Opening @ Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 29 Jun – Fri 6 Jul

This year’s Edinburgh International Magic Festival once again unveils a spectacular line up from eight countries including France, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Ukraine and the UK. With over 30 performers presenting logic-defying stunts designed to engage, thrill and entertain, this year is set to be bigger and better than ever before.

MagicFest opens in a burst of paper butterflies, signifying the ‘metamorphosis from a fledgling festival into an event that is now a highly anticipated fixture of the Edinburgh Festival’s calendar’. The Lyceum’s Opening Night Gala showcases some of the world’s top magicians and illusionists; audiences will be treated to performances by Voronin, Les Chapeaux Blancs, Pierre Xamin (as well as many more). The Lyceum also hosts the first event on the 30th of June, Voyageurs Egarés by Jérôme Helfenstein and Claude Brun. Drawing inspiration from the circus, the two men take audiences through their story which is set to be enthralling for all ages.

For 11-14 year olds interested in wowing their friends they can head along to the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the 1st or 2nd of July to attend the Street Magic Master Class. Lasting approximately five and a half hours, the class promises a day of learning from Card Ninja (Jav Jarquin) who will unleash true secrets from the trade.

For all those who were avid followers of the recent BBC show Sherlock, Britain’s Got Talent star Colin McLeod brings Sheer Luck? to MagicFest on the 30th of June at the SSC. Taking inspiration from Holmes’ deductive powers, McLeod will attempt to imitate his apparently fictional skills and find out everything he can about the audience.

Artistic Director Kevin McMahon hopes to ‘inspire the audience in every show and to spotlight Magic: the ‘Art of the Impossible’, like no other event on a national scale’. After seeing the line up, this doesn’t seem impossible. Don’t let this event flutter past your diary this June.

LISTINGS:

Magic and Variety Gala Show
Fri 29 June 2.30pm & 7.00pm
The Royal Lyceum Theatre
2.30pm (Preview) • All tickets £10
7pm • £20/£16 adults, £16/£12 conc, £10 child
Duration: 2hr 30mins with interval
Ages 5+

Voyageurs Egarés– an unavoidable trip into an imaginary world
Jérôme Helfenstein, Claude Brun
Sat 30 June 2.30pm
The Royal Lyceum Theatre• £15 adults/ £12 conc/ £5 child
Duration: 60mins
Ages 5+

Magic Dinner
Sat 30 June 7.00pm
The Royal Scots Club • £50 per person • Discounts available for groups 10+
Duration: approx 3hr 30mins
Over 18’s only

Magic School
One-off Magic School Workshop • £15
Sat 30 June – Sun 1 July
10.00am OR 1.30pm
5-Day Magic School • £75
Mon 2 July – Fri 6 July
10.00am OR 1.30pm
Duration: approx 2hr 30min
Sandeman House Ages 7-10

Street Magic Master Class
Sun 1 July – Mon 2 July 11.30am
The Scottish Storytelling Centre (the Bothy) • £35
Duration: approx 5hr 30min
Ages 11-14

Javier Jarquin “CARD NINJA: ReDeal”
Sun 1 July 7.00pm
The Scottish Storytelling Centre • £12/£10 conc/£5 child
£30 family ticket available (2 adults and 2 children)
Duration: 50mins
Ages 5+

Colin McLeod “Sheer Luck?”
Sat 30 June 12.00pm
The Scottish Storytelling Centre • £12/£10 conc/£5 child
Duration: 55mins
Ages 12+

War of the Wizards Under 18’s
Sun 1 July 11.00am (Duration: 60mins)
Open War of the Wizards
Sun 1 July 2.00pm (Duration: 90mins)
The Scottish Storytelling Centre • £5/£3 conc
Ages 10+

Matthew J Dowden “Magic of the Movies”
Sat 30 June – Sun 1 July 5.00pm
Tue 3 July – Fri 6 July 7.00pm
The Scottish Storytelling Centre • £10/£8 conc/£5 child
£25 family ticket available (2 adults and 2 children)
Duration: 60mins
Ages 5+

Bruce Glen “The Gentleman Magician”
Sat 30 June – Fri 6 July (except Mon 2 July) 8.30pm
The Scottish Storytelling Centre • £10/£8 conc/£5 child
£25 family ticket available (2 adults and 2 children)
Duration: 50mins
Ages 10+

John Archer “Forget about the Tricks”
Wed 4 July – Thu 5 July 7.30pm
Traverse Bar Café • £12/ £10 conc
Duration: 60mins
Ages 12+

Colour Ham
Colin McLeod, Kevin McMahon, Gavin Oattes
Thu 5 July 8.30pm
Voodoo Rooms • £12/ £10 conc
Duration: 55mins
Over 18’s only

Lewis Barlow “As Close As You Can”
Sat 30 June – Fri 6 July 7.00pm
The Vault • £10/£8 conc/£5 child
Duration: 50mins
Ages 7+

Michael Neto “UPCLOSE”
Sat 30 June – Fri 6 July 8.30pm
The Vault • £10/£8 conc/£5 child
Duration: 50mins
Ages 10+

Four Nations Magic-Off
Fri 6 July 10.00pm
Traverse Bar Café • £15/ £12 conc
Duration: till late!
Over 18’s only