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.