Syllabus & Session Guide
Explore our upcoming sessions, key dates, and skills you’ll learn throughout the programme.
Add all sessions to your calendar so you never miss a meeting.
An Evening with Brendan Rodrigues – Sleeving & Visual Magic
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for an evening with Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year 2016, Brendan Rodrigues. Discover his approach to sleeving and highly visual magic, including crystal ball manipulation, coins, pens, elastic bands, training techniques and practical advice from years of real-world performance.
Simpson Shield: A Spooky Trick
A spooky twist on our Simpson Shield competition! Members are challenged to perform their best bizarre, creepy or spooky-themed magic in a fun and friendly evening of magical competition.
100th Anniversary of Houdini Presented by Michael Diamond
Discover the story and enduring mystery of Houdini with Michael Diamond at this special Hull Magicians’ Circle public magic event in Hull.
Trick to Music & Stagecraft
Simpson Shield — a trick to music followed by a talk by James Long on stagecraft, time‑travelling, and performing illusions
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for one of our Simpson Shield competition nights, where members perform magic based around a set theme. These friendly club competitions are a chance to try new ideas, develop performance skills, share creativity and enjoy an evening of magic with fellow members.
Event highlights
Simpson Shield competition: Members present a routine set to music, judged on creativity, presentation, and technical skill.
Guest talk: James Long discusses stagecraft, his experiences with time‑travelling themes in performance, and the art of presenting illusions to engage modern audiences.
Workshops and feedback: Constructive critique after performances to help members refine routines and explore new directions.
Social time: Meet fellow magicians, exchange ideas, and build mentorship connections rooted in the Circle’s long history.
Who should attend
Club members preparing for competition or performance.
Magicians interested in integrating music, storytelling, and theatrical stagecraft into their acts.
Anyone wanting to learn from James Long’s practical insights into pacing, mise‑en‑scene, and thematic illusion work.
Details
Format: Short performance to music (Simpson Shield entries), followed by James Long’s on‑stage talk and Q&A.
Aim: Encourage experimentation, improve performance technique, and celebrate the Circle’s tradition of mentorship and community since 1933.
Bring your ideas, your ears for music, and a readiness to receive constructive feedback.
An Evening for Every Magician - by Dave Jones
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for an evening with award-winning magician Dave Jones. Combining magic, comedy and mentalism with a wide variety of props and routines, Dave promises an entertaining and practical lecture with genuinely something for everyone.
An Evening With Harry Robson
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for an evening with renowned professional magician Harry Robson. Discover practical, highly commercial magic designed for real-world performance, with accessible routines, entertaining presentation and plenty of genuine WOW moments.
Christmas Party
Celebrate Christmas with Hull Magicians’ Circle at our festive magic party, bringing together magic, entertainment and Christmas cheer in Hull. And of couruse the chance to win the Bob Moore Comedy Trophey
Simpson Shield: A Trick with Money
An evening of money magic with a special workshop from Paul Kitchini, followed by our Trick with Money Simpson Shield, where members perform their best money-themed magic.
Annual Supper Guest Lecture
Exciting news coming.
Tickets and further details Full ticketing and programme information will be released soon. Watch this space for booking information and performer announcements.
We look forward to celebrating with you and sharing more exciting news very soon.
Perform A Comedy Trick: Simpson Shield
Comedy meets magic at Hull Magicians’ Circle with our Comedy Trick Simpson Shield night, plus Betcha Can’t and misdirection-themed magic.
An Evening with Lee Alex – Better the Devil You Know
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for Lee Alex’s “Better the Devil You Know” lecture. Discover the incredible versatility of the Devil’s Hank through practical magic, creative ideas and applications ranging from close-up and parlour to stage and mentalism.
Marks. Get Set. Go! - Magic Sports Host by Jon Marshall
Take part in Magic Sports with Hull Magicians’ Circle, a fun and interactive club night hosted by Jon and Richard for our members.
Trick of the Mind - Mentalism Workshop
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for one of our Simpson Shield competition nights, where members perform magic based around a set theme. These friendly club competitions are a chance to try new ideas, develop performance skills, share creativity and enjoy an evening of magic with fellow members.
Final Round Of Simpson Shield: My Favourite Trick
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for one of our Simpson Shield competition nights, where members perform magic based around a set theme. These friendly club competitions are a chance to try new ideas, develop performance skills, share creativity and enjoy an evening of magic with fellow members.
John Gresham Request Night & Nominations Night
John Gresham Request Night
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for our John Gresham Request Night, a relaxed and entertaining club evening where members can put forward requests, revisit favourite effects and share magic with the rest of the Circle.
