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MagicFest on BBC Scotland’s On The Road with Fred MacAulay

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The brand-new weekly magazine programme On The Road 2014 is a showcase of Scotland and looks at events and activities across the length and breadth of the country, reflecting what the nation is talking about in the year of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Homecoming Scotland.

VJP Media clients MagicFest featured on Monday’s show (23 June) on BBC One Scotland. Artistic Director Kevin McMahon spoke to the lovely Fred MacAulay about this year’s Edinburgh International Magic Festival and taught him a few tricks! 

If you missed it check out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b047p7gy/on-the-road-2014-episode-3

Open up to magic…Edinburgh International Magic Festival 2014

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Magic Festival 2014 - 03The fifth Edinburgh International Magic Festival will once again bring the most innovative and talented performers from all over the world to Edinburgh from 27 June – 4 July 2014. 

This year magic collides with theatre, science, comedy, history, sideshow, technology and psychology as performers from the widest fields of interest come together in Edinburgh to give festival goers the most magical experience possible.

In the Year of Homecoming Scotland, local magicians feature prominently in the main programme. Glasgow magician Michael Neto, who represented Scotland at FISM World Championships of Magic in 2012, brings his new theatre and magic production, in collaboration with Sonic Boom Theatre Company, to MagicFest. Harthill’s Colin Cloud is a master of deduction; he explores the snap judgements we all make about other people and life’s scenarios in his new show Forensic Mind Reader. Actor and magician Scott Smith from Edinburgh makes his MagicFest debut in the main programme. After a sell show at the Fringe last year, Scott performs at new venue MagicFest venue Adam House Theatre. London Magic Circle Competition finalist Billy Reid from Glasgow is one of the UK’s most devilishly brilliant close-up magicians and an expert sleight of hand artist.

For full programme and to book tickets visit www.magicfest.co.uk

Catch the Magic

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FREE PIC- Edinburgh Magic Fest 06As the fourth Edinburgh International Magic Festival casts its spell across the Capital, from 28 June – 5 July 2013, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the surreal magical world between fact and fiction.

Breath-taking illusions and awe inspiring magic from performers across Europe and as far afield as Australia will once again take you to the fun fringes of reality. Classic meets close-up, mindreading defies illusion, cabaret clashes with comedy and levitation renders the impossible possible.

The Magic and Variety Gala Show transforms the beautiful Royal Lyceum Theatre into world of unreality where the finest award winning magicians from around the world are joined by a dragon, a dule of doves and the world’s first magic performing Chihuahua! The Great Lafayette Award makes its third appearance; this year’s recipient is anyone’s guess in what bodes to be a superb evening of contemporary, cutting edge magic.

For more information and to book your tickets visit www.magicfest.co.uk

MagicFest Director Wins Magic Circle ‘Sonny Day Close-Up Competition’

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MagicFest’s Kevin McMahon was named the winner last night at The Edinburgh Magic Circle’s annual ‘Sonny Day Close-Up Magic Competition’. 

Kevin trained with Penn and Teller in Las Vegas during his appearance on Channel 4’s ‘Faking It’ which saw him fool Paul Daniels on national television. Now one of the UK’s most successful magicians, he is also the Artistic Director of The Edinburgh International Magic Festival which casts its spell across the Capital once again this summer. 

Performing his trademark modern, mind-blowing form of magic, as well as a few sleights by the late great Scottish magician John Ramsey, Kevin became the 19th winner of the trophy. Money appeared and disappeared into thin air, before a French themed finale to the song ‘La Vie En Rose’ (Louis Armstrong) when a coin was transformed into rose petals! Past winners include Doctor Peter Lamont, Paul Wilson (BBC Real Hustle), Lewis Barlow and Professor Richard Wiseman. 

Held at Myreside Pavillion, the competition is named after Sonny Day, a former member of the Edinburgh Magic Circle. It is now an annual competition and has been going since 1990. 

Magic Is In The Air!

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The Edinburgh International Magic Festival kicks off tomorrow in the Capital and over 30 magicians from 8 countries are making their way to the Festival Capital of the world.

Friday 29th June is opening night and MagicFest is delighted to have a sold out audience of magic lovers, press and special guests including the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop.

The Magic and Variety Gala Evening Show at the Royal Lyceum Theatre will also see the winner of the prestigious Great Lafayette Award announced to an annually nominated, respected magician in recognition of their contribution to live magic.

Still not bought your tickets? Bruce Glen, The Gentleman Magician puts it perfectly:

“Edinburgh is known as the world’s leading Festival city and magicians from around the world regard it as extremely prestigious to perform here. The Edinburgh International Magic Festival can now be mentioned in the same breath as the Edinburgh Festival and The Fringe – a great honour for the Art of Magic. The fact that Edinburgh is Europe’s most haunted city also makes it attractive to magicians…. we need all the help we can get!”

www.magicfest.co.uk

Catch the Magic…….

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Edinburgh International Magic Festival 2012 Programme launches on 25th April. Festival Director and Magician Kevin McMahon will perform one of the biggest illusions ever attempted in Scotland at one of Edinburgh’s most unexpected venues…..
Lothian Buses Central Depot!

Catch the Magic……www.magicfest.co.uk