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Latest Tour News

The Wizard of Castle Magic Sold Out in December!
(December 2011)

Our new show, The Wizard of Castle Magic, is sold out completely in December, it will be presented in primary schools in the Humberside area (and Holy Trinity Primary in Ripon, North Yorkshire).

Theatre shows, workshops in schools and rehearsals
(November 2011)

During October and November Mr Albert’s Big Finish! our theatre and arts venue touring show, attracted great audiences at Sheringham Little Theatre and Alnwick Playhouse, and we presented circus and magic workshops for Moorends Primary in Old Goole and Batley Infants School. Then it was into the rehearsal room to work on The Wizard of Castle Magic our new touring show.

Arts Council of Wales Night Out Scheme (October 2011)

We have presented many of our shows in Wales for the Night Out touring scheme – and it’s great to be part of this scheme taking the arts to the parts that other arts don’t reach! In October we were at the Glasshouse, a community venue in Cefyn Mawr, a village near Wrexham. Both Moon Magic shows were sold out and we pleased to meet and work with Penny and Emma and their fellow volunteers who are working so hard to make a success of the venue as an arts centre for that area.

Zombies in Sheffield, again! (October 2011)

For the third year Magic Carpet trained the Zombies at the University of Sheffield for Sheffield’s superb Fright Night. It’s a huge event and the Magic Carpet team really enjoyed working with Scott Barton of Yellow Bus Events and Professor Vanessa Toulmin and her staff of the National Fairground Archive at the University of Sheffield. The Magic Carpet team was, Jason Coyle, who applied the make-up, latex and acted as Zombie Master at the Millennium Galleries/Winter Gardens Zombie Cage site, and Jon and Steve at the Exchange Alley site. In the Exchange Alley a team of seven student Zombies lurched and shuffled through smoke and in silhouette to terrify, excite and amuse thousands of the Fright Night participants.

East Riding P’Arts Workshops (October 2011)

Magic Carpet was asked to present three days of magic themed workshops for the East Riding Council Arts Development Team during half-term. We visited Hessle, Bridlington Spa and Hornsea Floral Hall for sell out day long sessions.

Cumbria Schools (October 2011)

Magic Carpet Theatre spent two weeks touring Cumbria Schools, taking children’s theatre to many schools that they had visited before including, St Begha’s in Eskdale, Fairfield Infants in Cockermourh, Jericho Primary and St James’ in Whitehaven, Gosforth, Beckermet, Maryport Infants and a first visit to Flimby Primary School. We look forward to visiting Flimby in the summer term 2012 with a Circus Skills day. Nathan Leafe wrote a brilliant letter “Soar with the laughter” on his word processor, thanks Nathan, pleased you enjoyed the show. You can see Nathan’s super letter on our Feedback page.

Eurocol (September 2011)

Sideshow Illusions project – the restoration of the Butterfly Girl Sideshow, tracing the origins of this Jon Gresham show and how we worked with Mark Copeland and Sarah Munro of the Insect Circus, our designer Dave Whatt and others to bring this lost show back to life.

Order of Merlin Presentation (September 2011)

At the International Brotherhood of Magicians British Ring Annual Convention in Southport Magic Carpet’s Director , Jon Marshall was presented with the Order of Merlin by International President Vanni Pule. Jon is also a member of The Inner Magic Circle and is pleased to use his magical skills in creating theatrical illusions for Magic Carpet’s shows, Sideshow Illusions and occasionally for other Theatre companies.

Moon Magic at Anlaby Acre Head Primary School (September 2011)

We were delighted to visit our friends at Anlaby Acre Head Primary School with a performance of Moon Magic. This is what they said – “This morning the school hall became a space shuttle, the audience became the passengers on a thrill packed trip to the Moon. We had exploding robots, asteroid storms and strange plant life! Once again we said thank you to our good friends, the Magic Carpet Theatre group. Every year we appreciate their comedy and creativity when we begin the school year off with a superb production. This year was no exception - Moon Magic was hilarious!” Thanks to all our friends at Acre Head, we enjoyed our visit to you, especially performing with star actress, Rebecca!
Read more about the visit and see the photographs on the school web site - http://www.anlabyacreheads.org.uk/latest/story/moon-magic/

Theatres and Outdoor Festivals (August 2011)

We visited one of our favourite venues, Pocklington Arts Centre, with Mr Albert’s Big Finish and also played the show at Banbury, Norwich, and South Norfolk, just a few of our tour dates during the Summer holiday period. We had a great time at, stately home and grounds, Harewood House where Magic Carpet presented Circus Avago for visitors at the VW Festival.

