talkmagic.co.uk

Courtesy of http://www.magicweek.co.uk:

Derren Brown: Infamous. The all-new live theatre show for 2013 is previewing this week at the Orchard Theatre Dartford before heading off on a major UK tour.
March Dates:
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Orchard Theatre, Dartford http://www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Liverpool Empire, Liverpool http://www.atgtickets.com/artists/derren-brown

We saw this on Saturday night. I must admit that I didn't think it was his best show but still very good. Ours was only the second showing which would probably explain why it still felt quite rough in places. I'd love to see it again at one of the later shows, once he's had the chance to polish it up.

His previous stage shows seem to have been more polished during the second year, some effects taken out and others speeded up etc.

without any tour spoilers (I'm seeing in Northampton Derngate April 16th) was the format different to his previous shows?

I think it's shoddy that people are paying thirty odd quid for a show that is being "developed". It's like going to see a band and they play a half finished album.
I hear he's doing Bank Night and a multi-phase poker routine in this show. Where's his originality gone?

I certainly wouldn't have called it a third rate show, it was easily as good as many shows that I've seen by other people.

Derren has asked that the contents of the show aren't discussed so I think it's only fair that we respect that here. I will say though that although it was a little ropey, the poker routine finished brilliantly.

He should do balloon modelling and linking rings in his next show.
It appears he's going down that route. Shame.

Lord Freddie wrote:He should do balloon modelling and linking rings in his next show.
It appears he's going down that route. Shame.

Of course, everyone's mileage will vary, and I suspect some folks still enjoy what he does.

Funny old world, isn't it?!

I know this show was written with Nyman because Derren was posting about the process of writing it in Facebook. What worries me is that he was posting about it just a couple of weeks ago. Now it's on stage in front of paying punters.

I recall Derren saying that ENIGMA was chosen as the title of that show only a few weeks before the first performance. Clearly that was flim flam because, as those who saw it will know, the word had a lot more significance that just as a title. I suspect Derren may have been having a bit of a joke over the timing of the scripting and writing.

It sounds rushed to me. According to a review I read he's doing poker demonstrations and bank night which is a bit like The Beatles going back to Chuck Berry covers after Sgt Pepper.
If I want to see poker demos, any hack magician on a forum can show me one for free. Derren used to be innovative, exciting and enjoyable. I think, from his recent tv output and what I've heard of this show he's going for quantity not quality.

Recent TV output has been disappointing in many respects but the stage show probably needs to be seen and the actual content experienced to make an assessment. Whilst the there's the usual request to not divulge the details, we can at least expect those who have seen the show to give their general overall impression.

We'll give this thread a few weeks to garner such impressions and open it again for discussion.

I saw the show last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The first half started slowly but gathered momentum which was carried over to the second half very successfully. Lots of audience/volunteer involvement as usual and a, by now traditional, double whammy at the end.

Andy Nyman's influence is very apparent, the show is more dramatic than Svengali was and the set design even better than any previous shows. Magicians will probably spot how he did some of the effects but that will always be the case. The show is in Birmingham for two weeks which is twice the run of Svengali and, according to the ushers I spoke to each night has been an almost full house. The people behind me were heard to say that they only bought their tickets 6 days ago, and tickets were being sold on the night, but even so there were only a few isolated empty seats.

Obviously the content of the show can't be divulged but rest assured it's nothing like Derren's TV specials of recent times, it's not Dynamo, it's not Ben Earl, it's not David Blaine. What it is is entertainment of a high order and he really works hard to make it so. A quick scan of the audience during the show and the interval showed me that I was probably the oldest one there, I'd guess the average age to be mid/late twenties, but the whole show would appeal to a wide age range so it's not a young person's event by any means.

Seeing this tomorrow! Looking forward to it

Hi all,

For those who missed the tour this time (or want to see it again!) the following tour dates have been confirmed for 2014:-

Theatre Royal Brighton 11th - 15th February (Tickets onsale to ATG Theatre Card holders - public onsale 20th June, 10am)
Wycombe Swan 17th - 22nd February
New Victoria Theatre Woking 3rd - 8th March (Tickets onsale to ATG Theatre Card holders - public onsale 20th June, 10am)
Southampton Mayflower 7th - 12th April
Milton Keynes Theatre 14th - 19th April (Tickets onsale to ATG Theatre Card holders - public onsale 20th June, 10am)
Bristol Hippodrome 21st - 26th April (Tickets onsale to ATG Theatre Card holders - public onsale 20th June, 10am)
Manchester The Lowry 13th - 21st June (Tickets onsale to Friends members - public onsale 20th June, 10am)

Cheers,

JS