"The art of the magician is to create wonder" - Doug Henning

Join us for an exceptional evening of magic and astonishment, with captivating storytelling, incredible mind reading, elegant visual magic, and pure sleight of hand.

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Hosted at The Berliner, a cosy cocktail bar in Nottingham, and home to The Curious Cabaret, each month the show features an ensemble cast of tricksters.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early and will be able to purchase drinks and food from the venue with the show starting promptly at 8PM.

VIP Guests will receive a welcome cocktail or soft drink upon arrival, have priority seating, and have an additional close up magic performance prior to the show starting.

The show is an interactive performance for 30 guests, lasting 90 minutes including an interval.*

After the show guests are welcome to remain behind in the bar area to enjoy more drinks, meet the performers, and discuss the impossible feats that they have just experienced.

*As the show develops the format may change slightly over time.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

THIS MONTH

Headlining this month’s show the incredible Yollin Lee - a multi award winning artist, receiving prizes in the France, Spain, and Korea and most recently in the UK, The Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year 2025 for Manipulation. He is a master of sleight of hand, performing a style of magic known as manipulation, prepare to experience an effortlessness and elegance of magic that will convince you that what you are watching is real.

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Debuting part of his new show "100 magicians and 1 spectator" at The Curious Cabaret, the mysterious Matt Clewley.

Technique - Applying methods across disciplines - A practical lecture for magicians - with Yollin Lee

A practical workshop for magicians - TICKETS £20 (£15 Student) - please note that ticket numbers are limited.

This month's workshop will focus on techniques used in manipulation and how these techniques can be applied to other disciplines of magic. We will spend time discussing; skills for palming, flourishing, and production; the choreography and psychology necessary for body loads covering thinking on timing, misdirection, and systems for hold outs; focussing the attention to highlight the moment of magic; and finally some thoughts on presentation and how to create variety.

About Yollin Lee

A multi award winning artist, receiving prizes in the UK, France, Spain, and Korea, Yollin Lee is a master of sleight of hand from Korea. Performing a style of magic known as manipulation, prepare to experience an effortlessness and elegance of magic that will convince you that what you are watching is real. Most recently he was the winner of the Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year 2025 for Manipulation.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

THIS MONTH

Alex McAleer possesses the uncanny ability to apparently tap into his audiences' minds and read their thoughts at will. Drawing on a mixture of expertise in psychology, unique mentalism techniques, and masterful analysis of audience members, Alex combines contemporary mind reading with sharp wit and a flair for showmanship.

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A fan favourite of The Curious Cabaret and back this month the jaw dropping-ly magical and diabolically funny, Tom Wright combining a daft and satirical sense of humour with visual magic and impossible acts. Imagine what would happen if Peter Kay, Morecambe & Wise, Leslie Nielsen, and Lee Mack had written a sketch comedy magic act and you wouldn’t be far off.

Drama & Deception: Enticing people to fool themselves - (A full day workshop for magicians with Tom Stone)

Even though magic is one of the dramatic arts, we rarely do any conscious work with the dramatic building blocks we have access to, and that is giving us an unnecessary handicap - because through the understanding of story, we can create magic where the audience voluntarily chooses to fool themselves. And by ”story” we mean structure and emotion rather than script and storytelling.

In this full day workshop we are going to work hands-on, exploring things like: Foreshadowing, callbacks, false-narratives, dramatic structures, deceptive structures, honesty in deception, and emotional content.

At the end of the day, you will know how to quickly build an intriguing routine, act or full-evening show that will appear well thought-out. And you will have an understanding of what makes an audience willing to trick themselves.

There are ONLY 18 PLACES available to ensure the quality of experience and teaching for all delegates.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS  - £180  -  ON SALE from 15.10.24 until 28.10.24 and includes breakfast, lunch, and refreshments.

GENERAL REGISTRATION  - £225 -  ON SALE from 29.10.24 -and includes breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. 

At the end of the day there will also be the opportunity to join us for dinner and social time to carry on discussions about the art and performance of magic with the venue TBC closer to the time.

Our second show of the month with magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

THIS MONTH

To dub Nikola Arkane a Magic Close-up Champion is not hyperbole – in recent years she has won several prestigious conjuring competitions. Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland she has managed to captivate audiences and viewers across the world with a unique, fresh and theatrical style of magic.

