Debuting New Magic and Mind-Reading Show

On Wednesday 9th July I debuted a new show at a small exclusive theatre hidden in central Reading. Ok, although I say “new”, some of the material has been in my repertoire for quite a few years, some of it was material last performed almost 14 years ago, and some of it is existing material that had been reworked.

Oh, and of course plenty of new material.

Demonstrator of Extra-Sensory Curiosities

When booked for a 45 minute after-show at a corporate event or private party the buik of what I perform is my show called “Demonstrator of Extra-Sensory Curiosities“. The basis of this show really came together in 2011 when I performed a longer version of this show (two 45 minute halves for a full theatre audience) – although parts of it I had been performing before.

The main thing is the 2011 version of Demonstrator of Extra-Sensory Curiosities wasn’t just a bunch of tricks and routines, but it had been put together with a structure that followed an arc. This wasn’t a story arc that was openly narrated to the audience; but everything had a set place in the show, with routines flowing from one into the next – building to a logical – or rather illogical – conclusion. Well, actually that show had another layer so that even the conclusion had a conclusion.

The problem is doing a show of two 45 minute halves isn’t something that can be performed easily to a corporate audience for as an after-dinner show, when a single 45 minutes is required. Therefore the show got trimmed down, until the real core 40/45 minutes remained, without losing the thread that holds the show together. And over the years that 45 minute set got tighter and tighter.

Games Night

The problem is when you have a good show people want you back again, and they want a new show. Therefore in 2023 I introduced a new show called “Games Night“. This was the fruition of an idea I had had about five or six years previously. I had the elements of the show kicking around my head, but it wasn’t until 2022 I managed to tame these wild thoughts into a 45 minute cabaret show.

Again, there is a thread that runs through the show to create the unspoken narrative. The basis of Games Night is that my skills as a magician and mindreader are used to win at games. Not high-stakes poker, but games people would play as a child. Of course, just having a run of games that I win at doesn’t make for an interesting show; so I was pretty pleased when I realised how I could tie it together with building impossibility and an unseen twist that leaves the audience stunned.

I won’t say anymore.

Magician And Mind-Reader

However, late in 2024 I was performing at a show and beforehand talking to other magicians there that evening. I won’t say who said what, but an offhand comment stuck with me, and forced me to revisit what I was performing; and if anything put together a show that features the magic and mindreading that I would want to watch, not put together to please corporate audience.

Therefore I decided to call this new show simply “Robert Bone, Magician and Mind-Reader“, and explores the difference between skill and intuition.

This show (in it’s original format) goes back to two 45 minute halves, the first half concentrating on the Skill element. Here we explore the use of sleight-of-hand; where although it appears magical, the adult mind knows in reality a combination of skill and dexterity is be utilised to create the impossibilities the audiences witness. As this progresses the types of skills vary, but culminate to a conclusion that can still be explained.

The second half then goes on to explore intuition. As someone gets more skilled and experienced in any activity they naturally get to the point where they can almost predict the outcome. This isn’t extra-sensory perception, but the unconscious picking up subtle signals and processing them. After also most 20 years as a professional I’ve found that some coincidences happen a lot more often than they mathematically should. In essence, you create your own luck.

This second half culminates with a spectator using their own subconscious abilities.

Although I was aware of a few teething problems, these were more on the technical side of the stagecraft (such as having the pen I needed on stage-left, when I’m standing stage-right!) Overall the show went down very well and in the days and weeks afterwards I had a run of 5 Star Reviews

The plan is to put on more public shows that are full evening format (with two 45 minute halves); but also have a version where the first half isn’t performed from the stage, but close-up as I mingle with the audience around the tables or bar, concluding with the 45 minute show.

The final option is to do a condensed version – like I did with the original Demonstrator of Extra-Sensory Curiosities show – where the show fits within a single 45 minute slot. (Actually, this can be done quite easily without detriment to the integrity of the show.) This may not be so suitable for corporate audiences, but will work great to parties or as a parlour style show.

You can read the reviews of this show here: https://robertbone.co.uk/magician-and-mind-reader-live-show-reviews/

If you would like to find out more about my shows and how you can have them at your event please drop me an email: [email protected], and see the page on corporate cabaret.