Tay Around Town

Hello readers! For those new here – welcome – and for existing readers, good to have you reading along again! I hope you enjoy my writings and reviews. I just wanted to interrupt my current reviews to mention that one of my original goals for this review blog was to provide performers with pull quotes and quality reviews (rather than highly subjective star ratings), along with providing the public with fair reviews (I aim to ‘call a spade a spade’ and not misrepresent things). You may have noticed that I have provided star ratings for the first few MMF 2026 reviews – these have been provided at my own discretion for a few reasons. Some of these reasons may include reasonable personal requests, performers that are emerging or early in their careers, or performers I particularly wish to highlight.

I don’t give out star ratings lightly, and in the past I’ve also had star mentions taken out of context by other performers (and in case they think I don’t remember that instance I absolutely do) so you can expect to see more reviews appearing here sans stars. I just wanted to be transparent about my use of star ratings and going forward will still use them at times at my own discretion.

Thanks for reading!

For those unaware, master Melbourne magician Tim Ellis (who also happens to be the director of the Melbourne Magic Festival) has a very curious alter ego – the Mad Hatter (yes, of Alice in Wonderland fame)!! Every few years or so, the Melbourne Magic Festival is blessed with the Mad Hatter’s presence as he delights audiences young and old with fun magic routines alongside some truly hilarious moments and audience interactions.

It is true – I have seen magic shows from the Mad Hatter before BUT here’s the advantage – EVERY show is slightly different. Different audience members evoke (or provoke) completely different responses and jokes from the Mad Hatter himself. It doesn’t matter how many times you see this show, each one will always be extremely entertaining and include bespoke comedy individual to that audience. For myself (a person who has literally seen hundreds of magic shows over 20 years), watching the Mad Hatter’s quirky yet hilarious comedy magic is an absolute delight and as soon as I see him on the lineup, I book tickets right away. Even my aunty (a newcomer to magic shows and an accountant in a previous life) was laughing more than I’d ever seen her laugh during a magic show. Better yet, the Mad Hatter invites his audience to come in costume, so we did! Miss 5 wore an Alice dress and I was in a Cheshire Cat onesie – comfort was the absolute order of the day for me. As for the magic, it had the usual inclusions you’d expect during family magic show – but all with a twist from the Hatter himself. Highlights included a rose bush that NEVER flowered for the Mad Hatter, a wand that went awry and a very funny scene involving some bananas that you absolutely need to experience for yourself. Out of all the magic shows I saw during the festival, I laughed the most during this one. At the end of the show, Miss 5 was delighted that the Mad Hatter called her “Alice” (due to her costume) and I literally saw her rolling around on the floor in fits of giggles at one point – what better endorsement is that?!

VERDICT: An absolute solid winner for family entertainment. The Mad Hatter will amuse and confuse you but will delight all with his mystifyingly magic ways. Perfect family entertainment from preschoolers to primary aged children (and their adults!) It’s one show I do not miss when I see it on the program and that says a lot. Hilarity guaranteed!

Note: The 2026 Melbourne Magic has now concluded. Click here to be taken to the festival website to keep up with MMF news.

I was delighted and excited to return to the 2026 Melbourne Magic Festival with Miss 5 and my aunty to watch International guest star Magical Katrina in her family show “Magical Katrina the Whimsical Witch”. Magical Katrina comes from the United States, and (for those unaware) she has been seen on an episode of “Blippi” and also in Chappell Roan’s music video for the song “Red Wine Supernova”. While Miss 5 headed directly to the mats on the floor at the front of the theatre, my aunty and I headed up the back (with the majority of the adults). It was a packed house and everyone was excited. Magical Katrina performed a very entertaining magic show, filled with plenty of jokes to keep the adults and mums amused (especially the jokes about the currency exchange and eating chocolates in the car – hehehe).