Nikola Arkane has been a regular guest performer at international venues like The Chicago Magic Lounge’s Virtual Cocktail hour, Monday Night Magic in New York, The Amsterdam Magic Show and has performed several times and been the headliner for The Magic Castle’s virtual magic shows on behalf of The Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood.

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Alternating between subtle humour and passionate drama, sometimes from moment to moment, and sometimes in the same breath, Tom Stone, a magician who plays with what we see, and with what we think we see. His great passion for magic as an art form, his respect for its roots and its old masters, and his talent for dissecting human cognition and perception – and his ability to twist and turn the parts and put them together into something completely new, have given him recognition and respect from professional magicians around the world.

Joining us all the way from Stockholm, Sweden…Tom is a performer not to be missed!

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

THIS MONTH

To dub Nikola Arkane a Magic Close-up Champion is not hyperbole – in recent years she has won several prestigious conjuring competitions. Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland she has managed to captivate audiences and viewers across the world with a unique, fresh and theatrical style of magic.

Nikola Arkane has been a regular guest performer at international venues like The Chicago Magic Lounge’s Virtual Cocktail hour, Monday Night Magic in New York, The Amsterdam Magic Show and has performed several times and been the headliner for The Magic Castle’s virtual magic shows on behalf of The Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood.

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Alternating between subtle humour and passionate drama, sometimes from moment to moment, and sometimes in the same breath, Tom Stone, a magician who plays with what we see, and with what we think we see. His great passion for magic as an art form, his respect for its roots and its old masters, and his talent for dissecting human cognition and perception – and his ability to twist and turn the parts and put them together into something completely new, have given him recognition and respect from professional magicians around the world.

Joining us all the way from Stockholm, Sweden…Tom is a performer not to be missed!

Connection - Bridging the gap - A practical lecture for magicians - with Nikola Arkane

A practical workshop for magicians - TICKETS £20 (£15 Student) - please note that ticket numbers are limited.

Multi Award winning artist Nikola Arkane is no stranger to performance. Over years of performing magic professionally she has developed many unique characters (both for children and adults) that rely, not just on the magical effects she chooses to perform but the atmosphere she creates in order to bring audiences into her world of magic.

Nikola believes that magic as an art form is so much more interesting when a genuine human connection is made. For this to happen we performers must be more aware of how and what we are communicating.

Rather than performing to an audience Nikola hopes you will gain an awareness in this workshop how to begin thinking independently from your material so that you can enjoy performing with your audiences.

For one night only! - An evening of theatrical close up magic - featuring all the thrill of a theatrically produced show but with the intimacy of close up magic performed right before your eyes and in your own hands.

For the first time we will be hosting a show that features 10 magicians, each performing short, but incredible acts that incorporate sleight of hand, visual magic, and mind reading.

There will be an interval and food and drinks can be purchased from the venue as normal.

This show is free but there are a limited number of seats and is by GUEST LIST only, so if you would like to be added to the list please register interest below.

Also please note that photography and video will be recorded for the duration of the whole show.

Our second show of the month with magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

Mathew Knight debuts at this month’s show with a brand new and sensational stage act for 2025 that is driven by a simple yet intriguing idea…that real magic exists within the realm of our perception. Expect to witness astonishing visual magic, incredible impossibilities, and unbelievable coincidences that defy reality.

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A fan favourite of The Curious Cabaret and headlining this month the jaw dropping-ly magical and diabolically funny, Tom Wright combining a daft and satirical sense of humour with visual magic and impossible acts. Imagine what would happen if Peter Kay, Morecambe & Wise, Leslie Nielsen, and Lee Mack had written a sketch comedy magic act and you wouldn’t be far off.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

THIS MONTH

Mathew Knight debuts at this month’s show with a brand new and sensational stage act for 2025 that is driven by a simple yet intriguing idea…that real magic exists within the realm of our perception. Expect to witness astonishing visual magic, incredible impossibilities, and unbelievable coincidences that defy reality.

————

A fan favourite of The Curious Cabaret and headlining this month the jaw dropping-ly magical and diabolically funny, Tom Wright combining a daft and satirical sense of humour with visual magic and impossible acts. Imagine what would happen if Peter Kay, Morecambe & Wise, Leslie Nielsen, and Lee Mack had written a sketch comedy magic act and you wouldn’t be far off.

