Flabbergasters: Magic! Circus! Christmas!

Seasonal programming can be a tricky sleight of hand. Lean too hard into novelty and the work risks becoming disposable; aim too lofty and you lose the very families you’re hoping to welcome through the doors. Flabbergasters: Magic! Circus! Christmas! threads that needle with confidence and cheer, delivering a polished, joyful work that understands its audience without ever talking down to them.

Performed by Magic Pete (Pete Booth) and Stuntman Joel (Joel Fenton), the show thrives on contrast. Booth taps directly into childlike wonder, performing with an openness that invites curiosity rather than cynicism. Fenton brings a slightly more worldly energy, allowing darker, cheekier humour to skim past young ears while landing squarely with the adults. It’s a smart tonal balance and one that speaks to decades of experience reading a room.

Their partnership is grounded in trust, both in each other and in the audience. Bravery and technical skill are evident throughout, particularly in Fenton’s juggling and balance work, which repeatedly provokes audible gasps. Booth’s magic demonstrates a deep understanding of pacing and misdirection. Even for viewers well-versed in the mechanics of illusion, there are moments that resist easy explanation. Those flashes of genuine mystery are rare and valuable, and they remind us why magic still holds power as a live artform.

The structure of the show supports this strength. A varied rhythm of magic, circus skill, and audience interaction keeps energy buoyant and attention sharp. Crowd participation is handled with warmth and care. It’s playful, inclusive, and never threatening, resulting in a room that feels safe to respond, shout, laugh, and lean forward. The audience, spanning toddlers to grandparents, meets that invitation enthusiastically.

One particularly thoughtful moment sees the performers demonstrate a simple appearing-flower illusion, with the tools required to perform the trick ourselves gifted to each audience member as we leave the theatre. It’s a generous gesture with significant impact: demystifying the craft just enough to spark curiosity while encouraging young people to try, practice, and perform themselves.

Santa’s appearance is seamlessly integrated rather than treated as a novelty add-on, reinforcing the festive framing while maintaining the integrity of the performers’ work. Behind the scenes, the creative team plays a vital role in sustaining that Christmas atmosphere. Set design establishes an immediate seasonal context, while lighting is clean and effective, supporting shifts in mood without drawing attention to itself. The soundtrack is well chosen, buoyant and responsive, enhancing momentum rather than competing for focus.

What ultimately distinguishes Flabbergasters: Magic! Circus! Christmas! is its generosity. Generous with laughter, with skill, with time, and with its audience. It’s a show that understands entertainment as a shared act of performers and spectators meeting in the same moment of delight. As holiday programming goes, this is a strong example of family theatre done with craft, care, and respect. Fun, funny, and quietly impressive, it offers exactly what the season calls for: connection, wonder, and a reminder that live performance still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Kitty Goodall