony Middleton joins us to discuss his journey to producing and performing two weekly West End shows in London and launching a magic bar Maskelyne & Cooke in the capital.  He tells us how stopping for a coffee in a hotel in St Pancras led to gaining a gig as the resident magician, producing shows for David Stone, Chris Dugdale and Mahdi Gilbert and the London Festival of Close-up Magic. He also chats about his Secret Cellar project, TV aspirations and much more.  

Richard Filby joins us to discuss the London opening of his full evening variety show The Richard Filby Spectacule. Richard talks about what led to him finally getting his show off and running above a vintage clothes shop in London, breaking his foot the night before he was last set to open a show and his life and career as a full time street performer in Covent Garden. We also chat about his early beginnings in Australia, juggling, card throwing, magic, comedy and all the other amazing circus skills he posses.   

We gear up for Christmas by talking the miracles of Jesus with Christian magician Mark Watson. Mark gives us the full story behind Jesus's iconic miracles and his lesser known ones, plus how they have inspired magicians from Paul Daniels and Penn & Teller to Barry & Stewart and Criss Angel and Dynamo.  Find out the true meaning of Christmas and learn about these miracles. 

Tiernan Douieb joins us to talk being a political comedian and preview the upcoming British General Election.  Tiernan tells us what led to him becoming a political comedian, discusses touring as the support act for Frankie Boyle and gives his predictions for this week's General Election. He also tells us everything we need to know about the GE and the party leaders.   

Tom Brace joins us to discuss embarking on a 30-day UK headline tour, finding the perfect blend of magic show to be fun for all the family but not 'too kiddy' and getting his start in magic with a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We also talk close-up magic gigs in London, disastrous opening nights, the best and worst way to hand out flyers and how to fail your Magic Circle entrance exam. Also, after the conversation takes a turn towards football, we reveal our starting eleven football teams made up of magicians.  

Kane & Abel are joined by fellow magicians to discuss the incredible The Amazing Jonathan Documentary following its preview screening at 98 UK cinemas and live Q&A session with Director Ben Berman conducted by Louis Theroux on November 19th 2019. Neil Kelso and Chris Cook chat with Laurence Abel about what we find out about The Amazing Jonathan during the documentary that was supposed to follow his final year after being diagnosed with a chronic heart disease. We also talk about whether or not the whole 'dying thing' was a prank, the ethics behind such a documentary and the key take home points. The film has an ending you will not see coming but you can listen to this podcast without fear of spoilers.  

Chris Cook joins us to discuss trusting a real audience member with a real arrow to finish his show, his Tedx Talk, what makes a good trick and his highs and lows from more than half a decade at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Chris also reveal what led to him being named Wedding Magician of the Year and how a near death experience led to him taking magic more seriously.  

Whether you know him as Ken Dyne, Kennedy or just that mind reader guy with the white hair you will know that he is one of the best mentalists on the planet. Ken joins us to discuss how his career only got started because he was showing off with mind reading on a date in a pub, inspirations from palm reading to Max Maven and Al Koran, corporate after dinner performing, how to turn the people in the room into bookings, trade shows and why he is trying to get fewer gigs. He also talks about how Billy Idol led to his iconic look, trying new material during professional gigs and writing his books. Plus, here's our link to Lefever.

Ash Pryce and Theresa Dewa join us to discuss this year’s Edinburgh Horror Festival. We talk about this year’s programme, including everything from horror stand-up comedy and magic to theatre, movies, drag, poetry, Rocky Horror Picture Show and guided tours. We also discuss the history of seances, mediumship and spiritualist churches plus whether magicians tricks inspired faux-seances or if the charlatans inspired magic techniques used today. Plus we discuss the top horror movies of all time. The Edinburgh Horror Festival runs from October 24th to November 3rd.