Sheffield Fayre (August 2011)

Our Sideshow project – Sideshow Illusions was invited back by the National Fairground Archive of the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Council to show three restored Sideshows at Norfolk Heritage Park in Sheffield for Sheffield Fayre. There were huge queues on each day and thousands were able to see The Living Half Lady, The Butterfly Girl and be scared out of the show in The Mummy.

Hull Truck Workshop (August 2011)

We enjoyed working with youngsters who had signed up for a Circus Workshop day at Hull Truck as part of the Creative Learning team’s summer activities. Some talented young people turned up, one had been paid for as a Birthday present! The improvised circus show at the end of the day was brilliant.

Cottingham Day (July 2011)

It was great to make a return visit to, the annual, Cottingham Day. And this year the sun shone and huge crowds turned out to enjoy the attractions. We were involved in presenting entertainment for the families and in presenting Circus Avago throughout the day. Many hundreds tried their hand at juggling, plate spinning, unicycling and walking the tightrope!

Summer Reading Challenge – Circus Stars (July 2011)

Roll up, roll up for Circus Stars, the Summer Reading Challenge 2011 http://www.circus-stars.org.uk/ The Summer Reading Challenge is a flagship library success story in the UK. Promoted by The Reading Agency, it focuses on reading for pleasure, and involves 97% of UK local authorities. We were delighted to present workshops and shows for family audiences in libraries from the London Borough of Brent to Hull City.

Four Oaks Cluster Group - Cris Baker (July 2011)

For several years Magic Carpet have presented children’s theatre for the Four Oaks (Sutton Coldfield) Cluster Group Week, we were delighted to perform Moon Magic twice daily for their Primary Schools this year, and we send best wishes to Cris Baker who has been their brilliant co-ordinator and has retired from that post this year.

Wizard of Castle Magic Booking Opens (June 2011)

Magic Carpet Theatre’s new production of The Wizard of Castle Magic will tour from December 1st 2011 to November 2012.. It’s based on the traditional Sorcerer’s Apprentice tale and is guaranteed to enchant audiences of 3 – 11 year olds and their families. The production is set in the Wizard’s castle and the scenery is colourful and interactive with mysterious, moving portraits, sliding panels and trapdoors. It’s a very funny play, guaranteed to scare your socks off, occasionally! There are a few dates available in December 2011 and January 2012 for schools in the Humberside, Lincolnshire, North and West Yorkshire region. February 2012 is fully booked. Email or ring for latest availability.

Chester Vaudeville Festival (June 2011)

Jon was delighted to be invited to attend the Chester Vaudeville Festival as part of our Sideshow project – Sideshow Illusions. It was a brilliant weekend of street theatre, Burlesque, magic, comedy and Vaudeville shows. Jon’s talk about how the Sideshows have been restored was held in the intimate Watergate Deli. It would be great to present one or more of the Shows next year.

North Yorkshire Shows (May 2011)

We made two visits into North Yorkshire county – to Lindhead Primary School, near Scarborough, to take the whole school to the Moon and back with our space adventure Moon Magic. Lindhead pupils are a brilliant audience.

Magic Carpet Theatre director, Jon Marshall is a member of The Inner Magic Circle, and theatrical illusions are often featured in their productions. Jon was delighted to put that talent to good use in performing for the opening Gala of Malton’s new Arts Centre, the Milton Rooms in a sold out show compered by the inimitable raconteur and comedy writer, Barry Cryer.

More Circus and Rain (May 2011)

Downham Market Festival in Norfolk is an annual event, we took Circus Avago there in 2010, they asked us back this year and it was a fun day until the rain arrived and then it was wet! But it didn’t put the families off and despite the rain we were busy introducing fearless youngsters and damp parents to the joys of juggling, plate spinning and unicycling!

Circus Avago (May 2011)

This school term we are very busy presenting Circus Avago, our all action Circus skills workshop day, in schools and at Festivals and galas. Schools have told us that they are delighted that Magic Carpet work with all pupils involved all day, all ages, all at once from 9am to 3.30pm. And that they all take part in the performance with 15 to 20 acts at the climax of the day. Some schools have previously experienced workshops where each class just has a one hour session with a limited range of skills. Thoresby Primary School, in the centre of Hull, is a school we have visited many times and we spent a brilliant day creating a Circus with their Year 5s. Afterwards the pupils sent some great letters and pictures; This is Ben’s, age 7 ½ , he’s drawn the tightrope the audience and someone saying, “Arrh”. Hope they are not falling off! Mahanur, Freddie and Soraya’s pictures are on our Feedback page.

