Ever wondered what it's like to be hypnotised, or if it's possible for someone to read your mind? Or maybe you're fascinated by sleights of hand and trying to figure out how they were accomplished. Whatever form of magic you're interested in, the Melbourne Magic Festival is sure to cast its spell on you when it arrives in Melbourne on June 26.
Since its launch in 2008, the festival has grown to become the largest festival of its kind, attracting more than 8,000 magic fans from all over the country last year. This year, enjoy two weeks packed full of more than 130 performances of 30 different shows by local magicians and international stars.
This year, the headline international act is Mario Lopez – an award-winning sleight-of-hand master who makes everything he touches look like real magic. Other highlights include the Quizzical Mr Jeff (a fun family show that blends circus with magic), Unusual Objects (an intimate show of objects disappearing, appearing and transfiguring) and Josh Staley (one of card magic's top practitioners).
The list of performers and shows is about as long as one of those colourful scarves magicians pull out of people's ears, so check the website and prepare to be amazed.
