Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic

• Kelly Apter
• 11 August 2013

This article is from 2013.

credit: Steve Ullathorne

TV show makes difficult transition to the stage

Once upon a time, pulling a rabbit out of a hat or sawing a lady in half, had an audience in raptures. But in this age of Derren Brown and David Blaine trickery, we’re looking for something slightly more sophisticated.

That said, the wonders of close-up and sleight of hand magic still prevail – it just needs a satisfactory overlay – which is where this show falls down. On CBBC, Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic has the central premise of hood-winked children on its side.

On stage, in this rather lacklustre production, we only have the interplay between the three magicians – all of which feels a little forced. There are attempts to bring the TV show format into the theatre, via a large screen, but this does little to embellish what’s actually happening live in front of us.

Well-worn tricks (and these all are) can still be great fun with the right delivery, but this isn’t it.

Underbelly Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, until 25 Aug (not 14), 1.10pm, £11.50–£12 (£10–£10.50).