talkmagic.co.uk

Oh my God.

Paul Daniels is coming to the Empire Theatre, Halstead.

Here's the info from the Halstead Gazette, out today:

Magic Man to thrill the Empire
You'll like it, not a lot, but you'll like it.
Famous magician Paul Daniels is coming to the Empire Theatre in Halstead to give a special performance.
Daniels will be performing at the Butler Road theatre on September 25, and people are being urged to get in quick for tickets.
Tickets for his Halstead show are £12.50 and are available from the box office.
The show starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets can be bought by calling [pm me if you want the phone number] or calling in at the theatre on Monday and Friday evenings.

I can not explain how excited I am about this.

The Empire Theatre is where the theatre group I'm in performs its productions, and I have appeared on it's stage many many times over the past 7 years or so.

The Empire itself has gone through some tough changes over the last month or so - at one stage it was looking like it was closing down completely. Up until last month, the Empire was Halstead's only cinema, a single-screen cinema no less, and was losing money hand over fist. At the end of July, the decision was taken to close the place down. However, the Empire Theatre Trust, a group of volunteers, have taken it on and now the theatre is strictly used for live shows.

To keep money rolling in, bingo is played three times a week. On a regular basis, stars of the country and western music scene play there too, also helping to bring some money in.

The local councils will be reviewing the Empire's situation at the end of this year, when it's fate will be decided. If the Empire is shut, then the amdram group I'm in won't have a venue to put on our panto!

I know a couple of people that work on the Empire Trust, and I can't believe that they've managed to secure show from Paul Daniels. I just hope the people of Halstead understand how brilliant this show is going to be.

I know I've gone on a bit about the Empire here, but please just take a look at the Empire Theatre website (link above) and you'll figure out just how desperate this struggling theatre is... Oh, and by the way, I'm appearing in 'The Edge of Darkness' - about halfway down the front page.

Having seen Mr.D live in Cabaret last year I'm very envious as I hear his stage shows these days are even more amazing than the old TV shows - if that's possible. Bonus points all round if Debbie is with him, of course. He can be quite acidic at times but is always good entertainment, just make sure you aren't in the front row and wearing a striped shirt like I was - I've never heard so many jokes about pyjamas in my life!

Also envious to see Edge of Darkness co-written by Brian Clemens - the original Avengers TV prog was my all time favourite right from the Ian Hendry days. ('scuse me while I drift off into a fog of nostalgia…… .)

w00t!

I looked up Halstead and it turns out that it's quite near where we live.

Well, OK, it's closer than Blackpool . It's about 50 miles. Still I might be able to convince certain parents that I should be allowed to go. We shall see.

*crosses fingers*

Kati

If you've not been to see Daniel's yet Kati you're in for a treat!

Worth the trip even if its just for the eyecandy (i.e. Miss Magee) ehehehe!

Rob

My hero! he got me into magic! i meet him and Debbie once and they were very nice! the image the press paints is wrong. By the way did you know paul daniels buys and sells on ebay, and Tony Parx (he is a member of the ebay magic group i am in )

Just bought my tickets for this then... Managed to get two in the front row for me and the girlfriend - not that I'm secretly hoping he's going to pick me out or anything...

The lady who took the booking told me to spread the word as much as I could, so I thought I'd just let you all know there's still tickets available.

It's at The Empire Theatre, Halstead, Essex on Sunday 25th September. Tickets are £12.50 each. The theatre is quite small and has just 280-odd seats, so every seat is a fantastic view. Granted, the theatre doesn't have all the mod-cons, but it's gone through hell and back recently.

If there's even just a little bit of you that wants to go, and there's a small chance that you can actually make it, then please buy a ticket. I know you'll have work the next day, but, come on, you only live once! Be dangerous!

Halstead is half an hour from the A12 or the M11 - map

The phone number for bookings is 07778 025 490

As I've said, please come along, if you can.

I've been informed this morning there are still some tickets left for this, so if you're free toight, and can get to little old Halstead, in Essex (see map above) then give the Empire a ring!

See you there!

wow.

That was an experience. An excellent, friendly and intimate show that demonstrated a true master at work. Fantastic to see all the old favourites such as electric chairs WITH paper balls over the head, super fast chop cup, the cardboard box levitation, and his own special slant on 6 card repeat, professors nightmare, card on forehead etc.

He even did a behind the back classic force (just for the magicians in the audience).

This was a great opportunity to see a master at work in a smaller than usual location, so thanks for the heads up Zack. It was a great night out.

And as a side note - it was a friend up on stage doing the electric chairs. Paul couldn't have picked a better spectator.

My wife took a few pictures and I will be posting a full review for Ron (later Ron)

I missed the posts about this... am gutted whould have loved to have gone

Paul will be a special guest on MagicBunny for a week from the 3rd Oct.

I have to agree with everything that bananafish said. It was an experience that I wouldn't have wanted to miss. Paul is still the true master!!
Plus the fact he made my daughters day by agreeing to have his photo taken with her!!

I really do wish I could have gone but I was up in Durham for the day for a fencing competition and I was asleep on my feet for most of the next day - no fit condition to go to Essex!

Kati

Kati said:

I was up in Durham for the day for a fencing competition

Wooden, steel palisade or electric?

I have now added a review of the show on the IMS website

I've not had time to scratch my bum since seeing Paul Daniels at the Empire, and this review does it so much justice.

Can I just say, for those of you that did go, the girl who turned up late that Paul picked on... that's my other half. I was gutted he didn't pick me for anything...

I've heard on the grapevine there's another magic act coming to the Empire again soon... I'll keep you all posted.