We chatted to the magician about bringing his show ‘Amaze’ to the West End.
How does it feel to be bringing ‘Amaze’ to the West End? It’s just a surreal and thrilling experience, I would be nervous if I was not so busy with the team getting everything ready! Bringing ‘Amaze’ to the West End feels like the culmination of a dream I’ve been chasing since childhood and ironically this show is all about exactly that…childhood dreams and remarkable coincidences. This show at the Criterion Theatre came about because of a series of crazy coincidences. It’s like it was always meant to be. It’s beyond exciting. It’s an opportunity to take everything I’ve ever wanted to express through magic and storytelling, and deliver it on one of the world’s biggest stages.
What can audiences expect from the show? ‘Amaze’ is more than just tricks – it’s a remarkable true story and one that pulls from some deeply personal experiences that shaped me as both a magician and a person. There are moments of high spectacle, but also intimate ones where the magic feels personal, there is so much magic that happens right in your own hands. It’s a different way of presenting magic for today, it’s a truly theatrical production. Expect to be moved, expect to laugh and, of course, be thoroughly amazed. Not just at the magic but at the story.
How did you first get into the world of magic? Like many, my initial spark came from a magic set, but the real tipping point happened when I stumbled into an antique shop with my mother when I was seven. The shop contained the entire estate of a magician, and it was like stepping into a forgotten world. I was immediately drawn to the history, the secrets hidden in old books and props. It felt like fate, like magic had found me, rather than the other way around.
Who were your biggest idols in terms of magicians when you were growing up? Growing up, Doug Henning and Penn & Teller were the ones who really shaped my perception of magic. Doug Henning had such a joyful and theatrical style – he made magic feel like a celebration of wonder. Penn & Teller, on the other hand, showed me how magic could be intellectually challenging while still being incredibly entertaining. They constantly push boundaries, and I admired how they weren’t afraid to reinvent what a magic show could be. It’s one of my greatest honours to know Penn & Teller and in fact they helped me create one of the routines in the show!
What do you love the most about doing what you do? What I love most is seeing the audience forget reality, even for a moment. A magician’s audience is often made up of both dreamers and sceptics. The dreamers embrace the wonder, while the sceptics are always trying to figure out how it’s done. My goal as a magician is to get those sceptics to stop asking “how” and, for just a few seconds, rediscover that sense of wonder they had as kids, when magic still felt real. My favourite thing is watching those sceptics turn into dreamers again.
By Emma Clarendon
Jamie’s Allan’s Amaze will open at the Criterion Theatre for a strictly limited season of 47 shows from Friday 18 October to Saturday 23 November. Tickets:https://amazemagic.com/