Actor - Acting tips and tricks - A Practical Workshop for Magicians

A practical workshop for magicians - TICKETS £20 (£15 Student) - please note that ticket numbers are limited.

"A conjurer is not a juggler; he is an actor playing the part of a magician; an artist whose fingers have more need to move with deftness than with speed. I may even add that where sleight-of-hand is involved, the quieter the movement of the performer, the more readily will the spectators be deceived."
-- Robert Houdin, Secrets of Conjuring and Magic, 1868

Some magicians may choose to perform as themselves, others a heightened version of themselves, and still others a completely fictious character. However, no matter which style of performance best suits a magician, an ability to act is necessary to sell the illusion that is being displayed.

In this practical workshop, we will explore exercises and techniques that will help you to develop compelling characters and story through the use of facial expressions, body language, and emotion. Furthermore we explore the use of character acting to motivate methodology and help you to become more comfortable and confident performing in front of audiences.

Our second show of the month with magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the incredible mind reading of Aaron Calvert, and the delightfully goofy magic of Sam Fitton.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the incredible mind reading of Aaron Calvert and the delightfully goofy magic of Sam Fitton.

Structure - Closing the loop - A practical seminar for magicians - with Sam Fitton

A practical seminar for magicians - TICKETS £20 (£15 Student) - please note that ticket numbers are limited.

In this interactive seminar we’ll be ‘closing the loop’ on much loved routines by using storytelling techniques, scripting, magic and special effects to elevate performance & create satisfying conclusions to acts.

The session will involve group work, collaborative thinking and discussion as well as ideas generation, plotting, and getting creative both mentally & physically. This is for magicians looking to develop their onstage persona, devise original routines and perform well rounded acts that make sense of the magic.

Bring a pad & pen. The bigger the better.

Our second show of the month with magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the suave and sophisticate Chris Dodd and Bavaria’s #1 Mind Reader (within his own price bracket) - Klause Fantastiche.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the suave and sophisticated Chris Dodd and the incredible mind reading of Paul Draper (USA).

Scripting - A conversational Q&A and practical advice for scriptwriting - with Paul Draper

A practical lecture for magicians - TICKETS £20 (limited availability)

As a master magician, University professor and lecturer, Paul will use his breadth of knowledge and experience to help use to write better and richer scripts for performance.

Unlike conventional lectures, this will be a conversational Q&A where Paul will answer questions provided by the audience on topics the attendees would like to discuss. This class will be therefore participant driven so we encourage you to come with your own questions.

Our second show of the month with magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the enchanting Ava Beaux and the hilariously silly Sam Fletcher.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the enchanting Ava Beaux and the hilariously silly Sam Fletcher.

How to inject original comedy into your act with the one and only… Sam Fletcher

A practical workshop for magicians - TICKETS £20 (limited availability)

Join professional comedy writer, performer and magician, Sam Fletcher, as he shares the secrets of joke writing, and shows you how to inject comedy and humour into your act. He will reassure you that you don’t have to be naturally funny to bring comedy into your magic, and will provide you with tools to add humour and silliness into all kinds of magic routines, from close-up to stage!

Our second show of the month for an evening of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the hilarious Griffin & Jones and the fiendishly brilliant Marc Oberon and Emily Yarrow: The Oberons.

Our monthly show of magic, comedy and cocktails. Join us at The Berliner in Beeston for a sensational evening of phenomenal magic with magicians from all over the world!

This month featuring the hilarious Griffin & Jones and the fiendishly brilliant Marc Oberon and Emily Yarrow: The Oberons.

Creation - Creating your own original material or show - with Griffin & Jones

A practical lecture for magicians - TICKETS £20 (limited availability)

Full of effects from their own working stage repertoire, in this lecture, Griffin and Jones will teach you how to create and develop your own signature routines. These are not off the self or off the top of their head tricks, these are routines and ideas that have been honed over many years and in front of real audiences. But if you’re not a stage performer, fear not, Griffin and Jones will show you how these routines can and do work for close-up workers. (And obviously you don’t need to be a double act to make them work!)

