Now You See Me – Live

★★★★☆

"It’s fast-paced, hugely entertaining and packed with moments that leave you wondering"

This is the biggest magic show in the world at the moment and will be one of the biggest stage spectaculars in the capital this summer!

NOW YOU SEE ME LIVE, inspired by Lionsgate’s worldwide blockbuster franchise,NowYouSeeMe, will bring the magic to life with a mix of high-tech illusions, solo stunts, and jaw-dropping spectacles.

A world-class magic ensemble inspired by the film’s characters, “The Horsemen” will stun audiences in a showcase of unmatched synergy. Assembling from around the globe, they will bring an unbelievable arsenal of solo skills, shocking twists and grand feats of illusion to London this summer.

Review by Richard Lambert

This is HUGE! Think full-on Las Vegas spectacle – David Copperfield meets Siegfried & Roy. Thankfully there are no white lions or white tigers involved, but there is a helicopter on stage, which gives you some idea of the scale here.

Of course, the big illusions are always going to be the headline acts in a show like this, and they don’t disappoint. But what really surprised me was just how effective some of the smaller illusions were too. A few of them were genuinely scary.

The spectacle isn’t just visual either. The sound is phenomenal with a real surround-sound feel. I suppose that’s exactly what you’d expect from a show licensed by Lionsgate, the film studio behind the Now You See Me franchise. Add a cinematic score, what felt like hundreds of moving lights spread across multiple flying trusses with everything moving during the show, and you’ve got a well-staged production that never stops.

Throw in pyro, ping pong launchers, sparklers and two enormous video walls and you’ve got a theatrical event that’s absolutely massive in every sense.

So why isn’t this a five-star review? Simply because not every trick landed for me. The “think of a sport” routine didn’t resolve correctly in my case, and neither did one of the “look at these images” mind-reading effects. I’m not sure why, but they just didn’t quite work for me. While a few of the illusions aren’t too difficult to unravel, most still leave you scratching your head.

That said, the two hours (including the interval) absolutely flew by. It’s fast-paced, hugely entertaining and packed with moments that leave you wondering, “How on earth did they do that?” It’s a brilliant night out and one the whole family can enjoy. It looks expensive, impressive and very spectacular. Whether you’re taking the kids, your gran, or just treating yourself, this is a show that’s well worth seeing.