Sunday 25th October 2009 @ Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

Running one Sunday a month during summer and autumn 2009, local magician, Peter Clifford, as been performing alongside fellow illusionists and conjurers at the Tobacco Factory Theatre to sell-out crowds. Tonight was the fourth and final show of the current season of Peter’s Friends and you could really feel that Clifford wanted to end the run with a bang - a special spectacle to give people something to remember, but no-one could have predicted this…

After his first guest, Pete Wardell, had warmed everyone up wonderfully and Clifford himself treated the crowd to 15 minutes of his own charismatic magic, he slyly turned to us all and with a wink announced; “Ladies and gentleman, I have great pleasure in introducing to you now, one of Peter’s Friends…Derren Brown.” Derren Brown?! There was a pause from the audience. THE Derren Brown?? You could almost feel the room’s brains wiring as they nervously applauded; was this a joke? Then the man himself briskly walked out onto the tiny Tobacco Factory stage (as he did many years ago for the first time as a performing magician) and the room exploded into riotous applause; the sight of 250 people being utterly gobsmacked is quite something. Before anyone could get their bearings though, Brown was already motioning us all onto our feet; “By the time I count to ten I want everybody in the room to be holding a coin between their fingers – Go! 10…9…8…” It set the pace for what was to be a whirlwind, astounding, mind-boggling night.

After a few introductory set-pieces, jokes and letting someone scratch his beard, Brown introduced us to the performance’s main event: Audience members had written their initials on pieces of card, were asked to think of a question about their life and then just based on their handwriting and a few, simple yes/no questions, Brown was able to extrapolate and relay the most intimate experiences and feelings of an individual.

My head was spinning but what really pushed me into the pit of bafflement was when, after gleaning some simple facts about a couple’s personal and working life together, he imparted their question of whether they should adopt. My jaw hit the floor as people gasped in disbelief. Brown soon raised the stakes even higher though and repeated the trick blindfolded! He rapidly and randomly answered questions that he “sensed” individuals were asking and accurately extrapolated a recent break in, a loft conversion and the fact someone was colour blind. It was all so far beyond my comprehension I was past even trying to understand it; I am a great lover of magic in all its forms but this was another level.

The evening climaxed suitably with a number puzzle and Derren Brown and Peter Clifford received the wild standing ovations they so richly deserved. What a show!

www.derrenbrown.co.uk

Keep your eyes peeled for Peter Clifford performing a series of Christmas magic shows at the Tobacco Factory’s Brewery Theatre this December.

www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com