The Opening Gala for the Edinburgh International Festival of Magic at the Lyceum was one of those events that made you wish you’d spent less time learning what an isthmus is or dissecting the sonnets of Shakespeare and more time sitting alone in your room with that box of magic tricks your uncle gave you for Christmas.

Hosted with ebullient old school charm by mind magician and ukulele virtuoso John Archer this was a night of wonders all designed to draw oos, aahs and prolific applause from the crowd as some of the most impressive young magicians from the UK and around Europe dazzled, baffled and entertained.

The old school theme continued with the first two acts: sequinned glamour and disappearances were provided by Romany who also began the theme of audience participation, turning an ordinary Irishman into a wizard. She was followed by Matthew Dowden pulling cards and other objects from thin air with night club slickness, even managing to overcome the handicap of having a five year old helper for one of his tricks.

The highlight of the first half was undoubtedly the jaw-dropping illusions of Frenchman Xavier Mortimer. If you’ve seen live magic or even magic shows on TV then you might attempt to wrap your brain around card, coin or rope tricks – but what Mortimer produced was so outside the realm of reality as to be impressive and genuinely uncanny.

The second half kicked off with the feet juggling exploits of Antje Pode who did things with luggage you hope they never try at the airport. Scottish comedy magic duo The Colour Ham provided a few laughs – not least by licking Paul Daniels – before Rob James slowed things down with some beautifully presented classic illusions.

The final act of the night was another Frenchman Florian Sainvet who’s electro pop prestidigitation exploded in a riot of luminescent colours and flamboyant productivity with the stage strewn with dozens of abandoned cards and CDs plucked from the ether.

In addition to all the performance action going on, the night also saw the inaugural Great Lafayette award go to Paul Daniels. Although he’s been out of the spotlight for a while it was a well deserved accolade for a man who has directly or indirectly influenced many – not least those performing here – to take up a career in magic.

This was a great taster for this festival, showing the diversity of talent and approaches out there in the world of magic. From the conversations I overheard from the crowd as they left, it more than did its job in whetting their appetites for the week ahead and I suspect more than a few magic sets will be appearing under the tree this Christmas.