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50th anniversary competition A MAGIC CIRCLE YOUTH INITIATIVE The Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year Competition is held every two years at The Magic Circle Headquarters, in the magnificent Centre for the Magic Arts near Euston Station. Competitors, aged between 14 and 18 years, have to present a stage act, suitable for family entertainment, lasting between eight and twelve minutes. They are judged on their technique and general ability, presentation and originality, appearance and personality and the routining and magical content of their act. Over the years, competing acts have covered a wide range of magic - manipulations, illusions, comedy, pure theatre and even mentalism - usually giving the judges a difficult job selecting the winner. In 2011, the heats will take place on May 8th and the Final on 31st July. The winner holds the title of "The Young Magician of the Year", and is awarded the Derrick Speight Trophy, admission to full Membership of The Magic Circle at the age of eighteen, with the entrance fee and annual subscription for the first four years of membership waived. |
Michael Jordon - The current winner |
Winners invariably go on to have successful careers in show business...'
In 2011, the Competition which has been held biennially since 1961, celebrates its 50th anniversary. It so far has produced 26 winners, (there have twice been joint winners) most of who have gone on to successful careers in entertainment - including the first winner, Johnny Hart, who in 1961 appeared at the London Palladium, subsequently presented his magic in Las Vegas for many years and now lives in Denmark where he advises on magic in films and television; Russ Stevens, joint winner in 1977, starred in the Mystique Illusion Show in Blackpool for nearly 8 years; Richard Cadell became a highly successful illusionist and is now Sooty’s presenter; Andrew O’Connor, who won in 1981, has developed a highly successful career, starring in the touring production of "Barnum", producing and presenting numerous TV shows and has recently made his film directorial debut; Dominic Wood took the title in 1995, going on to become a favourite children’s television presenter. More recently, Paul Dabek and Jonathan Shotton have both gone on to busy careers in magic and, in 2009, the title was taken by Michael Jordan, a rising star of magic, who now performs professionally on his own and as one half of the successful High Jinx illusion act.
Further information may be obtained from the Competition Secretary
Dr. C. M. Colley, M.I.M.C.
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