Miss 5 was thoroughly enchanted by Magical Katrina! Magical Katrina has a natural rapport with children of all ages – at one point, the magic show became boisterous as she was literally mobbed by children asking to see what was in (or had disappeared from) her hand! Skilled at sleight of hand and patient with curious children wanting to inspect all props, Magical Katrina’s show was absolutely entertaining and so refreshing too – no stuffy suits or outdated references here! Current trends – from children with princess names to online videos about certain sequential numbers – were all mentioned in Magical Katrina’s hilarious show. An absolute to delight to watch, and thoroughly entertaining show. They say time flies when you’re having fun and in no time, Miss 5 was making a beeline after the show to have her photo taken with Magical Katrina – this is a big deal for a 5 year old who is usually shy around magicians. After our time at the Melbourne Magic Festival, I asked Miss 5 who her favourite was and she didn’t hesitate to tell me that it is Magical Katrina! Can’t get a better endorsement than that. Miss 5 has asked to see Magical Katrina again so I guess I’ll start saving for a family trip to the USA (hopefully someday…)

VERDICT: Another absolutely entertaining show – a total winner in my books! Magically entertaining with a refreshingly modern take on magic, we do hope to see more from Magical Katrina someday soon.

Note: The 2026 Melbourne Magic has now concluded. Click here to be taken to the festival website to keep up with MMF news.

One of the other aspects I love about the Melbourne Magic Festival is that it encourages creativity in all forms of magic. Yes, there are plenty of shows featuring cards and ‘the usual’ magic props, but within this magic festival audiences can experience magic through other lenses too – like theatre, song, and up close spaces like “Enchantment Corner”.

“Enchantment Corner” is a little hideaway near Magic Central, where Lee Cohen resides to perform close up miracles to a maximum audience of 4 people at a time – that’s right, just 4 people. Perfect for couples, small families or those curious to see what wonders linger behind a closed door. Lee Cohen presents a little slice of wonderland, with “Enchantment Corner” presenting itself as a little world between worlds. Complete with large flowers, a magic wishing well and an assortment of other curious props, Lee guides her small audiences to a corner with comfy chairs and a (real!) large white rabbit in a basket. Miss 5 was absolutely taken by Lee and was delighted to help her out with some magic (a proud parent moment for me as Miss 5 is usually too shy to assist magicians). Some of the magic even involved fairies which was extra enchanting!!

Aside from the actual space and magic, I just LOVED this whole concept as it opens magic to a much wider audience and ensures magical moments are available to all – such as children who don’t like crowds or loud shows, neurodivergent children (and adults), people who may have been discouraged by or had negative interactions with magic in the past – all are entertained and looked after in “Enchantment Corner”. The very affordable price point also meant that this show didn’t have some of the financial barriers to entry that the larger shows sometimes attract. Kudos to Lee Cohen for this amazing space and making magic accessible to all.

VERDICT: a wonderful slice of magic, positioned between worlds. Perfect for everyone to enjoy!

Note: The 2026 Melbourne Magic has now concluded. Click here to be taken to the festival website to keep up with MMF news.

This year during the 2026 Melbourne Magic Festival I was extra excited to bring my daughter, Miss 5 to some magic shows (along with my aunty). Miss 5 had an introduction to magic during the 2025 Melbourne Magic Festival and was keen to see more shows, especially by female magicians – after all, representation means so much! The first magician we saw was no other than skilled trans storyteller Emma Chandler (she / her). I’d seen select magical effects from Emma previously, and also viewed a selection of her song / story videos online so I was particularly keen to enjoy this show with Miss 5 who is already a big fan of stories and songs. This show was advertised as a ‘relaxed performance’ – meaning that children could get up and move, call out or comment, stim or any other action to ensure they felt comfortable during the performance. The house lights were also left on – which is a comfort for any children who dislike dark spaces.

Emma commenced the show with a fun routine and song to get all the younger members of the audience (and their adults) engaged and ready for the fun hour ahead. Emma shone as a storyteller throughout the show, welcoming actions and comments from her audience and providing engaging remarks along the way. All of her stories involved various fun props – many of which looked like household objects – appearing from an oversized basket / picnic hamper (which I can now not unsee as a giant pelican beak!) Stories featured were a mix of traditional indigenous stories, mixed with others that seemed to resemble fables. Magic was included as part of this experience, but it was not the main focus. Personal highlights for me were the handmade nature of things – a particular story prop was completely handmade, and Emma mentioned the different items she’d sourced to make it. A magic wand was also handmade – a timely reminder that magic can be made by any and all of us. The handmade nature of this show was a refreshing release from the racing outside world that is often obsessed with technological advancements. Emma’s performance was welcoming and inclusive, without having any agendas or pointed reminders. I also appreciated that (with a smaller crowd) Emma was able to offer the chance to help out during the show to each child – whether they chose to or not.

