Educational Magic Shows

There are two educational magic shows that Stephen offers for infant and primary schools. Each show is structured to teach important elements regarding the show theme and to be tied in to the key curriculum. The shows are Reading and Recycling. He also offers a Christmas theme show and a Halloween themed show at the appropriate times of the year.

Amazing Stephen is an ex-secondary school ICT teacher. He left the profession to pursue his interest in magic full time, but that hasn't stopped him from creating an educational based magic show to take into the schools. Each show is designed to inspire the children to the important messages of the show. The effects he performs are all related to the theme and each show has ties with the current national curriculum.

Each show has ten key points about the subject matter that we will explore through the medium of magic and ventriloquism / puppets.

 All the shows can be performed in the corner of a classroom or to the entire school of 1000 children on the stage.

Approximately six children will participate on stage with a trick, but everyone will be participating with the magic throughout the performance.

Reading Is Magic

The ‘Reading is Magic’ show is a one-hour performance which includes magic, puppetry and ventriloquism. Amazing Stephen (the performer) is dressed as a Master Wizard and performs a variety of effects based upon popular children’s books.  The ten reasons for reading we will explore are:

1. Books can increase our reading speed & ability

2. Books can teach us stuff

3. Reading books to be popular

4. Reading can be fun

5. Audio books help us read

6. Books can help us learn new skills

7. I like bedtime stories

8. Recycling books

9. Find out what happens in the next film

10. Books can enhance your imagination

Each reason will be explored and demonstrated as a magic effect. Several Puppets including Harry Potters Owl and the Talking Spell Book will also make an appearance.

The show itself is very comedy based and will have children of all ages from 2 to 13 laughing for the complete duration. It is targeted for the primary school market, but has been performed in Nurseries and Secondary Schools as well. However in those places, certain tricks are done in substitution to better suit those ages. For instance, in the Secondary School I would end with the Arm-Chopper Illusion, while for a Nursery there would be another puppet routine.  

Amongst the show, we will also look at audio-books as a way of helping children to read, and the idea of recycling books and newspapers after you have finished reading them. This show has been performed at various Schools and Libraries throughout 2009 to celebrate the ‘Quest Seekers’ Reading theme of the year.

Recycling Show

This show is about recycling and saving the planet. Stephen will perform classic tricks such as the Torn and Restored newspaper, where the paper is recycled by magic. We will also speak to my Cheeky Monkey puppet who is complaining that his home in the jungle is being knocked down. He then performs his own trick with little red balls that comes out of his mouth, as though he were recycling them.

The entire show is designed to teach what can be recycled and why we should recycle. We will perform tricks using tin cans, bottles, clothes, books and newspapers. All of which are used to demonstrate Recycling in all its forms. 

The ten points we will look at in regards to recycling are:

1. What can we recycle?

2. Why should we recycle?

3. Recycling can earn us money

4. Reduce, Reuse Recycle

5. How can we reduce our rubbish?

6. What can we reuse?

7. What can we recycle?

8. What can we repair?

9. Where can you Recycle?

10. Where things go when they are recycled

For each point, there is a magical effect or puppet routine to explain the message and help the children understand what it means, as well as remembering it. 

Christmas Show

Stephen's Christmas Show is very festive, which has him performing tricks such as the vanishing Christmas Stocking and making the Christmas Tree Lights appear in the air. He also has a Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer Puppet that sings for the children, along with a Mini-Santa Puppet that is going to get all the children socks for Christmas!

 It is a comedy based show with lots of audience participation and offers the opportunity for approximately six children to participate directly within the show. It can be performed for the entire school, or just a handful of children and is written to bring the magic of Christmas to all the children watching.

Halloween Show

Stephen dresses as the Grand Wizard and will perform numerous comical effects using magic wands and witches rings. You will often see his talking Owl and magic talking book in his show also. Even though this is a Halloween show, the tricks he performs will be appropriate for the audience watching. He can perform danger type tricks such as the arm guillotine illusion but only if it is suitable for your audience.