Dave Alnwick joins Talking Tricks to discuss thirteen full houses in a row at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and everything he’s learnt in his time at the world’s largest arts festival. Dave reveals why he is more inspired by authors Dan Harmon and Stephen King than other magicians, adding a narrative to his magic show, growing as an artist and structuring a magic show. He also discusses what led to him directing two shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, studying at the prestigious LIPA, and his  life outside of the festival.   To watch Dave’s #Literally the Best Magician show, download your own copy to keep here.    

Kane & Abel preview their show SPLIT EGG: A Magic Show About Being Twins and discuss everything that led to it making its London debut. Find out the one question everyone asked that inspired the show’s concept, its name, narrative and two-year journey to opening in the UK’s capital. They also discuss the many magic and variety shows on offer in October including: Jay Adkins – A State of Mind, Griffin & Jones – Lock In Cabaret, Circus 1903, Neil Kelso I Draw Clouds, Beautiful Magicians Club, Seance: Conversations in the Dark by Christopher Howell and Darcy Oake. Plus Kane & Abel list their Top 10 Twins of all time. SPLIT EGG: A Magic Show About Being Twins is on at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden, London on Saturday 16th November at 9pm.

The ‘mind reader who can’t read minds’ Chris Cox joins Talking Tricks to discuss the latest West End run of The Illusionists, the upcoming Broadway run and what it’s really like to be a member of the world’s largest touring magic show. Chris also discusses his role in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, his BBC iPlayer series Mind Boggling Magic, consulting with Heston Blumenthal and much more. He also chats about starring in Impossible and Killer Magic and what it was like juggling his duel careers as a magician and producer at the BBC.

Enigmatic contortionist and magician Chris Cross joins Talking Tricks to discuss his upcoming tour of the North East, performing onstage with David Blaine during his UK tour and coming into ownership of Paul Daniels' former illusions. Chris also discusses his relationship with Paul Daniels and planned shows they had before his death, beating Mike Tyson in a test of strength, his two biggest challenges his career has faced, TV talent shows and why we are on the verge of a new golden age for live magic and much more.  

Regardless of if you know him as Kieron Lefever, Kieron Johnson or Kieron The Mighty you will know Kieron as one of the most inventive and highly-regarded magicians on the planet. He joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss being one of just seven known regurgitators on the planet and how it feels to create cutting-edge magic that is performed by other magicians on stage and screen. Kieron also talks about  using regurgitation to mess with airport security, getting into magic through ‘Cardtoon’, leaving the Navy and spending most of his savings on magic tricks, using maths to get money off sweets and why magicians are getting lazy. He also chats about some of his biggest inspirations in magic and shares top tips all magicians must hear.  

Hypnotist Robert Temple discusses his career from performing in pubs in Newcastle aged just seventeen to headline theatre tours via summer seasons and student union gigs. Robert also talks about his recent Edinburgh Fringe run and upcoming tour, the public perception of hypnosis and how to change it, nearly being banned from performing, the differences between magic and hypnosis shows and much more. He also tells us what led to him stopping performing magic, his relationship with mind reader Kennedy, his inspirations and much more.

Kane & Abel are joined by Man of Mischief Mark Watson to preview the 72nd Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We give you our top tips on the best magic, cabaret, comedy, musicals, children's shows and theatre on offer this year. We also randomly flick through the guide and highlight shows that standout. Also, get top tips on where to eat during the festival.

Magic Singh talks performing magic at 10 consecutive Glastonbury festivals, the problems that come with using knives and paint ball guns in magic, marketing yourself on Instagram and becoming an influencer, weddings and corporate gigs, his inspirations and TV appearances from the Friday Night Project to Thai breakfast TV and his TEDx Talk. Singh also tells us what one dish he would have if washed up on a desert island and much more.

We’ve washed up some of our favourite magicians, comedians and variety performers on a desert island and given them just one dessert for the rest of their lives. Find out what delicious puddings Talking Tricks alumni Paul Dabek, Ben Hart, Charlie Caper, Ava Beaux, Maggie Fayne, Magic Sam Hurst, Steve Dela, Neil Kelso, Katie Pritchard and Elliot Bibby would have if stranded on our fictional dessert island. Also, Ed Kane teaches you how to make all ten of these delicious dessert island dishes.

