Every December, Edinburgh lights up with magic, wonder and mystery for the Edinburgh International Magic Festival, also known as MagicFest.
The only one of its kind in the UK, MagicFest returns for its sixteenth annual edition from 17th – 30th December 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to know what makes this magic band of folks tick, here’s your chance to dive into the secrets behind their mystical arts…
Firstly, how does someone get into an industry where the point is, as the saying goes, ‘a magician never reveals their secrets’?
For some, it was an unexpected career change. As in the case of Kevin Quantum; “I was quietly doing perfectly respectable physics research when Channel 4 threw me into a science-meets-magic reality experiment. One minute I was calculating probabilities, the next I was being told to levitate something by Tuesday. Six weeks later, I’d somehow emerged as a magician. So really, it’s Channel 4’s fault.”
On the other end of magic on TV, Jeff Burns of Four Magicians recalls, “I watched David Nixon rip up £5 on his TV show in the 70s when I was seven or eight. He restored the note and I remember thinking two things: 1) that was very cool, and 2) if he is rich enough to rip up £5 (which was a lot of money back then!) I want to know more about this thing called magic.”
But magicians are often most deeply inspired by the feeling it evokes. “I’ve always loved believing in things and chasing that feeling of wonder,” explains Jamie Leonard. “Sometimes it wasn’t even magic – my first trip to Disneyland completely blew my mind. I realised I loved the way that feeling made you forget everything else, and I wanted to create that for other people.”
Do magicians believe in good luck? We asked the like up if they have any unusual traditions or lucky items before a show.
Without a doubt, Jamie Leonard does. “Oh yes – I have rituals”, he says, “like always going to the toilet at the same time before every show – it’s oddly comforting. And then there’s the most important part: I talk to my props. I’ll be setting up and say things like, “You’re going to smash it today, Sharpie, don’t let me down!” It’s ridiculous, but it gets me and the props confident – by the time the audience walks in, we’re all ready to put on a great show.”
The trio of magicians at Insane Magic have a series of aptly bizarre pre-show traditions. “We actually have LOADS of these. For example, before every show, backstage during our infamous “countdowns” at the start of each show, we all jump, shadow box and get each other hyped up for the show. And just before we go on; every member of our cast and crew backstage do what we call a “curl in” with our hands – all together.”
Tricky Ricky vows by creating the correct ambiance before a show. “I have music by my favourite 80s band, Madness, playing as the audience take their seats.”
“One minute I was calculating probabilities, the next I was being told to levitate something by Tuesday.”
Jeff Burns similarly says, “I like to see the audience arrive before the show to help me get a feel for their combined personality. Most audiences create their own collective personality.”
But sometimes magic tokens and good luck charms fail us. What is the most memorable instance of a spectator disrupting your performance, and how did you handle or mitigate the situation in the moment?
Eoin Smith told us, “I do a routine in the show that’s a little creepy, and one time a spectator got such a fright that she jumped backwards and landed up on the floor, looking up at me, in a bit of a daze. I’ve been chasing that reaction again ever since.”
James Dickson had a similar experience, when “Someone in the audience fell off their seat at the end of a trick I was doing. They were fine, and it was a lovely compliment.”
Sometimes, audience members get caught up in the moment. “Someone once got properly carried away on stage”, recalled Kevin Quantum, “playing up, ignoring every subtle hint to settle down and just enjoy the ride. So, borrowing a classic move from the legendary Wayne Dobson, I muted my mic, leaned in, and whispered, “Stop fucking about.” And you know what? He did.”
The general consensus is that the best thing to do is roll with the punches in the moment. Tricky Ricky plainly called it out once. “At a birthday party, a young volunteer decided to “help” by revealing the secret of a trick to the audience. I turned it into a running joke, making the child my “official magic inspector” for the rest of the show. It kept the mood light and made everyone feel included.”
Ivor Smith Four Magicians just glossed over it. “In one of our routines, we get four people to pick a ball from a bag containing four balls. But one person only pretended to take a ball, which unexpectedly left one ball in the bag at the end, so we handed that out to a fifth spectator and ended up with five people on stage instead of four. We rolled with it and the routine still worked and the audience were none the wiser.”
