BARRIE HUDSON previews a magic show at the Wyvern, where secrets are shared DARK comedy illusionists Barry and Stuart bring their Show and Tell to the Wyvern Theatre tomorrow.

Sometimes compared favourably to American magicians Penn and Teller, the two have received a stream of rave reviews for a brand of magic that’s anything but the safe and cheesy type of fare associated with illusionists in years gone by.

As their website, www.barryandstuart.com, notes: “They caused a national outcry with their Christmas and Easter TV specials, The Magic of Jesus and Tricks from the Bible in which the pair visited Egypt to walk on water, raise the dead, and even make a real honest-to-goodness virgin pregnant.”

Barry and Stuart are Barry Jones and Stuart Macleod, Aberdonians who met and began performing illusions in the mid-1990s while still in their teens.

They are the stars of BBC1’s The Magicians and won a World Magic Award in the ‘Best Comedy Illusionists’ category.

Barry and Stuart have presented five hour-long Edinburgh Fringe Festival live shows including Part-Time Warlocks, Powered by Demons and 98% Séance.

The other two Fringe shows, called Show and Tell, came last year, and saw them break the magician’s code by exposing their secrets. All five Edinburgh outings sold out, and the current tour is based on Show and Tell.

In the first half of tomorrow’s show in Swindon, the audience can expect their trademark innovative tricks and devious illusions, while in the second Barry and Stuart will make one of their characteristic departures from convention by telling everybody how the illusions were done.

The performance will not be suitable for children aged under 12.

Tickets cost £13 to £15 from 01793 524481 or www.wyverntheatre.org.uk.