Taking place in a multi-level warehouse-style event space in Tanner Street, London Bridge, guests are recommended to turn up an hour before the show. Running about five minutes late, after rushing from a nearby eatery, we were stalled by door security at The Magicians Table before climbing to the speakeasy bar on the first floor.
It’s here my partner and I entered the make-believe memorial of the fictional character, and late magician, Dieter Roterburg. Having seemingly missed the introductory speech by Dieter’s “widow”, Calliope, we were swiftly ushered to a small table and shown the large cocktail menu. Do note: expect London prices with £13.50 cocktails, £10 mocktails, and £8.50 for the most affordable glass of red or white wine; a lager is £5 and 25ml spirits are £5.50.
It’s here you catch a preview of the magic to take place upstairs at “Dieter’s theatre” – and by the same magicians.
One noteworthy showman was Nick Stein, a member of The Magic Circle and an associate of The Inner Magic Circle. A wonderful performer, his magic – and demeanor – was truly captivating, engaging, and theatrical.
Another stand-out magician of the night was Maxwell Pritchard, a fellow Member of the Magic Circle. Out of 21 magicians who can appear at your table, there will only be four or five you see up close at your table.
Not being able to know which trickster will appear before you might be part of the mystique, but it does mean the wonder of the show depends on who you get.
Sharing a table with up to 10 people, you are invited into the magical world of misdirection, sleight of hand, vanishing tricks and more – and you won’t be able to figure it out.
The magic surely is impressive, but what lets the experience down – in my opinion – is the numerous interludes.
And while the host (widow-turned-emcee) Calliope is a confident and, at times, funny presenter, it’s the memorial storyline that falls short.
To me, it seems this part of the show is a lacklustre filler so that guests can buy more drinks. And priced from £69 per ticket, the whole farce could be dropped in place of additional mesmerising magic.
My verdict: 3.5/5
