A Stonehouse magician has won a prestigious regional title after a record 10 performers competed in what was described as one of the closest contests in recent years.
Nick Brunger was crowned the Cotswold Magical Society’s Stand Up Magician of the Year at the society’s annual competition in Gloucester this month. His mind-reading performance, featuring five members of the audience and a sequence of predictions, was voted the evening’s most entertaining act.
Brunger received the Sylvestre Trophy, which was first awarded by the society in 1944. The competition brought together conjurors performing across a broad range of styles, including children’s magic, mentalism and card tricks.
A closely fought competition
Brunger said he felt privileged to have been selected from a strong field of regional performers.
“It was an amazing evening and I feel very privileged to have been chosen as the winner from among some of the best performers in the region,”
He said the standard of the competition reflected the variety of magic on offer, from a “madcap children’s act” to feats of mentalism and card tricks.
“The standard was incredibly high and reflected a wide range of magic from a madcap children’s act to baffling feats of mentalism and stunning card tricks.”
Brunger is pictured with fellow competitors holding the award after the Gloucester event.
From mentalism to Gothic storytelling
The Stonehouse performer regularly entertains local clubs and societies around the county with two shows: the mentalism act Tricks of the Mind and Strange Tales from Gloucestershire’s Past, which is based on local history.
His first love, however, is combining Gothic magic with storytelling. That interest previously took him to the Hex Factor award at the international Doomsday festival, where he competed against performers from around the world two years ago.
His latest success comes ahead of a three-night Halloween engagement at Woodchester Mansion. The show, Something Wicked This Way Comes, will be performed at the reportedly haunted venue from October 29 to 31. Tickets are available through the mansion’s website.
Halloween shows at Woodchester Mansion
Brunger said Woodchester Mansion provided the right setting for unusual magic and stories drawn from the past.
“It’s a terrific venue for performing some very unusual magic and revealing some decidedly unsettling stories from the past.”
He said this year’s performances would feature a completely new selection of tales. People who attended last year’s sell-out shows could expect new unsettling material for Halloween.
“This year I have a completely new selection of tales so those who enjoyed last year’s sell-out shows will find plenty of unsettling material to help them celebrate the scariest time of the year in style.”
Tickets and further information are available at woodchestermansion.org.uk.