Ahead of their six performances at Glastonbury Festival this week, Kane & Abel are joined by genuine festival punter David Lowe to preview everything the festival has to offer. Find out the top tips for who to watch from the world of music, magic, comedy, cabaret, circus and variety during the five-day festival on Worthy Farm. Hear festival memories from comedian and magician Steve Best, magician Paul Nathan and Alex Oddball from the world's largest juggling company Oddballs. Also, get all the top tips on travel, weather, food and drink and festival survival tips and hear about potential secret sets. Plus what to do if you accidentally walk off the festival site or get caught short in the toilet queue.         

Steve Best joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his 30-year career as a magician, comedian and photographer. Best discusses the biggest changes in the industry during his career, touring with the likes of Frank Skinner and Harry Hill, nearly suing Joe Pasquale, getting his start playing guitar and performing magic in a bar in Cyprus, touring the world and TV. He also talks about his amazing photographs that have spawned two books, multiple exhibitions and even hang in the Saatchi Gallery.    

Man of Mischief and juggler and magician extraordinaire Mark Watson joins us to tell his incredible journey from overworked London City banker to full-time professional performer. Hear how magic legend Paul Daniels inspired both his interest in magic and led to him studying business and becoming a chartered accountant and banker before a holiday to the Edinburgh Fringe encouraged him to go full time in magic and variety. Mark also talks the problems with sharing a name with another performer more famous than you, starting street performing in Covent Garden, his love of pantomime and his family's history of running the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth, how The Masked Magician boosted his love of magic and much more. If you are thinking about quitting your day job then this is a must listen. Mark also spills the beans on his Edinburgh Fringe show Living the Dream and his insane schedule during last year's festival.

Australian magician Dom Chambers joins us to talk performing his beer production magic act on Penn & Teller Fool Us, his upcoming appearance on the new season of America's Got Talent and what it is like being a professional magician in Australia. Dom won the Best Magic Show award at this year's Adelaide Fringe Festival and he talks about his good and bad experiences at the world's second largest arts festival, as well as the southern hemisphere's other big festivals in Melbourne and Perth. Dom also chats about his inspirations, originality in magic and his upcoming return performance at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and much more. 

Magical Bones joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his incredible magic career including a worldwide tour with Impossible and his own TV series Around the World in 80 Tricks. He talks about starting his performance career as a hip-hip B-boy dancer on the streets in London, stage and in music videos for Madonna and other global mega popstars, how renting his local theatre helped springboard him into all his success, performing at the Underbelly on the Southbank and his upcoming Edinburgh Fringe debut solo magic show Black Magic. He discusses the history and culture of black magicians and the influence it has on his live show and much more.

On Talking Tricks, we assemble a crack team of magic experts to discuss the most iconic and notorious animals in magic history. Learn about the most famous animals in magic and variety including tigers, ducks, chickens, goldfish, otters, snacks, doves, horses and octopus. Also hear the stories from the biggest names in magic and variety such as Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, David Blaine, Mac King and Norman Barrett MBE. We also talk about the origin of the rabbit from the hat trick and the death of The Great Lafayette, plus Ed Kane tells us how to kill and cook your own food. We also debate the ethics of using animals in a variety act and whether wooden or puppet animals are better than the real thing in theatre.

Katie Pritchard is the brand new recipient of the Musical Comedy Award and she joins us to talk all about winning this prestigious award. She chats about what the award means and what she actually gets, as well as performing multiple shows at the Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Cambridge Fringe and the Leicester Comedy Festival. She also answers questions off the back page of old NME magazines and discusses the stresses and rewards  behind running her own comedy night My Mates Jokes Brings The Folks To The Yard and much more! 

