Magician Paul Nathan on the magic of sharing laughter with your children

• The List
• 5 August 2010

This article is from 2010.

Man behind The I Hate Children Children’s Show

Paul Nathan – magician extraordinaire and disliker of little ones, takes a break from The I Hate Children Children’s Show to answer our Q&A.

5 reasons people should come and see your show.

The show is hilarious for kids and adults; everyone learns how to do a trick and there are tricks and videos available after the show; we have an arrangement with Dr Ana Aguirregabiria, one of Britain’s top child psychologists, for discount sessions for children traumatised by the show; single mothers can win a date with Paul; you get discount tickets to Devil in the Deck, which is a much better show.

4 things you hope to see/do in Edinburgh while you’re here?

The Tattoo – I’ve done it before and it’s fantastic; buy a kilt – a nice one, not a cheap tourist kilt that looks like a schoolgirl outfit, but a really nice kilt with matching shoes and handbag; whisky tasting — I just wrote a book about absinthe, so I’ve been doing a lot of exploring in the world of alcohol; get enough sleep. I never do that when I’m at this festival – there’s just so much to do and see. But this time will be different, I swear.

3 things you wish you’d known as a child?

Toilet training; how to cheat at cards (so much lunch money passed me by); that we are all a little bit odd and that is what makes us so wonderful. My mom used to tell me that but I didn’t really understand until I was much older.

2 words to sum up the Paul Nathan style?

Funny; unconventional; not good at counting.

1 magical thing that happens in the I Hate Children Children’s Show?

There is nothing more magical than the laughter of a child, and sharing laughter with your children is the most magical thing of all. That’s what this show is all about. Not watching your kids laugh but genuinely laughing with them. On your death bed, you’ll remember the time shared at this show as the one true highlight of your existence – or your money back.

The I Hate Children Children’s Show, Zoo Roxy, 662 6892, until 30 Aug, noon, £5.