I did find that a show run of 60 minutes was perhaps a bit long for the younger audience members – this show is best suited from preschoolers to low / mid primary. Up to a certain age, some children are only able to focus for between 30 and 40 minutes at a stretch. Emma did ‘play well’ to her audience, and accepted that older children could probably guess the ending to some of her stories. There were times that Miss 5 became unfocused and bored, partly due to show length but also due to a youngster in the front row who insisted on having a comment or callback each time Emma spoke. Literally more than 60 comments during an hour’s performance was A LOT (and of course this person’s caregiver chose to do nothing – either not self aware or selfish). These interactions can happen given the nature of the performance, however this needs to be in balance with everything else. After all, we were there to listen to EMMA and enjoy her stories, songs and magic.

VERDICT: A pleasant, gently paced show full of stories, songs and magic. Ideal for preschoolers to low / mid primary. Bring your attention spans, and a sense of wonder / whimsy!

Note: The 2026 Melbourne Magic has now concluded. Click here to be taken to the festival website to keep up with MMF news.

One of the aspects I appreciate the most about the Melbourne Magic Festival is that it allows the audience to enjoy magical artists from around the world. Each year, alongside a wide assortment of local and interstate performers, the Melbourne Magic Festival includes a strong international cohort of performers from places like the United States, Argentina, Spain, France, the UK and more. This year, Calista Sinclair was one of the international performers at the festival, attending from France (though originally born and raised in Australia). Prior to this show I knew very little about Calista – aside from the fact that she won an award at FISM last year, which is like the Olympics for magicians. That added to the hype surrounding the show, which made me very excited. I have come to realise that if you see a show by a FISM winner, be prepared to have your mind warped, along with whatever pre-conceived notions you have about magic! “You Married A Witch!” was a masterpiece merging magic, poetry, theatre and human experience.

Calista Sinclair masterfully used a video (containing a first person based video diary) alongside a stage based act to convey her life experience – one that features her as a magician AND a magician’s assistant alongside some harrowing life events. Throughout the show, many audience members (including myself) dared not look away. We didn’t want to miss a second of the action, whether it be on screen or on stage. The absolute undoubtable highlight of the show was Calista’s transformation piece, which was emotional with some incredible twists. The finale had everyone gasping in disbelief – we could literally not believe our eyes! I feel like a trip to the optometrist is overdue for me haha.

All jokes aside, “You Married A Witch!” provides a valuable insight into the life and times of a fascinating performer who is both a magician and a magician’s assistant, with the latter often (literally) shoeboxed into expected roles and overlooked for their own abilities and talents (magical or otherwise). Everyone deserves to be seen and heard for their valuable abilities and contributions. Personal impact wise, at some point in each day I have thought about this show – every day since I saw it. Simply unforgettable.

VERDICT: If you only get to see one show, this is it! Impactful, insightful and magical in equal measures. Beautiful, poetic, theatrical magic – what more could you want in a show?!!

This show deserves 5 stars – sone of the best magic I’ve ever seen in my life and by far the most impactful.

Note: The 2026 Melbourne Magic has now concluded. Click here to be taken to the festival website to keep up with MMF news.

One of the things I enjoy most about the Melbourne Magic Festival (MMF) is taking the time to enjoy some family magic shows (whether I’m with my 5 year old or not!) Family magic shows typically have a more relaxed pace and vibe than the magic shows that are geared towards adults or more ‘serious’ forms of magic like mentalism or shows dedicated to card magic.

This year I was delighted to partake in Fab Fiona’s brand new family magic show “Fab Fiona’s Enchanted Toybox”. This is a show with something for all family members – for adults it’s a pleasant trip down memory lane, featuring childhood pastimes that we all know and love (look – I’m STILL a big fan of colouring in, ok?!) through to toy trends across the years. Even the humble cassette tape makes an appearance – adults get ready to explain those to the younger generations! Of course, all of the toys in Fab Fiona’s Toybox are actually enchanted and that’s the other strength of this show – the magic is perfectly themed, well presented and very entertaining. Children in the audience were glued to Fab Fiona’s every move – they didn’t want to miss a moment of her magic. Fab Fiona provided many opportunities for audience participation, which children relished. There are a few surprise moments that had the whole audience giggling which added to the fun vibe of this show, along with a great finale.