Psychologist and Magician Dr Matt Tompkins joins us to discuss the brand new Smoke & Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic exhibition, which runs until September 15th at The Welcome Collection gallery in London. Matt discusses his live performances as part of the exhibition, the artefacts within the collection, why mediums and mentalism strike a chord with the general public, psychology and magic and much more. He also tells us all about his new book, produced in collaboration with the exhibition, The Spectacle of Illusion: Magic, the paranormal and the complicity of the mind. The book traces the evolution of the arts of magic and illusion from the 18th century onwards.

Magic Sam Hurst joins us to share his incredible story from sleeping rough to being crowned UK Family Entertainer of the Year 2019. Sam also talks about working at magic bars in Manchester and Bristol, his TV stardom on BBC's Let me Entertain You and Magic House Party, running his own night the Beautiful Magicians' Club, working full-time as a magician on the streets of Covent Garden and much more. We also talk about the amazing way he met his wife, tattoos and performing magic for everyone from Samuel L Jackson and Whoppi Goldberg to Bear Grylls and Roman Abramovich.

Find out everything you need to know about the SAMS Convention. Is it a convention solely for people named Sam, or is it in fact the Scottish Association of Magic Societies? It's the latter and we are joined by the SAMS President Elliott Bibby to discuss everything the convention has to offer, from its amazing line-up of lecturers, competitions, one trick show, gala show and food deals. The convention takes place in Glasgow between April 26th - 28th.   

Kevin Quantum joins us to discuss his fascinating journey from reality TV contestant to globe-trotting magician. He talks about what it was like learning from magic legends Penn & Teller, Pat Page, Paul Daniels and Nigel Mead as part of the Channel 4 show Faking It, combining science and magic, the early struggles to transition from PhD Researcher to full-time magician, running the Edinburgh International Magic Festival and his success at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals.

On Talking Tricks, Laurence Abel is joined by special guest host Magic Sam Hurst to discuss whether or not Hulk Hogan is the worst magician of all time. In 1998, Hulk Hogan tried – and failed – to win a wrestling match by performing a magic trick. We look at what went wrong and also discuss the many times wrestlers have used magic and illusion to help them get one over their opponents. Find out if Hogan is the worst at magic and also all about the mystic skills of The Undertaker, Kane, Tajiri, Doink the Clown and Phantasio. Also, Sam and Laurence preview this Sunday’s wrestling super show Wrestlemania 35.

Ben Hart joins us on Talking Tricks for a heart to heart as he tells all about his enviable career in magic. He spills the beans on working with Penn & Teller on their upcoming Magic Goes Wrong production with Mischief Theatre, life on tour and his new magic book for magicians. Ben also chats about winning the Young Magician of the Year, his fascinating role on BBC Three’s Killer Magic and his spin-off show Life Hacks, what he thinks of magic on TV today, touring the world with Impossible and the largest Fringe festivals and consulting on West End shows and much more.

The Expert at the Card Table: How To Cheat At Cards is one of the most iconic books on magic and the inspiration behind Jden Redden’s award-winning Adelaide Fringe show. Jden spills the beans on what we do and don’ know about the elusive author of the book, why it inspired his show, the role of technology in magic, winning the ‘Best Magic’ award at the festival, his inspirations and why he doesn’t see himself as a member of the magic community. He also talks us through his early career working on The Illusionists, his other shows and his other work.          

F**K My Life' is a circus and physical theatre show about ugly truths, sharing a little too much and owning parts of ourselves we tried to get rid of long ago. The show tackles everything from drug addiction and the death of a parent to paralysing accidents, becoming a single parent and devastating betrayals.   Writer, Producer and Performer Maggie Fayne joins us to discuss the show, its origins, the unique cast that make up FML, the incredible hard times she had to go through to influence the show and its run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. She also talks growing up with a magician for a father, studying at the National Institute for Circus Arts and takes part in the return of a popular feature game on Talking Tricks.  

A break from our traditional format for Talking Tricks as Laurence Abel brings you an exclusive podcast from Singapore departure lounge on route to performing Breaking the Magicians' Code with Kane & Abel at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.  Find out what his top tips for what to see, do and eat in Singapore are; learn all you need to know to perform at the Adelaide Fringe Festival like Kane & Abel are this year and discover what is on Abel's tour jukebox.  

