Magicfest casts spell on return to Capital

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival has announced that it will return for a second year with dozens more acts and three extra days, despite being given no public funding because it is not considered to be an "art".

Organiser Kevin McMahon, a full-time magician, said the Magicfest event would host 80 shows instead of last year's 50 and had jumped from five to eight days.

But even though he hailed last year's not-for-profit event as a "great success", he said it had no public or government funding because it was viewed more as entertainment than art.

He said: "We applied for funding last year from the Scottish Arts Council and unfortunately didn't get it.

"We found it quite hard to get support last year as Magicfest is a one-of-a-kind event and sometimes we had to change people's perception of magic. Not everyone sees it as an art form and many people have never seen a quality live magic show.

"I feel magic triggers the imagination and enhances creativity, which are at the heart of innovation, invention, problem solving, science and the arts.

"This year we wanted to apply for funding from Creative Scotland but we couldn't find the funding category the festival could fit into.

"It's essential for us to develop partnerships with arts and cultural agencies in order to sustain and develop this unique event, which will benefit Edinburgh and spotlight the art of magic on a national scale."

In 2010, Magicfest mostly relied on private donations and ticket sales, as well as favours from Mr McMahon's contacts and fellow magicians.

This year, shows will be held at venues including the Lyceum Theatre, Storytelling Centre, The Pleasance, The Stand and Festival Theatre. Special events will also take place at Camera Obscura and Mary King's Close.

Mr McMahon, who lives in Dalry, said: "We feel that we have to prove ourselves, develop the festival and show them what we're about. Last year, we sold 64 per cent of tickets and we're hoping for a similar amount this year.

"The festival is not-for-profit and any money we make will be put back into the festival next year. In the long term we will need some funding, but we're simply focused on putting on a good show."

Mr McMahon added that the festival was introducing a worldwide award in honour of the Great Lafayette. He said: "He was as big as Houdini, maybe bigger in this country, and we wanted to honour such a great magician. Anyone who practises magic can enter the competition and the winner will be announced on July 4."

The programme for the festival, which runs from July 1-8, is set to be released next month. Tickets go on sale on May 7.

Memorial will be simply wizard

DAVID McCANN

ONE of Edinburgh's most extravagant illusionists is to be honoured with a graveside eulogy to mark the 100th anniversary of his death.

The Great Lafayette, a 40-year-old German-American magician, died on stage at the Empire Theatre following a freak blaze in 1911, with his ashes buried at Piershill Cemetery.

During the show finale, in which he appeared to swap places with a live lion just as it was about to pounce on a young woman, a lamp toppled into the cushions and curtains on the set, setting it alight.

Those on stage perished in the blaze as a fire curtain blocked their exit to the auditorium and several of the backstage doors had been locked to prevent people finding out the secrets behind the illusionist's tricks.

It is hoped a member of the Magic Circle will agree to read a eulogy on May 11.

David Duff, funeral director at Piershill Cemetery, said: "For me he is one of the most notable personalities as regards the theatre that Edinburgh has ever seen."