Magick Words

The world big-screen premiere of the horror short Woof will take place tomorrow during Sheffield’s acclaimed Horror Film Festival ‘Celluloid Screams’. I’ll be there on the red carpet with director Tim Smithies and my co-stars…

That’s Saturday 26 October at 1.15 p.m., accompanying the screening and director Q&A session of Lee Hardcastle’s ‘Claymania’ films. See http://www.celluloidscreams.co.uk for more details.

Incidentally, ‘Woof’ is in competition so be sure to give us your vote if you’re attending the festival. (If nothing else, it’s got to be the world’s first balloon-modelling based horror film…)

Dave Forrest (creator of Colour Burn, Trickery, Fandango and many other products and DVDs) will be lecturing at the Lounge on Monday 28 October. David is a close-up magician, owner of Full 52 Productions and partner with Owen Packard in Big Blind Media.

He came to magic rather late, at around 18 years of age, after buying Bob Longe’s book Great Card Tricks. His professional career began with the usual pub gigs fitted in around his day job as a graphic designer. Work began to grow so after being made redundant, David decided to become a full-time professional magician.

His creative interest led to him developing and selling the rights to some packet tricks before independently releasing his Card Through Window effect – CTW. This was very well received and its success led to the birth of David’s magic publication business Full 52. Since then he has continued to perform, lecture and develop a wide range of ingenious and acclaimed effects and publications.

This will be a lecture not to be missed by anyone interested in close-up magic. Doors open at 7:03 p.m. and the fun starts at 7:30. And will doubtless continue until Pete’s mobile rings or Adam essays a humorous comment… but will certainly resume immediately afterwards.

The venue is, of course, The Magick Lounge, 82 Broad Street, Sheffield, S2 5TG. Cost is free to members in good standing of the Sheffield Circle of Magicians, £10 for visitors. Chairs provided at attendees’ risk.

Note this is on Monday 28 October (not the usual Thursday!), and replaces the original advertised lecture.

They go by many names: Vampires, Nosferatu, The Dark Ones, the Children of the Night. They are the stuff of legend. They occupy our nightmares and fascinate our waking thoughts. But what is it really like to be a vampire? What is it like to exist in a world ruled by mortals? Over the course of one intense month, author Paul Voodini tracked down these vampires and interviewed them, finding out in fascinating, personal detail what it means to be a creature of the night. These are not the demonic creatures of horror films, nor the angst-ridden playthings of romantic novels. These are Vampires, and they are Survivors!

My copy of Paul’s The Vampire Survivors arrived a few days ago. The 156-page book is well produced and makes excellent night-time reading. (Just make sure you lock the doors — and windows — first.)

Be prepared to meet Nancy Beck, turned during a vampire feeding frenzy in a London hospital in 1851, who exchanged her newborn child for a dark, eternal life. And Jessica Cooper, turned as teenager and doomed to wait for ever for her lost love.

The monstrous Lady Jane Cunningham is definitely to be avoided, but you can’t help feeling a touch of tainted sympathy for the ‘natural-borns’ Aya and Dibs Varga, driven from their home in Budapest by Vatican sponsored vampire hunts.

And there’s Edwin Simone, turned on the Somme battlefield. Carlyle Dannennfesler from New York, turned in 1840 and now an investment banker. Georgina Strong, who solves for us the identity of Jack the Ripper.

The Vampire Survivors is available here, price £9.99.

If you caught it last year you’ll need little encourage to catch it again. Steve’s Fright Night Magic Show at Sheffield’s City Hall is a fitting climax to Britain’s biggest Halloween Carnival. You’ll experience a great evening of wonder, laughter and amazement with the finest and funniest from the world of magic. This year Steve is sharing the stage with Noel Britten and Rob James.

Noel Britten’s award winning act has earned him a solid reputation for comedy excellence on the global circuit, so don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to see him here in Sheffield.

“Has to be the funniest comedy Magician since Tommy Cooper… had everyone rocking with laughter.” – The Stage

“Noel Britten brilliantly combines very funny material and visual gags with abundant self-effacing charm.” – Channel 4

Rob James will be presenting one of the strongest magic acts you will ever see. Rob is a master of sleight of hand, presenting inexplicable illusions with humour and flair. From the House of Commons in London to the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Rob James is a veteran of over 2000 performances. Rob performed in Steve’s show two years ago and people are still talking about it!

“Rob James is a personable source of amazement” – Broadway Baby

“A superbly authoritative entertainer” – The Herald

Your host for the evening, award winning magician Steve Faulkner has spent the last twenty years performing his unique brand of comedy magic internationally. According to the promo for the show: “With a focus on highly skilled magic and humour, Steve’s unpretentious and relaxed style will leave you amazed, entertained and wanting to take him home for a cuddle.” Not sure about the last bit, speaking personally, but I can certainly confirm that Steve is one of the most entertaing and engaging performers around. His audience skills are a lesson for any performer.

“It’s great to see someone with real talent. We loved you!” Emma Thompson, Actress

Steve managed to blow my mind and made me re-assess my knowledge of magic.” Matt Helders, Arctic Monkeys.

Tickets for Steve’s Fright Night Show, priced at £10, are available online at www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk in person at the City Hall Box Office or by calling 0114 278 9789. The show is at 20:00 on Sunday 27 October, 2013, in the Memorial Hall.

Flesh Wound is the most gruesome, most graphic, most disgusting magic trick ever. Forget needle through arm. Forget eating fire. Capture their attention with something they’ll never forget.

Here’s what happens… Take a knife and cut straight into your forearm. Blood starts to ooze from the fresh wound as you cut.

After you’ve carved out a good chunk of your arm, you reach over to the wound and begin to peel the skin away until it hangs down as a loose flap! They can now see directly into the open wound.

And now for the best part… close the flap of skin and your arm visibly heals itself. Wipe away the excess blood and you’re as good as new. It’s absolutely unforgettable.

Flesh Wound offers three jaw dropping must-see surprises – you cut yourself and bleed. You then peel your skin back so spectators can see right into your arm. You then finish by completely healing yourself. If you like you can produce a coin, folded chosen card, or other object from the open wound….

Warning, choose your audience carefully for this effect.

Reset time is under a minute, and it works with any knife and any skin color. It includes the custom Flesh Wound prop designed by veteran Academy Award winning animator David Spafford. You also receive blood supplies plus a performance and explanation video-CD detailing the entire routine.

We have a further supply of Flesh Wound currently in stock at the bargain price of £32, post free. (Previously sold at £40.)