Return Visits (April 2011)

Most of the schools we visit are those that we have presented shows at for many years. It’s great to have that friendly relationship with our audiences. We made a quick return, and enjoyable, visit to, new friends, Holy Trinity Juniors in Ripon, this time with a two-day presentation of Circus Avago our circus skills workshop. And we returned, after 17 years, to perform at East Riding School - Westfield Primary. Rachel Hunt, teacher in charge of our visit, said – “Just a quick note to say a big thank you for two fantastic performances at Westfield on Tuesday. The pupils really loved it, will definitely be in touch to book again for next year”.

Our Company Manager and skilled performer, Steve Collison, when he is not touring with Magic Carpet is one half of the amazing, and very funny, Danger Boys and they have started their summer tour with April dates in London, Birmingham and Luton!

Great Feedback (March 2011)

We receive brilliant letters, computer art work and pictures from schools for Moon Magic. Headteacher, Mike Wardley at St Nicholas Primary in North Lincs sent us some from the pupils and they told us about their performance of Scrooge. St Nicholas has a tradition of outstanding school drama with music and super costumes. We’ve put some of the letters in our Gallery pages along with some from Benjamin Adlard Community School pupils in Gainsborough.

The Butterfly Girl Flies (February 2011)

Our Sideshow project – Sideshow Illusions took three original 1950s shows to the Showzam Festival at Blackpool - The Living Half Lady, Electra, The Mummy and a re-creation of the 1960 show the Butterfly Girl, commissioned by Blackpool Council and the University of Sheffield National Fairground Archive. We were delighted to work closely with Mark and Sarah of The Insect Circus and our designer Dave Whatt to create this new version. It had a great reaction and we received double-page spreads in The Stage and The World’s Fair. Showzam had an attendance of 25,000. During the festival Magic Carpet Theatre’s Sideshow Steve appeared with his solo juggling routine at the North Pier in Madame Galina’s show on the North Pier.

Before heading off to Blackpool we visited Plover Primary School in Doncaster, again, with a full-day circus workshop and our team had a great day, with great kids in a really friendly school, and they’ve booked again for next year!

First Visit to the Junction (January 2011)

We made our first appearance at Goole’s new arts centre – The Junction. We had performed many times in the Junction’s previous incarnation, The Gate, and now we were delighted that Charlie and Nicola invited us to present Mr Alberts’s Big Finish and a workshop in their great new centre. One of the young audience, Milly Johnston, sent us a Facebook message – “hey I saw your Mr Albert’s Big Finish and I went to the work shop you’re the best”.

The Snow Must Go On! (December 2010)

Boots and shovels were loaded in the van as the snow came down. We dug our way in and out of Adelaide Primary School in Hull with the help of Headteacher Brian Roberts and caretaker Andy. And then we, and all our school venues, were snowed in for the next eight days! We were pleased to visit Ripon for two performances at Holy Trinity Junior School. We gave them a date at the last minute when a theatre company let them down. Paul Bowlas the Head kindly emailed – “Today was brilliant and the feedback was outstanding” ... “the best show we've ever had”, “laughed so much I cried”, “the actors were really inclusive of all the children and dealt particularly well and sensitively with a child who has special needs”. Pupil, Ella, mailed – “Thank you for your outstanding ride into space! Me and my school thoroughly enjoyed your performance. I loved it when Bobby tried watering the moon plant and spayed the water on the audience. It was also hilarious when Bobby sat on a teachers lap. I hope you have more success on your next journey to space”. We booked new dates for all the schools who were snow bound and even managed to make it out to Bridlington on the last day of term for Martongate School and back to Hull for Craven Primary, schools Magic Carpet have visited on that day for 28 years!

Moon Magic opens in Schools (November 2010)

Magic Carpet Theatre is in rehearsal - preparing for December performances of Moon Magic in primary schools throughout Humberside. including Adelaide, Clifton, Thoresby, Hedon, Easington, Southcoates, Broadacre, Brandesburton, Allerton Immingham, St Nicholas Ulceby, Mersey, Spring Cottage, Martongate Bridlington and Craven Primary, many are schools that Magic Carpet Theatre first visited in the 1980s. Craven Primary school in Hull first had a performance from Magic Carpet Theatre on 17th December 1982, for pupils of the then Headteacher, Geof Marham, as well as occasional workshops they have had a children’s theatre performance on the last day of the autumn term every year since then – twenty-eight years, and they are always a brilliant audience!

