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.
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.
Tay Around Town 