Cirque du Magique is a circus like no other. Beginning its short run at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on the 31st October 2024, the show combines mind-boggling illusions, physical stunts and captivating magic tricks with special effects, colourful lighting and a soundtrack to get the adrenaline pumping.

The show had a great variety of acts, including mind-reading, acrobatics and card tricks. Many of the acts were truly mind-boggling, with objects disappearing into thin air and people’s thoughts being predicted with ease. Others had the audience on the edge of their seats, as the actors performed bold stunts right in front of our eyes. However, whilst the performers were all talented and their acts executed well, some of the performances had a slight amateur quality to them. In places, this disrupted the flow of the show, as did the occasional lengthy or clunky transition. A few of the less impressive performances also went on for a little too long. Overall, the show could have been more cohesive, and the performances linked together slightly better.

The performances appealed to both adults and children, with both groups getting involved in the audience participation. Several audience members were asked up on stage to partake in a stunt, verify the validity of a prop or have their minds read by the brilliant Alex McAleer. McAleer seamlessly incorporated humour into his routine, getting many laughs out of the audience. The performers fully deserved the claps they got at the end of each act, but there were too many gaps for applause incorporated into each performance. Sometimes they would have been better left out, as the enthusiasm of the audience waned with each gap. In terms of staging, there were lots of impressive and well-designed props that the performers utilised in their routines, allowing a range of unique and exciting tricks. The staging of some acts could have done with more detail, instead of only having a performer stood in the middle of an empty stage. The soundtrack was very well synced to the stunts, with big flourishes coinciding with a crescendo in the music.

The score comprised a mixture of energetic tunes and contemporary music, and this, coupled with the use of colourful lights and other special effects, lent each performance a unique character that matched the content of each one. The costumes were colourful and well-designed, but they remained very similar with each act, and I think this is an area that could have been developed further to add another layer of excitement to the show.

The show was around 2 hours 30 minutes with a well-placed 20-minute interval. Anyone considering going to see it should be aware that it contains loud noises, flashing lights, fire and smoke effects. Thank you to the staff at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and the actors on Cirque du Magique for a fun evening.

Rating: 3.5/5

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