It’s a chance to see a wide variety of magic, rediscover routines from the past and perhaps challenge fellow members to perform something a little different. A fun, informal evening celebrating the variety, knowledge and talent within Hull Magicians’ Circle.
Presidents Night - Mystery Lecture
Details to follow, be sure to keep a wishful eye out.
Michael Vincent
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for a special evening with internationally acclaimed close-up magician Michael Vincent. Through performance, discussion and practical demonstrations, Michael will explore The Anatomy of Strong Magic and reveal the thinking, structure and creative process behind making magic feel truly magical.
Pocket Trick Drive
NEW SEASON: FIRST NIGHT Thursday 3 September 2026, 7:45 pm
Kick-off: Pocket Trick Drive — compete for the Maskelyne Wand. Perform a pocket-sized trick; members vote. Winner gets the Maskelyne Wand Trophy.
Join us for club nights, lectures, workshops and competitions. Bring a pocket trick and be ready to entertain.
Pictured: last year’s winner Mark Grierson receiving the Jasper Maskelyne Silver Wand from HMC President Paul Baker-Kitchen.
Jon Gresham Request Night
The Jon Gresham Request Night is one of Hull Magicians' Circle’s most popular and interactive evenings, giving members the chance to request effects, sleights, topics, or areas of magic they would like to learn more about.
Whether it’s a classic card routine, a favourite move, presentation ideas, mentalism, stagecraft, or advice on performance, members can ask questions and share knowledge in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.
The evening is designed to encourage learning, discussion, and the passing on of magical knowledge between members of all experience levels — continuing the spirit of mentorship and creativity that Jon Gresham championed within the Circle.
Celebration Night 2026 – Hull Magicians’ Circle Awards & Magic Evening
Join Hull Magicians’ Circle for Celebration Night 2026 featuring the Simpson Shield results, Eddie Dawes’ President’s Award, buffet, social evening, and a special parlour magic performance by John Morton.
A Night to Remember David Hand
To honour and remember David Hand’s commitment and involvement in our magic circle and the art, we are asking members to choose one of David's top tier rated tricks from The Royal Road to Card Magic.
As many of you know, David was keen to keep details and references with many of his books containing notes and small envelopes with page references to where the trick came from.
As a committee we feel it would be fitting to have a look at these tricks and bring them back to light.
So, we ask, can all of our members look at this list and choose a couple of 3 star tricks to perform in honour of David Hand.
To see both pages of the list and a PDF copy of The Royal Road to Card Magic, it is uploaded onto our Google Drive, which can be accessed here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rwtkX-tth3aqAO6h6I8PqqwxcbN7jD4T?usp=sharing
Vinny Sagoo Lecture
Vinny – Neo Magic Lecture Bio
Vinny is the creator behind Neo Magic, a brand he launched in 2018 with a clear mission: to produce high-quality, practical magic that working magicians will genuinely use.
Since its launch, Neo Magic has gained international recognition, with effects such as Word Up, Mystify, and Attraction featured in leading magic magazines worldwide. Mystify has even been performed on television and remains one of Vinny’s most popular and impactful creations.
Vinny is known not only for strong, commercial effects but also for his clear and accessible teaching style. His releases are designed with the modern magician in mind, combining written instruction, visual guidance, and video learning to suit all skill levels. Respected reviewers, including Magic Orthodoxy, have praised his approach.
In this lecture, Vinny shares a selection of his most practical material, along with insights into creativity, routining, and making magic both powerful and workable in real-world performances.
Sean Goodman Lecture
For over 30 years, Sean Goodman has been living his dream of being a full-time close-up magician.
His lecture is aptly named 100%, as all the routines and effects are 100% workers that have been worked in real-world situations.
The lecture is perfect for any magician looking to add some solid, beautifully constructed material to their close-up set. And…. Wait for it…. Not a lecture filled with just card tricks!!!!
In addition, those who want to generate more wedding booking, Sean will share some absolute GOLD here.
Sean has created quite a few of his own works, which have been widely acclaimed by magicians worldwide, and is an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle.
100% - see you there.
Connolly Shield - Stage Competion
Hull Magicians’ Circle presents the Connolly Shield, a live stage magic competition in Hull, East Yorkshire. Local magicians perform and compete in an exciting evening of magic and entertainment.
Pocket Trick Drive
You will be invited to attend a couple of club nights to get a feel for the group and meet fellow magicians.
This will be followed by an informal chat with a few committee members to discuss your interest in magic and your journey so far.
A date will then be arranged for you to perform a short “initiation” for the members, who will anonymously vote on your membership.