VERDICT: “Fab Fiona’s Enchanted Toybox” is an absolutely delightful show – perfect for sharing with your family across all generations. This show delivers equally across childhood nostalgia, magical talent and entertainment. If you’re attending the Melbourne Magic Festival with your family this year, “Fab Fiona’s Enchanted Toybox” is show your family is set to enjoy.

In terms of star ratings, I give this show FOUR STARS!

*Disclaimer: I attended this performance as a guest of Fab Fiona.

Click here for booking details and more information for “Fab Fiona’s Enchanted Toybox”

The Melbourne Magic Festival runs from June 29th until July 11th at Arrow on Swanston – 488 Swanston St Carlton. More information can be found here.

I’ve come to realise that one of the aspects that makes me a unique reviewer is the sheer amount of magic shows that I have seen across 20 years of being a magic fan – in total I’ve seen over 850 magic shows (located in Melbourne and across the globe). One of the gifts that my longevity of magic fandom has given me is the chance to see younger magicians grow into magic and ‘level up’ so to speak, over time. One of those performers is Liam ‘LJ’ Jumpertz, who over time, has honed his magic (and variety) skills and has graduated to the BIG theatre within the Melbourne Magic Festival. “Abracadickhead” may be a show with a cheeky title, but behind that is a show with an engaging backstory, well honed comedy, magic & variety skills paired with impressive levels of audience rapport and showmanship.

Throughout “Abracadickhead” Liam Jumpertz took his audience through a timeline (both visual on a screen and skill presentation) of his life and times in magic, with his journey in magic commencing when he was 11 years old, through to present day (at 26). Rather than being a self aggrandising focus, this aspect of the show was a nice glimpse into the man behind all the skills and also a valuable reminder that we all start from somewhere. Now, I personally know that Liam Jumpertz is epically talented, however if you were ever unsure of that fact this show absolutely proves it! What impressed me most was equally – the breadth of Liam’s skills – across magic but also with fire, whips and comedy AND his ability to entertain and maintain rapport with literally hundreds of people at once. Liam made sure at regular intervals that no one in the audience felt ‘left behind’ and regularly appeared towards the back of audience to ensure everyone remained engaged and entertained throughout the show.

I cannot write enough about the impressive levels of showmanship carried by Liam Jumpertz in this show – you really need to witness this for yourself. To top it all off, if Liam’s skill and entertainment strength doesn’t impress you, the finale of “Abracad!ckhead” surely will – the audience was literally screaming in disbelief!! It was UNBELIEVABLE!

With an age rating of 15+, the content of “Abracadickhead” could go to a lot of places, however Liam Jumpertz keeps everything clever and cheeky without overstepping things. If you’re looking for a comedy magic show to share with your friends and / or teens that are 15+ that packs A LOT of skill and entertainment into a relatively short time, “Abracadickhead” packs a punch and delivers on all aspects. It’s truly a comedy magic focused one man variety show!

VERDICT: I’m confident that “Abracadickhead” will be a highlight of your Melbourne Magic Festival – a thoroughly entertaining smorgasbord across comedy, magic and variety paired with epic levels of showmanship with an unbelievable finale.

I give this show FIVE STARS!

*Disclaimer: I attended this performance as a guest of Liam Jumpertz.

Click here for further details or to book your tickets to “Abracadickhead”

The Melbourne Magic Festival runs from June 29th until July 11th at Arrow on Swanston – 488 Swanston St Carlton. More information can be found here.

