The College of Magic finalists in the Magicana Junior Magic Championships. PICTURE: Daniel Rutland Manners.
The College of Magic’s Magicana Junior Magic Championships will take place on Saturday September 28 at the Homecoming Centre in District Six.
The competition brings together the best and brightest young performers, ready to showcase their mastery of magic in front of a live audience.
“We're incredibly proud of the young talent that will be taking the stage at this year's championships,” says Chad Findlay, creative director at the College of Magic.
“This event is the culmination of a series of preliminary contests and will be a wonderful opportunity for these aspiring magicians to showcase their hard work and passion for the art. It's going to be a magical experience for participants and audiences alike.”
The championships consists of two events:
In this category, contestants will perform magic with everyday objects, turning the mundane into the mysterious with nothing more than their hands, a deck of cards, and an audience within arm’s reach. The stakes are high in this category, where there’s no room for error, and every move is scrutinised by eagle-eyed spectators.
“Close-up Magic is the ultimate test of a magician's skill,” says David Gore, training director at the College of Magic. “There’s an intimacy to it that you just don’t get with larger illusions - there’s no hiding behind smoke and mirrors here. Our young magicians have risen to the challenge, and I guarantee they’ll have the audience on the edge of their seats.”
Contestants will showcase their mastery of larger-than-life illusions, from levitation to making objects (and sometimes people) disappear.
“The Stage Magic contest is where our performers can really let their imaginations run wild,” says Gore.
“It’s not just about the tricks, it’s about the theatrics - the music, the costumes, the storytelling. These young magicians are not just performing; they’re creating a full-on experience that will leave the audience spellbound.”
Tickets for both events cost R120 through Quicket.