On Talking Tricks this week, we are joined by magician Ava Beaux.   Ava discusses being one of the house magicians at the UK’s top magic venue Smoke & Mirrors in Bristol and her time at its former sister venue Illusions.   She also tells us why there isn’t more female magicians, why she likes her audience to be a little bit creeped out during her performances, inspirations, why the general public are welcoming of women in magic but the magic community needs to be better and much more.

Musician, Drag act, Blogger and Author Frankie Cote joins Talking Tricks to discuss his incredible and heart-wrenching story. Frankie had the world at his feet as a promising musician with support slots for Example, Kaiser Chiefs and other music stars but fell into a debilitating rut of depression and alcohol and drug abuse, he has now authored the best-selling book Escape, Breath, Ignite: How to Escape Any Rut telling the story of how he regained control of his life. Learn valuable lessons on how to escape physical, personal and professional ruts and gain control of your life. Frankie also talks about how therapeutic drag can be, the keys to losing weight and adopting a positive attitude.     

If you’ve ever considered performing at a wedding you need to listen to this. Joining us on Talking Tricks is professional magician and professional wedding crasher Elliott Bibby. Bibby discusses  performing at an average of two weddings a week, the different packages he offers, the best and worst time to perform magic at a wedding, bridezillas and how to secure more bookings. He also talks about being the star of his own BBC Social series, missing his university graduation to work on a Las Vegas show, the Edinburgh Fringe, Perth World Fringe, inspirations and much more.

Max Maven joins Talking Tricks this week to offer a rare insight into the mind of one of the world's greatest ever mentalists and mind readers. Max discusses his career at length, from his start buying 10c magic magazines in Boston to headlining the biggest comedy clubs in the US and being the go-to-guy for mind reading on worldwide TV. He also talks about what a performer needs to do to make their magic go from craft to art, why he still loves lecturing for magicians, why he treats everyone as a lay audience, what key literature you must read to be a great mentalist and what it was like acting with Robin Williams and Will Smith. All this, and much more on Talking Tricks with Kane & Abel.

Garry Vanderhorne and Greg Burridge – the men behind the phenomenal Lucha Britannia – join Talking Tricks to talk about the iconic cult variety show that is part cabaret, part wrestling event. The chaps discuss what led to them starting Lucha Britannia, why they chose to include cabaret acts as well as wrestling matches, the role they've had in revolutionising the way the wrestling industry view female and LGBTQ characters and their massive role in the British wrestling revival that has resulted in it being viewed as the most exciting scene on the planet. They also talk about their wrestling careers, the full-time wrestling school The London School of Lucha Libre that has helped shape some of the biggest wrestling stars on the planet including Will Osprey, Marty Scurll, Nina Samuels and Jimmy Havoc and celebrity fans such as Johnathan Ross. Also, find out wrestling is a tool that people can take into comedy, acting, magic and stunts.

Steve Dela joins us to discuss winning more magic competitions than any other UK magician and the doors that these awards have opened for him. The Shropshire-born magician talks about his move to London which resulted in him working five residencies a week, getting fewer tips than Dynamo, his top advice for entering competitions, his inspirations, the ins and outs of running a monthly magic night, creating original material and selling it to fellow magicians and his transition into a mentalist. All this and much more on Talking Tricks. 

This week on Talking Tricks, we are joined by contemporary circus company the Barely Methodical Troupe to discuss their show Shift which opens the London International Mime Festival this week.  BMT Co-Founders Charlie Wheeler and Louis Gift along with fellow cast members Esmeralda Nikolajeff and Elihu Vazquez discuss their roles in the show, what led to them starting the troupe/ joining the troupe, why collaboration is key in contemporary circus, the narrative and themes of their performances and why they are always open to interpretation. They also talk about their previous smash hit Bromance and other show Kin.   