“I talk to my props. I’ll be setting up and say things like, “You’re going to smash it today, Sharpie, don’t let me down!”
Since MagicFest is in the festive season, what is the most unusual Christmas or Scottish-winter item you’ve ever tried to incorporate into an illusion?
Tricky Ricky: “This year, Jingles the Reindeer — a recurring character in my festive shows — appears as a puppet with his trademark tartan nose.”
Kevin Quantum: “A tub of Mackie’s ice cream. I once made it levitate as part of a run of marketing videos for them. The only time I’ve been paid in dairy-based altitude.”
James Dickson: “My own line of Christmas greeting cards… ‘Pick a card!’”
Insane Magic: “This show specifically includes loads of Christmas-themed magic! From giant Christmas presents; to Christmas stocking (and stocking filler) themed magic; and even a grand finale with an extra-special Christmas cracker.”
Tim Licata: “Snow and whiskey”.
As we look ahead to MagicFest’s sixteenth edition this year, we will see over 80 shows attracting over 10,000 visitors.
We asked our magicians to choose two words that best capture the philosophical principle of their show.
“Engaging Wonder”, states Tim Licata. “The power of imagination is also a theme that runs through a lot of my effects but I have a routine I refer to as The Power of Imagination.”
For Tricky Ricky, it’s “Jokes & Tricks. My shows are all about high-energy fun and interactive magic, where the audience, especially the children, are part of the action.”
As part of the Four Magicians, Ivor Smith chooses Creative Teamwork. “Any of our ensemble pieces define this principle, although it’s applied to all routines in the show, including individual ones, as the whole show is a collaboration.”
In some cases, the performers themselves asked the same question to create their show title. Cameron Gibson, of Insane Magic, explains “We decided the two words to describe our show long ago: “Insane Magic”! We chose this name kinda carefully because we think it tells our audiences exactly what they can expect: big, amazing magic; fast-paced and edgy comedy; wacky, silly, and warm chemistry between us on stage”.
Finally, who were your magic heroes growing up? Have you had the chance to meet or perform for them?
Jamie Leonard was massively inspired by Ben Hart, Colin Cloud and Wayne Dobson. “I grew up watching Ben and Colin perform at the Fringe every year — they were incredible, and I honestly don’t think I’d be doing magic today if it wasn’t for sitting in those audiences, completely mesmerised.
I discovered Wayne Dobson on YouTube. I loved his sense of humour and always try to sneak a bit of that into my own act.
Colin has been especially amazing; I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on his show, he’s also seen my show. He’s now basically my consultant. Massive thanks to him for all his support — it’s surreal to go from being a kid in the audience to having him guide and help me in my career.”
Eoin recalls meeting a hero. “I got the chance to interview Paul Daniels for a magic magazine once – and afterwards he invited me to stay and chat with him and his friends for a few hours. That was a really special experience.
“I grew up watching Ben and Colin perform at the Fringe every year — they were incredible, and I honestly don’t think I’d be doing magic today if it wasn’t for sitting in those audiences, completely mesmerised...”
I was also influenced by double act Barry and Stuart growing up. I loved their dark humour. They’re from near Aberdeen, so I’ve had the chance to hang out with them a few times, too.”
The trio of Insane Magic all draw on different inspirations during their combined show. Luke Osey says, “For me, it has to be Pete Firman, his seamless combination of comedy and magic was inspiring.”
Cameron details, “My biggest magic hero growing up was Derren Brown. Both his TV specials and stage shows really pushed the boundaries of what people saw as ‘magic’ and really opened the door to a whole new understanding of that genre of magic.”
Elliot Bibby chooses “Definitely David Williamson – he’s hilarious, has amazing stage presence but also is a technically brilliant magician and is well respected in the industry for matching all those things together”.
We’ll leave the last words to maestro of MagicFest, Kevin Quantum for whom Houdini was a natural choice, “although meeting him would require a séance”, he continues. “Derren Brown — who once said something very kind about my work, which I’ve kept in my heart (and possibly on my website). Penn & Teller — I’ve performed for them, survived the experience, and somehow resisted the urge to curtsy.”
Featured Image: MagicFest Future Magicians
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