This time last month, I achieved a lifelong dream of performing in a venue that I first discovered as a young boy. The first visit to a theatre is an awe inspiring experience… this usually takes place at your local theatre: perhaps watching a pantomime or a local production. That first peek at the inside a classic theatre emblazoned with gold fittings and plush red seats, the bright lights, the electric atmosphere and a journey to another place. The golden world within the four walls of a theatre can transform and awaken a yearning: a place filled with pure imagination that can widen the eyes of a beholder aged 5 or 95.
My golden imaginariuim was the Palace Theatre in Westcliff, near Southend-on-Sea. I first stepped into the Frank Matcham (he built the London Palladium and also lived in Southend) designed venue when I was 5 years old. I distinctly remember that a spark was ignited back then and I couldn’t even have begun to imagine that years later I’d be performing my own show there.
On the final day of the first month of 2025, I finally got the opportunity to perform on the historic stage. After years of attempting to get a show in there, West End Magic appeared at last within the venue exactly a month ago.
The show always features local performers, so I invited the local family entertainer, Magic Dave. He worked at the theatre for many years before coming a busy local performer. We also welcomed gentlemen juggler Mat Ricardo, a top world performing artist who incidentally lives only 5 mins walk from the theatre.
As it was our local theatre with a home crowd watching, we made sure to put in some extra special parts to the show, including illusions where Vicky vanished from one side of the stage and appeared on the other, plus special effects made especially for this show. The feeling before the show was both of being slightly nervous, mixed with excitement due to these new additions to the programme in addition to knowing that it was in front of the local crowd.
I did not need to worry: the show turned out it be a great success… everyone enjoyed themselves, both on and off stage. One of my personal favourite parts of the show is getting to meet the audience afterwards and on this particularly occasion, I knew over half of the audience.
Throughout the evening, doves appeared, knives were juggled, there were surprise appearances in the audience, table cloths were pulled, playing cards were found, newspapers were torn and restored and much more. With plenty of laughs, and audible gasps, dreams were made.