Happy Christmas from Talking Tricks and to celebrate the 'most wonderful time of the year' we are joined by the ghost of Christmas past Pete Firman. What does this mean? Well, about seven years ago we interviewed the UK's number one comedy magician Pete Firman to discuss his current (at that time) BBC One TV show The Magicians and his nationwide tour. At this point Abel was working for Southampton-based radio station Radio Sonar and met up with Pete as he was performing in nearby Eastleigh.  We also preview the best TV shows from the world of magic, comedy, circus and variety for the 2018 festive season. 

This week, we are joined by Andi Gladwin to talk about the upcoming The Session convention in January that he organises with his Vanishing Inc business partner Joshua Jay. Andi discusses exactly what to expect from the three-day convention starring Mac King, Max Maven, Ben Hart, Andy Nyman, Dani DaOrtiz, Michael Weber, Juke Lermay and many many more. We also chat about the origins and inspirations of the convention, Vanishing Inc's brand new Costa Rica event The Retreat and Andi's top tips of magic books all magicians must read. The Session takes place in London between January 11th and 13th.    

Alex Oddball joins us this week to talk about his family's amazing journey to owning and running the world's largest juggling company. He talks us through the incredible chance meeting of his parents that only happened because his dad dropped a juggling ball, their humble beginnings selling juggling equipment from a council estate bedroom in Hackney to the global business they run today. Alex also discusses growing up travelling the world with his parents as they performed their juggling act, performing for Frank Lampard in his pants and the Queen of England fully clothed, Dr Martin Boots unicycles, nearly setting himself on fire in his first show in front of 60,000 people following Oasis at Glastonbury and the impact Brexit has already had on the company.  

Celebrity magician Paul Nathan joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his phenomenal career, from starting out performing close-up magic in nightclubs for the rich and the famous in LA including Prince and Grace Jones to his iconic performances at Glastonbury Festival and how he inadvertently created and starred in the smash-hit kids' magic show The I Hate Children Children's Show and won huge awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Paul also talks about leaving Hollywood A-Listers behind to become a street performer and how he ended up running his own theatre in San Francisco. As well as telling amazing stories from his life on the road, Paul reveals that he has just bought a new mansion in the States that could become a new Mecca for magical performances. 

He's performed for the Queen, the UN, Richard Branson and even celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and this week he joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his amazing career. Chris Dugdale also talks about his performance on Penn & Teller Fool Us that ITV described as having the best ending to a TV magic trick ever and currently has more than 5 MILLION views on YouTube. We also chat about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Chris' new book XYA and his upcoming television programme.

Multi-faceted magician, cabaret superstar, actor and pianist Neil Kelso joins us this week. He discusses being named 1 of the Top 10 cabaret performers in the UK, his brand new show I Draw Clouds (which has its London debut this Wednesday), studying at  L'Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles under the tutelage of juggling legend Arcadii Poupon at aged just 8 and the role mass genocide in Argentina has had in forming him as a performer. We also play a game of Dr Kelso or Professor Kelso, for those that are already thinking about the popular character from TV show Scrubs. 

Canadian stand-up comedian Byron Bertram joins Talking Tricks to discuss performing all over the world in comedy clubs and at arts festivals. He also chats about his start in the industry as a street juggler and escapologist, sports and sport-based comedy and his television and movie career as a serious actor/ token bad guy.

Charlie Caper joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his amazing rise from Covent Garden street performer to being crowned one of the greatest magicians in the world at the 'magic olympics' FISM and being the first magic act to win a Got Talent series. Caper also chats about 3D printing chocolate, building and integrating robots in his new show Artifice Intelligence, his time in La Soiree, Rick & Morty and his inspirations.

On October 31st 1926, the world's most famous magician and escapologist Harry Houdini died after being punched in the stomach a few days earlier.On the anniversary of his death magicians hold seances to attempt to contact the spirt of the great Houdini. As a Talking Tricks Halloween special we gather with our good friend and fellow magician Neil Kelso to make our attempt at contacting the other side. Before this seance, we conduct a light-hearted quiz on the life, times and death of Houdini.