The Winter school holidays are upon us again in Melbourne (running from Monday June 29th – Saturday July 11th) which can only mean the most magical, whimsical and entertaining annual festival has commenced – The Melbourne Magic Festival! This enchanting festival has its hub at Arrow on Swanston in the Melbourne CBD and the program is full to the brim of a top hat with shows for families, children, adults and magic seekers of all ages. For those unaware, the event is the LARGEST magic festival in the Southern Hemisphere and attracts performers of all kinds and genres from across Australia and around the world. In 2026 the Melbourne Magic Festival (MMF) features 320 performances of 59 different shows over two weeks – at theatres within the Arrow on Swanston hub and at satellite venues across Melbourne.

Those of you familiar with this blog and my reviews will know that magic is my favourite type of performance art – I find it thrilling, entertaining and captivating in equal measures when it’s performed well. Again this year I will be attending and reviewing a selection of shows at the festival, so stay tuned for festival reviews appearing on this blog very soon.

Before I head off to indulge in an assortment of magical moments for 2026, I wanted to write a little throwback to the MMF launch I was invited to in May, which was hosted at the Spiegel Haus venue in the Melbourne CBD (which is definitely worth checking out!) On a crisp May evening, a friend and I met at the Spiegel Haus in Melbourne for the exciting launch of the 2026 Melbourne Magic Festival. The evening started with some tasty drinks at the rooftop beer garden within Spiegel Haus and we were given some instructions – in order to witness some magic, we needed to approach performers wearing a special pin and remark to them “You’re a magician! Show us a trick”. This added to the magical atmosphere of the night as mini magic presentations were appearing all around us at any moment. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, and the beer garden quickly filled with performers, festival supporters, guests and influencers. It was such an eclectic crowd – if you weren’t keeping an eye out for magic it was a top spot for people watching.

In no time it was our chance to head into the performance tent to be entertained by the 2026 MMF showcase – a cavalcade of short performances by magicians appearing at the festival. The first performer was the MMF director – Tim Ellis – who suspended himself from the ceiling of the tent for a straight jacket escape! What a way to commence a showcase – to gasps of surprise and a healthy round of applause from the audience. In no particular order, the MMF launch showcase also featured performances from:

– Davide (The Great Armando): who performed a mysterious card prediction with a slightly startled member of the audience.
– Nicholas J Johnson (Tricky Nick): a big hit with kids and families, performed a scene of what breakfast must look like in a surrealist house of magic.
– Josh Staley: multi award winner and excellent card manipulator, who had plenty of surprises in store for us all.
– The Quizzical Mr Jeff: performed a stunning array of contact juggling with crystal balls..think of the crystal ball juggling scene from the nostalgic film The Labyrinth….and then times that by 100! The crowd was so enthralled you could have heard a pin drop during the performance – it was definitely a highlight! Honestly could watch contact juggling every single day and not get bored of it.
– Anthony DeMasi: showed the audience why he’s one of the busiest and most sought after magicians in Melbourne, surprising the audience with doves randomly appearing, magical bubbles, a very mysterious paper bag and of course, his co stars – an adorable rabbit and guinea pig duo!

These showcase performances were sharp and quick, but just enough to give the audience a taste of what to expect during their festivals shows, which brings me to the showcase headliner – Duck Cameron. I was thrilled to see Duck Cameron in the lineup as it is rare to see him perform in public spaces on land – he’s an extremely sought after performer on cruise ships, for VIPs and for private events. To have the chance to witness his showcase performance was the absolute highlight of my night. Duck did not disappoint, performing an extremely polished set of magic set to a rocking soundtrack – energetic and entertaining, he’s a performer you don’t dare to take your eyes away from, in case you miss any magical moments. An absolutely captivating performer.

The magical adventures didn’t end there – post showcase, the launch event held an opportunity for audience members to gather in small groups and line up outside the mini venue “the Magic Box” to be ushered through mini stations hosted by different magicians, where close up magic happened in the blink of an eye and often in the palm of your hand. This area proved VERY popular – the line was fanging as no one wanted to miss out on their own magical moment. Post close up magic moments, the Magic Box turned into a live music venue, with fun magic performed in between music sets, which carried through late into the evening. Alas it was no late night for my friend and I – he had other plans to attend to (a usual karaoke haunt), and like the belle of the ball, I had to dash back home pronto.

Thank you to the MMF PR team for having me at this event, we had the best time.

