Talking Tricks with Kane & Abel

EDINBURGH NIGHTS: FRINGE PREVIEW

Kane & Abel are joined by Man of Mischief Mark Watson to preview the 72nd Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

We give you our top tips on the best magic, cabaret, comedy, musicals, children's shows and theatre on offer this year. We also randomly flick through the guide and highlight shows that standout.

Also, get top tips on where to eat during the festival.

MAGIC SINGH

Magic Singh talks performing magic at 10 consecutive Glastonbury festivals, the problems that come with using knives and paint ball guns in magic, marketing yourself on Instagram and becoming an influencer, weddings and corporate gigs, his inspirations and TV appearances from the Friday Night Project to Thai breakfast TV and his TEDx Talk.

Singh also tells us what one dish he would have if washed up on a desert island and much more.

DESSERT ISLAND DISHES

We’ve washed up some of our favourite magicians, comedians and variety performers on a desert island and given them just one dessert for the rest of their lives.

Find out what delicious puddings Talking Tricks alumni Paul Dabek, Ben Hart, Charlie Caper, Ava Beaux, Maggie Fayne, Magic Sam Hurst, Steve Dela, Neil Kelso, Katie Pritchard and Elliot Bibby would have if stranded on our fictional dessert island.

Also, Ed Kane teaches you how to make all ten of these delicious dessert island dishes.

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Ahead of their six performances at Glastonbury Festival this week, Kane & Abel are joined by genuine festival punter David Lowe to preview everything the festival has to offer.

Find out the top tips for who to watch from the world of music, magic, comedy, cabaret, circus and variety during the five-day festival on Worthy Farm.

Hear festival memories from comedian and magician Steve Best, magician Paul Nathan and Alex Oddball from the world's largest juggling company Oddballs. Also, get all the top tips on travel, weather, food and drink and festival survival tips and hear about potential secret sets.

Plus what to do if you accidentally walk off the festival site or get caught short in the toilet queue. 

 

 

 

 

STEVE BEST

Steve Best joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his 30-year career as a magician, comedian and photographer.

Best discusses the biggest changes in the industry during his career, touring with the likes of Frank Skinner and Harry Hill, nearly suing Joe Pasquale, getting his start playing guitar and performing magic in a bar in Cyprus, touring the world and TV.

He also talks about his amazing photographs that have spawned two books, multiple exhibitions and even hang in the Saatchi Gallery.

 

 

MARK WATSON: MAN OF MISCHIEF

Man of Mischief and juggler and magician extraordinaire Mark Watson joins us to tell his incredible journey from overworked London City banker to full-time professional performer.

Hear how magic legend Paul Daniels inspired both his interest in magic and led to him studying business and becoming a chartered accountant and banker before a holiday to the Edinburgh Fringe encouraged him to go full time in magic and variety.

Mark also talks the problems with sharing a name with another performer more famous than you, starting street performing in Covent Garden, his love of pantomime and his family's history of running the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth, how The Masked Magician boosted his love of magic and much more.

If you are thinking about quitting your day job then this is a must listen. Mark also spills the beans on his Edinburgh Fringe show Living the Dream and his insane schedule during last year's festival.

DOM CHAMBERS

Australian magician Dom Chambers joins us to talk performing his beer production magic act on Penn & Teller Fool Us, his upcoming appearance on the new season of America's Got Talent and what it is like being a professional magician in Australia.

Dom won the Best Magic Show award at this year's Adelaide Fringe Festival and he talks about his good and bad experiences at the world's second largest arts festival, as well as the southern hemisphere's other big festivals in Melbourne and Perth.

Dom also chats about his inspirations, originality in magic and his upcoming return performance at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and much more. 

MAGICAL BONES

Magical Bones joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his incredible magic career including a worldwide tour with Impossible and his own TV series Around the World in 80 Tricks.

He talks about starting his performance career as a hip-hip B-boy dancer on the streets in London, stage and in music videos for Madonna and other global mega popstars, how renting his local theatre helped springboard him into all his success, performing at the Underbelly on the Southbank and his upcoming Edinburgh Fringe debut solo magic show Black Magic.

He discusses the history and culture of black magicians and the influence it has on his live show and much more.

THE MOST ICONIC ANIMALS IN MAGIC AND CIRCUS

On Talking Tricks, we assemble a crack team of magic experts to discuss the most iconic and notorious animals in magic history.

Learn about the most famous animals in magic and variety including tigers, ducks, chickens, goldfish, otters, snacks, doves, horses and octopus. Also hear the stories from the biggest names in magic and variety such as Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, David Blaine, Mac King and Norman Barrett MBE.

We also talk about the origin of the rabbit from the hat trick and the death of The Great Lafayette, plus Ed Kane tells us how to kill and cook your own food.

We also debate the ethics of using animals in a variety act and whether wooden or puppet animals are better than the real thing in theatre.

KATIE PRITCHARD // MUSICAL COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR

Katie Pritchard is the brand new recipient of the Musical Comedy Award and she joins us to talk all about winning this prestigious award.

She chats about what the award means and what she actually gets, as well as performing multiple shows at the Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Cambridge Fringe and the Leicester Comedy Festival. She also answers questions off the back page of old NME magazines and discusses the stresses and rewards  behind running her own comedy night My Mates Jokes Brings The Folks To The Yard and much more!