The Scottish Association of Magical Societies hosted their 70th magic convention last weekend in Largs as performers from all over the globe visited and even put on a special show at Barrfields.
It had guest lecturers and performances from international acts including Richard Wiseman who has worked with internationally famous illusionists David Copperfield and Derren Brown, to local performers from Paisley's Magic Circle.
The convention also held its long running and prestigious annual stage competition and close-up magic competition which has been running since 1952.
The winner of both was impressive trickster Josh Tevendale who is an exciting up and coming talent on the scene, and is much in demand, and about to head to America on some magical assignments.
Josh said: "I participated in both competitions and was fortunate enough to win both categories. I now hold the title for Scottish Stage Magician of the Year & Scottish Close-up Magician of the Year (2024).
"There were several other awards awarded and my local magic society 'Paisley Magic Circle' also won.
"The event has been held and honoured since the early 1950s and continues to this day. "There is a library, database and records of all winners, presidents and more details dating back to the 1950's, and it is wonderful to be added to this prestigious list.
"I believe magic is forever popular and the Largs event was a great way to raise awareness and help people who may be interested in magic help find and identify societies within their community."
Hosted by award-winning comedian Billy Kirkwood, the Saturday night magic show at Barrfields included the cream of magical talent in local and international shores including Oliver Tabor - multi British and European award winning magician; Daiquiri Dusk - sensational hoop artist; Olivier Henning - rising magic star from the Netherlands; and Nikola Arkane - star of Sweden’s Got Talent.
Barrfields Theatre has a long tradition of supporting magic acts from from Largs town councillor Theodore Speaker in the 1950s to television magician star Paul Daniels in the early 2000s, while a number of local magicians live in the town and are members of the Paisley Magic Circle including David Ennis, Calum McVittie (stage name Calum James), and Tommy Templeton.
David Ennis was joined by fellow magicians Fraser Stokes, a winner of many awards including I.B.M British Champion of Stage Magic and two-time winner of Scottish Magician of the Year, and the long-established and Paisley Magic Circle winner Brian Jeffrey, in a promo in the recently opened Moka Cafe in the lead- up to the event.
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