The Griffin Vol. 74 No. 2 December 2016 Free to Members Nadolig Llawen The Christmas Social Romany’s Sequin Theatre Podcast of the Month The Chester Guild of Magicians News Reviews And More Cylchlythyr Hud Gogledd Cymru The North Wales Magic Circular 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin In This Issue Vol 74 No 2 18 The Christmas Social I thought that went well. 20 Podcast of the Month The Magicians’ Podcast 21 The Chester Guild of Magicians How the other half lives. 23 Profile We welcome our new President Gatling, yes again. 25 In Review 3 From the Lectern 2 reviews by Coberman Thoughts you never wanted in a way you never wanted them. 29 Competition Rules 4 Hail to the Chief(s) They’ll be here before you know it. A seasonal message from our 32 Diary Presidents, Sarah and Jay Gatling. Keep up to date on what’s happening 5 Magic News in your society and others. What’s new in the world of magic and mystery. 8 Next NWMC Lecture Taz Marlowe talks entertaining little people (not leprechauns). 9 The Sequin Theatre How to build your own performance space, Romany style. 16 From the Vault A magical Christmas Carol 2 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin From the Lectern year, the time of year when magicians can feel both wanted and surplus to requirements at one and the same time. How do you feel professionally at Christmas? Write and let us know! I want a letters page like in the Leader! Which brings us on to... It will soon be the New Year and time for resolutions. Do you have one yet? How about a contribution to your friendly Dear Reader, neighbourhood Griffin? It takes Nadolig Llawen, Buon Natale, 400 words to fill a page, if Happy Chrimbo, Mele everyone resolved to write a page Kalikimaka, all of which means a worth of articles this year, that Merry Christmas to you! And my would be a lot less of my inanity gift is this special bumper issue, you’d have to spade through. you’re welcome to it. Even if you’d like to write but What, I wonder is on your don’t know what to write about! I Christmas list? Many of our have a list of suggestions as long favourite magic suppliers these as my arm. Do it for your fellow days run wish lists, a simple click man! Contact the Griffin at and you can save things you like [email protected] As ever, for future purchase. But did you I remain, know with a few extra clicks most of these wishes can be shared Your Faithful Servant with family and friends? It’s food for thought and could avoid Prof. Llusern another pair of argyle socks or those strange gift sets from Boots, Pp. Tesco et al. Then there only remains one question; have you been a good boy and/or girl? Chris Baglin Christmas is the magical time of Et Salve ad Iasonem Isaacs 3 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin Hail to the Chief(s) were we right? Check out the review further on. Outside of all this strange time travelling it’s Christmas time! A time of joy, family and magic. So, whether you’re celebrating at home with your loved ones, travelling the country and amazing all manner of folk with your incredible skills, or planning to party the night away with friends – we wish you a very merry, magical Christmas and reetings one and all. hope that Santa brings you all the G Our December Social has new tricks you desire. just passed and I’m sure that But of course this also means further on in these very pages a that 2017 is just on the horizon, a fine review of it shall be there for new and exciting year for the you to enjoy. But for us this is a North Wales Magic Circle. It is, strange thing to write, of course, our 75th year as we are doing so and there are some before this event has plans in motion to help come to pass. Such is celebrate this the weird and momentous occasion, wonderful world of a as well as all manner of monthly spot, both great meetings lined living in the past and up. So come on down future at the same time. folks, meet up with Guess my dreams of mates, learn something being Doctor Who have new and of course most become a reality in of all have fun. We’ll some strange way see you there. (Jay). All I can say for now is: I’m sure there will be some Allons-Y! awesome magic on display and a good night will be had by all; 4 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin Magic News The new date of the dinner dance is 25/11/2017 please adjust your diaries accordingly He’s Behind You One half of our President has been treading the boards across North Wales as the Spirit of the Circus in Magic Light’s 2017 Dinner Dance production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Interesting news for your diaries that highlights what a Jay, for it was he, was one of a member centred society we are. five strong company touring a The date of the dinner dance has number of venues up and down to been altered slightly due to a good reviews, one of which can member’s inability to attend the be read at www.asiw.co.uk original proposed date. Debbie informs the Griffin, “<He> has attended every single dinner in decades; hasn’t missed one.” Unfortunately the original date was the one he couldn’t make due to a previous engagement. “Rather than have him miss the first one in years, I asked around and everyone was to change the date.” The Griffin believes it speaks to the people centred nature of NWMC that we are willing and Youth Group able to make these Good news on the new youth accommodations for our section. Janet informs the Griffin, members. the members involved are just in the process of dotting i’s and 5 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin Magic News crossing t’s with the aim of Mulhern and Rochelle Humes the getting everything going in the show promises a competition New Year. Perhaps even before from thirty magic acts from all the next issue of the Griffin over the world over its six week comes out. So watch our social run. The acts themselves seem to media for a bit more. run the gamut of our art from the close-up to stage illusions, The Big Issue comedy and even spook show. You might think that such a Yes, the Griffin is a Biggie this variety may make the judging of month, in honour of it being the acts next door to impossible. Christmas. 32 Interesting pages But what makes this one stand out with news, reviews, articles and is that the judges are not a panel we hope to continue to provide of miscreants or the great you with top notch content. This unwashed but rather the other is where you all come in as, even contestants themselves. That’s if you can’t write yourselves, you right magicians are judging can at least send some magicians, which means of course constructive criticism our way. that the method as well as the Please get in touch at effect can be constructively [email protected] and let judged. It may come therefore as us know how we are doing! a surprise occasionally as to who gets through to the final. The Next Great Don’t worry if you missed an Magician on ITV1 episode so far. I believe all will be The Griffin welcomes the return available on catch up, on the ITV of a primetime magic show to our Hub Type this into your browser. screens. This time it is in the form http://tinyurl.com/griffinitv742 of The Next Great Magician. On Sunday evenings on ITV1 at 7pm, Stop Press: Vanish we see magicians compete (of Magazine course it has to be a competition, no such thing as a new format) for The Griffin has just discovered their own special on the channel. that the magic word’s premier free magic magazine is going Presented by Magician Stephen monthly. 6 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin Magic News edited by Paul Romahny, seems to be aiming to fill the gap left by Stan Allen’s decision to end Magic Magazine’s run after twenty five years. Romahny says the current issue will continue to be free from www.vanishmagic.com with a small charge for archival issues. So grab issues while they are free. All items are accurate at the time of going to press. We try our best but keep sometimes mistakes will creep in, please bear with us. Please address any complaints to British Airways, London Vanish magazine, which is N1 7 74.2/12.2016 The Griffin Our Next Lecture January 3rd 2017 group of people who volunteered their time, that travelled to Taz Marlowe different venues entertaining families and the elderly with Magic for Children magic comedy and singing. January’s monthly lecture will “Skip forward a few years I be given by Taz Marlowe of Taz became a qualified nursery nurse Entertainments. Taz and worked as a nursery nurse Entertainments are world famous and a nanny which helped me in Lancashire! Taz himself has understand how to entertain been performing magic and children and their humour.” entertaining children and adults Members: £5 since a very young age.