The Curious Cabaret bringing you an evening of magic, comedy and cocktails courtesy of Peggy’s Skylight , Nottingham and, hosted by Member of The Magic Circle, Chris Wilder - two thirds professional wizard, one quarter magical idiot, and the remaining three eighths mathematical genius!

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Fernando Figueras

Joining us this month, from Spain - Fernando Figueras who is known for his minimalistic, witty, and conceptual approach to mentalism and embodies the Spanish School of Magic in his thinking and performance. Prepare to be delighted and captivated by a true master of mind reading!

"Fernando is a place with many corners and nooks. Intelligent and literate as his mentalism. Interesting and playful as his ideas. And powerful and fresh as his life. All of this can be felt in each of his acts.” - Miguel Ángel Gea

LINEUP CHANGE

Romany - Diva off Magic is no longer able to join us for this show and will be replaced on the bill by Taylor Morgan and Rebecca Foyle.

Romany will appear in the show at a later date - we apologise for any inconvenience.

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Wowing audiences all over the world with his unique style of elegant visual magic and her amazing circus and variety skills, Taylor Morgan & Rebecca Foyle will be joining The Curious Cabaret this month.

Individually they are both accomplished performers; Taylor represented the UK in the 2024 European Championships of Magic and was awarded the prize for atmospheric magic at the 2023 Spanish Championships, Rebecca has showcased her incredible skill at world renowned venues and is a resident performer at The Magic Circle in London, and the World Famous Hippodrome Circus. As a double act they bring together the mystery of magic and the excitement of the circus that is guaranteed to keep their audience enthralled.

The Curious Cabaret bringing you an evening of magic, comedy and cocktails courtesy of Peggy’s Skylight , Nottingham and, hosted by Member of The Magic Circle, Chris Wilder - two thirds professional wizard, one quarter magical idiot, and the remaining three eighths mathematical genius!

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Fernando Figueras

Joining us this month, from Spain - Fernando Figueras who is known for his minimalistic, witty, and conceptual approach to mentalism and embodies the Spanish School of Magic in his thinking and performance. Prepare to be delighted and captivated by a true master of mind reading!

"Fernando is a place with many corners and nooks. Intelligent and literate as his mentalism. Interesting and playful as his ideas. And powerful and fresh as his life. All of this can be felt in each of his acts.” - Miguel Ángel Gea

LINEUP CHANGE

Romany - Diva off Magic is no longer able to join us for this show and will be replaced on the bill by Taylor Morgan and Rebecca Foyle.

Romany will appear in the show at a later date - we apologise for any inconvenience.

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Wowing audiences all over the world with his unique style of elegant visual magic and her amazing circus and variety skills, Taylor Morgan & Rebecca Foyle will be joining The Curious Cabaret this month.

Individually they are both accomplished performers; Taylor represented the UK in the 2024 European Championships of Magic and was awarded the prize for atmospheric magic at the 2023 Spanish Championships, Rebecca has showcased her incredible skill at world renowned venues and is a resident performer at The Magic Circle in London, and the World Famous Hippodrome Circus. As a double act they bring together the mystery of magic and the excitement of the circus that is guaranteed to keep their audience enthralled.

Synthesis - A Practical Lecture for Magicians
TICKETS £20 (limited availability)

In this practical lecture, Fernando Figueras will ask challenging questions and help us to think critically about our own performances, proposing ways to better include our audiences and to create deeper and richer experiences for them. If you are a close up performer or a stage performer, this is a topic that is relevant to all.

The lecture will focus on five key themes:

1 Openers in Magic

How to define an opener and how to make it coherent?

2 Cause and Effect

Defining cause and effect, exploring common confusions, and creative exercises.

3 Choices - Magic & Video games

Are the choices we offer our spectators morally or dramatically relevant? Do they provoke an emotional response? Or are they random empty choices?

4 Evident and Obscure

The artist expresses ideas, looking for a sweet spot between being obvious and being obscure. How do we use metaphors smartly?

5 Magic Dopamine and Testosterone

A study of the biological process of surprise. Proposing an easy model to turn intellectual focused tricks into emotional centred routines.

As part of the "Stagecraft" series of lectures and workshops, this event is designed for magicians wishing to develop professionally. There will be practical activities and the opportunity for questions and answers. There are a limited number of places available.