The 2026 Melbourne Magic Festival runs from June 29 until July 11 with the hub at Arrow on Swanston – 488 Swanston St Carlton
Click here to be taken to the Melbourne Magic Festival website

Click here to learn more about the Spiegel Haus venue in Melbourne.

STAY TUNED for 2026 MMF show reviews appearing on this blog very soon!

Nestled within the trendy Melbourne suburb of Northcote lies The Laneway Theatre – an intimate theatre seating 32 audience members with a location so secretive that each ticket comes with directions of where to find it! In the interests of full disclosure I have attended numerous shows at The Laneway Theatre, however be assured that each have been thoroughly amazing, thrilling and magic in their own way. The recent matinee performance of Tim Ellis’ current show “Clearly Impossible: Tales from The Laneway Theatre” continued this trend. For those unaware, Tim Ellis is synonymous with magic in the fair city of Melbourne. Tim has been making magic in Melbourne (and all over the world) for over 40 years, is Director of The Melbourne Magic Festival, and owns as well as performs in The Laneway Theatre. I have seen Tim perform many magic shows, but there’s something special about his shows at The Laneway Theatre that excite and tempt me back for more magic!

The Laneway Theatre itself is full of corners of magic curios, from intriguing art pieces, awards and certificates to props – a hot tip is to visit the toilet while you’re there as even that isn’t left out of the ‘otherworldly’ theming (as bizarre as that sounds!) Prior to the show, Tim invites audience members to look around the space, including the interesting stage setup – in this case, clear glass table, with a drinking glass, coaster and deck of cards on top. Tim commences “Clearly Impossible: Tales from The Laneway Theatre” (which I’ll abbreviate here to “Clearly Impossible”) with some amazing pieces of coin and card magic using the glass table, much to the delight and audible gasps of his audience. A weekend matinee crowd usually includes children (in this case, recommended for ages 10+) and this show was no exception, with Tim engaging in some friendly banter and ‘pick a card’ style prompts with an eager young magic fan in the front row, prompting rounds of applause and laughter from the audience. For those interested in audience participation, this show delivers in spades. As always, Tim is respectful to those not wanting to join him on stage and all on stage audience interactions with audience members are done with consent and in good spirits (there are no uncomfortable jokes or forced participation). I’m hesitant to reveal the exact magical nature of my “Clearly Impossible” adventure, however I can mention that there were some eerie predictions, a signed card or two (including by yours truly, which made me thrilled!) and more than a hat full of fun was had by all. There was much laughter, and also gasps of disbelief amongst all the comedy. I found “Clearly Impossible” to be so captivating that I scarcely took any photos during the latter portion of the show, being too enthralled by Tim’s magic to be bothering with my phone’s camera.

“Clearly Impossible” delivers amazing magic and captivating stories. The storytelling is one of my favourite aspects of this show, making it all the more memorable but possibly also my favourite Laneway Theatre show by Tim Ellis to date – a big call, I know but I stand by it. It’s hard to go past world class magic that is set to some truly quirky yet addictive stories – once you’ve heard one, you’ll want to hear them all! The setup of “Clearly Impossible” echoes those old ‘choose your own adventure’ type stories so who knows which assortment of trickery and tales you might discover when you come along and enjoy “Clearly Impossible” – clearly entertaining, clearly captivating magic. If you haven’t visited The Laneway Theatre yet, it is definitely a ‘must-do’ on your list – whether you’re a local, looking for a fun evening that’s out of the ordinary or wanting to impress family and friends. I can’t recommend The Laneway Theatre enough!

HOT TIP: try your best to get to The Laneway Theatre EARLY so you’re free to explore the wonderful magical theatre space, it really adds to the experience (plus latecomers can sometimes get locked out!) Also, keep an eye out for matinee shows – while not always guaranteed for each show run, they’re perfect for parents with children / younger children, those who don’t want to be out late or even those who DO have other events to attend later at night. Matinees are truly suitable for all!

Sadly, there are only limited shows remaining in the current run of “Clearly Impossible: Tales from The Laneway Theatre”. I hope this show (or ‘choose your own adventure’ types shows like it) return again soon. Check out the remaining run of “Clearly Impossible” here. For more information about The Laneway Theatre, click here.

*Disclaimer: I attended this performance as a guest of The Laneway Theatre.