BBC Radio Humberside (November 2010)

Jon Marshall makes an appearance on the James Hoggarth music and chat entertainment show on BBC Radio Humberside on Wednesday 24th November 19.30 – 22.00. Jon will be talking about Magic Carpet’s new show and the progress of the Sideshow illusions project, said Jon, “I’m in good company on James’ show as guests earlier in the week include Elaine Paige and Roland Gift”.

Children in Need (November 2010)

Steve and Jon, with volunteers from Round the Block, Phil and Rob and fellow juggler Callum, were delighted to help marketing director, John Gilbert and his Eskimo Soup team who were attempting a “keep the balls in the air” endurance feat at Hull’s St Stephen’s Shopping Centre to raise money and awareness for Children in Need. Leaving the football skills to John and Rich and Team Soup, Jon and Steve and the others offered a “have-a-go” juggling experience and training to passers-by in return for a donation.

Join us on Facebook (November 2010)

Magic Carpet Theatre is on Facebook. We hope you will “like” our page - join us on www.facebook.com/magiccarpettheatre (or just click on our facebook link button, bottom of our web pages) to read more news of our travels and view tour and “back stage” pictures.

Round the Block Circus workshop (October 2010)

The Magic Carpet team enjoyed seeing the film made of the week long circus workshop held at Spring Bank Community Centre in Hull in the summer. The screening was part of a half-term follow-up, full day circus workshop presented with Sue Alvis and her Round the Block volunteers.

Extended School Project (October 2010)

During half-term week we made a return visit to Newlands Primary School in Ramsgate, Kent to present workshops and a performance of Mr Albert’s Big Finish for their Extended Schools Project. Co-ordinated by teacher Niki Curran and her colleagues we were delighted to work with their pupils, our visit culminated in a performance by all the participants including young Kieran, a star unicyclist whose determination and concentration was excellent. We are delighted to have assisted schools who participate in Extended Schools’ projects occasionally. I see that Ofsted have discovered compelling case-study evidence that, “extended services had made life-changing differences to pupils that had led to better attendance and attitudes” “The major benefits to children, young people and adults were enhanced self-confidence, improved relationships, raised aspirations and better attitudes to learning”. Just what we think our circus skills workshops can assist with.

Zombie Workshops for Sheffield University (October 2010)

Professor Vanessa Toulmin has asked Magic Carpet’s team to facilitate Drama workshops with a Zombie theme for students at Sheffield University to create performance pieces to play in non-theatre spaces including the Winter Gardens and Marks and Spencer’s shop window on Sunday 31st October for Sheffield’s Fright Night. The University based National Fairground Archive have also commissioned a performance installation, first seen at Blackpool’s Halloween Ball for Sheffield Crucible Theatre’s foyer – Madame Arcana’a Mirror of Destiny, a tongue-in-cheek “psychic” presentation with the infamous seer, Madame Arcana, incorporating illusionary techniques and a scary climax!

Cumbria – Lake District Schools Tour (October 2010)

Gosforth, St Bega’s, Bransty, Millom, St James', Whitehaven St James’, Maryport Infants and Beckermet are just some of the Cumbrian primary schools that Magic Carpet are presenting Mr Albert’s Big Finish at this month. We really enjoy touring this beautiful area and building a relationship with the schools that we have made many visits too.

Francis Askew School whole school workshop (September 2010)

Francis Askew Primary School in Hull has had many visits from Magic Carpet Theatre and we spent two brilliant days working with the whole school, half the pupils on each day who each spent the entire day participating in a circus workshop including juggling, unicycling, and tightrope walking and each day finished with a performance by the pupils.

Margate’s Dippers and Dunkers Festival and Sheffield Fayre (August 2010)

For a number of years Magic Carpet Theatre have developed a Sideshow project. Called Sideshow Illusions we have worked with a team of experts, especially, designer, Dave Whatt who has restored and built the props that have enabled the presentation, for the first time since 1969, of several original sideshows. Magic Carpet’s Sideshow Illusions team have worked closely with Professor Vanessa Toulmin of the National Fairground Archive to present these shows to new audiences – reinterpreting the styles of presentation and dramatising them to create a fascinating and popular promenade production. Over 7,000 saw the shows at Margate’s Dippers and Dunkers Festival and at Sheffield Fayre over five days. Our performances at Margate were included in a BBC Inside Out documentary broadcast on 18.10.210

Spring Bank International Circus (August 2010)

Magic Carpet worked with Sue Alvis and volunteering group, Round the Block, over six Wednesdays during June and July when Jamie Waudby ran training sessions that lead up to a week’s non-stop rehearsal period that culminated in a Saturday afternoon presentation of the Spring Bank International Circus for the Spring Bank Community Centre’s International Fun Day. And it truly was international, children participated from Polish, Turkish, Pakistani, Somali, local English and Kurdish communities.

