Marcel Oudejans is no ordinary magician. Watching him ply his trade at the Rat and Parrot, where he astounded revellers with card-tricks, it is easy to see why.
Having practised magic for over 20 years, he says he started off working in pubs as an 18-year-old, earning his wage in tips.
Marcel Oudejans is no ordinary magician. Watching him ply his trade at the Rat and Parrot, where he astounded revellers with card-tricks, it is easy to see why.
Having practised magic for over 20 years, he says he started off working in pubs as an 18-year-old, earning his wage in tips.
“It taught me to be more engaging with the audience,” he says. This comes through in his show, Sleight of Mouth, his first appearance at Festival which can be described as an amalgamation of magic and comedy. Rather than create an awkward, ‘audience-versus-the-magician’ situation, he pulls the audience in, engaging them with jokes and witty quips.
The result: audiences in stitches of laughter while still flabbergasted by his tricks, incorporating vast arrays of props.
“I like working with what I’ve got,” he says. “Besides, I like to have toys in my pockets and go out and play.”
Taking a new spin on magic, his show is a must-see this Festival.