FURTHER DETAILS

Drinks and hot food will be available from the bar before and after the event.

A number of us will be meeting for food at the venue before the event and at the end there will also be the opportunity to hang out at the bar and session with other magicians.

It would be useful to bring a notebook and pen.

Timings

Arrival from 17:00 if you would like to come for food and to hang our before the lecture begins at 19:00

19:00 - Part 1

20:00 - Short break

20:15 - Part 2

21:30 - Q&A

Transport & Parking

If you coming by tram, The Berliner is situated next to the Chilwell High Road Tram stop on the Toton Lane tram route and is about a 20 minute journey from Nottingham Train Station.

Arriving by car

If you are planning on driving, there is a car park opposite The Berliner but it is pay to park. There are also a number of side streets where you can park for free but please check the restrictions as they differ from street to street.

About Fernando Figueras

Fernando is an underground mentalist known for his minimalistic, witty, and conceptual approach to mentalism. He embodies the Spanish School of Magic in his thinking and performance and has spent 20 years in magic surrounded by the Spanish masters, who helped him translate the Spanish School of Magic concepts into the field of mentalism. He is the creator, organizer and main teacher of Campus Magico International, a learning project in Spain that is at the forefront of magic development.

"Fernando is a place with many corners and nooks. Intelligent and literate as his mentalism. Interesting and playful as his ideas. And powerful and fresh as his life. All of this can be felt in each of his acts.” - Miguel Ángel Gea

The Curious Cabaret bringing you an evening of magic, comedy and cocktails courtesy of Peggy’s Skylight , Nottingham and, hosted by Member of The Magic Circle, Chris Wilder - two thirds professional wizard, one quarter magical idiot, and the remaining three eighths mathematical genius!

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Max Francis is a professional comedy magician based in the UK, but whose work has taken him all over the globe performing everywhere from cruise ships, to corporate banquets, to cul-de-sacs in Cobham. In his own words, Max "does magic and jokes..." but in ours, Max is sure to have the whole audience giggling away at his hysterical antics whilst simultaneously asking of his magic "how did he do that?!”

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Alex McAleer possesses the uncanny ability to apparently tap into his audiences' minds and read their thoughts at will. Drawing on a mixture of expertise in psychology, unique mentalism techniques, and masterful analysis of audience members, Alex combines contemporary mind reading with sharp wit and a flair for showmanship.

The Curious Cabaret is back, bringing you an evening of legerdemain, laughter and libations, hosted by Member of The Magic Circle, Chris Wilder - Two thirds professional wizard, one quarter magical idiot, and the remaining three eighths mathematical genius!

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Max Francis is a professional comedy magician based in the UK, but whose work has taken him all over the globe performing everywhere from cruise ships, to corporate banquets, to cul-de-sacs in Cobham. In his own words, Max "does magic and jokes..." but in ours, Max is sure to have the whole audience giggling away at his hysterical antics whilst simultaneously asking of his magic "how did he do that?!”

--------------

Alex McAleer possesses the uncanny ability to apparently tap into his audiences' minds and read their thoughts at will. Drawing on a mixture of expertise in psychology, unique mentalism techniques, and masterful analysis of audience members, Alex combines contemporary mind reading with sharp wit and a flair for showmanship.

The Curious Cabaret bringing you an evening of magic, comedy and cocktails courtesy of Peggy’s Skylight , Nottingham and, hosted by Member of The Magic Circle, Chris Wilder - two thirds professional wizard, one quarter magical idiot, and the remaining three eighths mathematical genius!

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Mixing stand-up with physical comedy and magic, Sam Fletcher brings his original and unique flavour to this month’s line up at The Curious Cabaret.

Whether it is a dance involving an invisible dog, swallowing needles (and then regurgitating them back up) or making tea in the most inventive way, Sam will leave you in hysterics with his impressive illusions.

“No other show has made me smile so much this year” **** Independent 

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A master mentalist and collector of curious effect, The Unusualist is not your normal magician. He is the hilarious theatrical sensation from England with charismatic wit that's kooky, sassy and akin to if Dame Edna and John Cleese had a son with a magic wand.

He has delighted and mystified guests at private parties, member’s clubs, and in his sell-out cabaret show in London’s West End, for almost 20 years.