Big in Norfolk (August 2010)

Magic Carpet were delighted to play return dates for South Norfolk Council and Norwich City Council both as part of their season of children’s theatre. Shows were packed out and Norwich’s outdoor Childplay performance festival in Waterloo Park attracted a huge audience of around four hundred for an outdoor version of Mr Albert’s Big Finish.

Non-stop touring! (July 2010)

Shows for Cluster Group - We made a seventh annual visit to Sutton Coldfield’s Four Oaks schools to present a week of children’s theatre for their cluster days.

Lands End! It’s a long way from Hull to Helston, even on a Magic Carpet! Finding we were performing a close to Lands End we couldn’t resist driving the extra few miles to take a picture, and fish and chips in Penzance were very good too!

Kaleidoscope Circus Skills - Magic Carpet were delighted to work with pupils from Hull’s Thoresby Primary School to present their circus skills as part of their annual Kaleidoscope Arts week.

Kelham Island Industrial Museum An unusual venue where Magic Carpet Theatre was asked by Sheffield University National Fairground Archive to present family oriented Edwardian entertainment for a Wakes Weekend event.

St Margaret of Antioch Primary School – our last visit. (June 2010)

Sadly this year will be the last time we visit St Margaret of Antioch Primary School in Liverpool. This delightful school, right in the centre of Toxteth, was over one-hundred years old. Magic Carpet has been presenting shows and workshops there since 1982.

Sadly the “powers that be” had decided that it was too small to be “educationally viable” and all pupils were to be dispersed to other schools in the area. The head, Jim Craig had invited Magic Carpet to present our current show and a workshop before their final end of term. Our show, Mr Albert’s Big Finish had a particular poignancy for us as of course the show is about a building faced with closure that is ultimately saved. We will always have a special affection for St Margarets, my (Jon’s) cousins went to school there, my Grandmother lived just around the corner and my Dad went to school just up the road. Jim Craig and all the staff were the friendliest we have encountered.

We always looked forward to visiting them. We attended their farewell concert, a very moving occasion – celebrating 100 years of the school’s history with songs, sketches covering music hall and melodrama, evacuation and the blitz, the swinging 60s right up to present day culminating with “We’ll meet Again”. Jim Craig and his staff have always involved their pupils in drama and theatre, Jim has a passion for musical theatre, music hall and drama a wonderful confidence builder for their not so academic pupils, for many English was a second language. Jim and his staffs act of generosity to us was both surprising and immensely appreciated and will enhance our work in bring theatre to others especially to the parts that other arts don’t reach.

Jack on Work- Experience (May 2010)

During May, Jack Gleadow, of Andrew Marvel Business and Enterprise College, spent two weeks on work experience with Magic Carpet Theatre.

Jack assisted with performances and workshops in schools in Liverpool, Staffordshire and in Theatres including the Radlett Centre helping with the get in, setting up, operating sound effects, assisting with lighting.

Magic Carpet creates illusions for Dystopian Wonders (May 2010)

Magic Carpet Theatre and designer and prop builder, Dave Whatt worked with Carnesky Productions to create some unusual effects and illusions and advise on the staging and lighting.

“We need to see a Living-Half-Lady, walk around her and then watch a lady float into the air! And can a dancer climb inside a reclining girl’s belly and disappear?”, asked Olivier award winning performance artiste, Marisa Carnesky. All these effects were for her amazing promenade production Dystopian Wonders that debuted this year at Camden Town’s Roundhouse as part of their Circus Festival, Manchester’s Lowry and the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.

What the Manchester Evening News said - “Carnesky, who mutates from ringmaster to Folies Bergere showgirl, has assembled an international cast of performers and intends this 50-minute salvo to be the first of a seven-part series… a man exhorts us to join his cult and donate our bodies, bit by bit. A circus performer climbs a ladder of sabres in bare feet. An erotic dancer adulates the body with the open stomach, before disappearing into it. Paul Daniels would be proud of the illusion, as he would of the apparent half-woman or the one sawn in half. Is it performance art or experimental theatre?”

 

For more information call 01482 709939 or contact Magic Carpet Theatre today!