Derren Brown: Showman – Blackpool Winter Gardens

‘Showman’ is Brown’s first brand new theatre show in six years; his one-man shows have received wide critical acclaim and more Olivier wins and nominations than any other in history.  The award-winning mentalist and illusionist closed his successful Broadway show, ‘Secret’ in January this year. 

Brown is known worldwide for his numerous television appearances, including the series Trick of the Mind, Mind Control, and his Netflix show Pushed to the Edge.

After enjoying watching Derren Brown many times on TV, I was eagerly awaiting seeing his live theatre show.  I wanted to be enthralled, amazed and left literally speechless. As I took my seat in the packed theatre, I kept my fingers crossed.

The theatre was packed to capacity, audience members being mainly in the 23–35-year-old age bracket.  Brown explains in publicity for the show that his show is ultimately all about the members of the audience because that’s what he finds most interesting.  He says there are places he’d like to take the audience, where they’ve never been before.  He aims to deliver more than the audience members will expect.  That’s a lot of hype to live up to, so did he deliver?

We learned that the pandemic and Covid had a profound effect not just on the scheduling but on the contents of the show. Brown is a pure professional and cited as one of the world’s best magicians; coupled with that, ‘Showman’ is a masterpiece.  For two and a half hours Brown had the audience in the palm of his hands and could have held them there longer should he have wished.

Having not seen him live before I was immediately impressed with how accomplished a performer he is; he displays a genius which is easier to appreciate live than when watching him on TV.

He’s a magician, an illusionist, a mind-reader and much more; a virtuoso with every mesmerising segment of the show seamlessly woven into the next.

A key part of the show is audience participation, with those willing to be mercilessly and often hilariously manipulated, selected through a throw of a Frisbee so as to eliminate any suggestion they’d been hand-picked or set up beforehand. It is a clever ploy except maybe that those eagerly wanting to be chosen who don’t catch a Frisbee are missing out.

“If you’re reviewing the show, please don’t talk about anything that’s in it.” These were the words of Brown before the curtain came down.  Brown is renowned for his loyal audience, they are sworn to secrecy to keep the magic of his shows alive, and I certainly won’t be divulging any spoilers here. Everyone knows the content of his shows remain a closely guarded secret and those who’ve seen him before will know audiences are always in for a treat. 

I was captivated from start to finish and left wanting more.  Brown is a showman in every sense of the word, and some would argue, perhaps the greatest.

The set was sparse and dark; Brown’s appearance belies his age, 50 years old, bald-headed and quite diminutive in stature but his warm personality filled the stage and made up for the small amount of stage props. He formed an instant rapport with the audience; 2,000 pairs of eyes looked expectantly at him, their admiration and affection was evident.  Brown is at home on the bare stage, he is a born entertainer. 

There was a technical problem at the start of the show; the sound from Brown’s mic was not as it should have been and I had trouble catching all he was saying.  This really needs sorting out as it is imperative to hear all the dialogue during the illusions and mind-reading segments as well as the general script of the show. Also, some of the sound effects were over-loud; quite unnecessary at times, far too loud when a lower pitch would have been sufficient.

The entire performance was mesmerising and totally mind-boggling; Brown on stage is warm, charismatic and witty. The show is a masterpiece in the way he interacts with the audience and the bond he forms within minutes is incredible.

I didn’t get onto the stage myself, but I think those who did would have taken home that extra something from the experience, without any lingering doubts over the authenticity of what they had been part of.

The show is at times somewhat nostalgic and slightly sentimental with Brown providing personal disclosures, expertly weaving them together into a beautiful narrative which touched on themes of loss, grief and appreciation of life before it’s all too quickly over, which adds to the charm.

Billed as “The multi award-winning master of mind control and psychological illusion” Brown was every bit of that and more!

Was I ‘Brainwashed into joy by one of the world’s best magicians’ as blurb for the show teases? My brain cells were certainly rattled.

If you are going to a show, prepare to be wowed, to scratch your head with pleasure and to walk away with a desire to want answers and yet be fully content with not knowing.

Derren Brown’s Showman is playing across the whole of UK until 2022. For anyone looking to have their reality shifted and mind blown it’s a must. https://derrenbrown.co.uk/shows/showman/

Reviewer: Anne Pritchard

Reviewed: 1^st October 2021

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★