Conjurors, illusionists, tricksters and exponents of the dark arts will come together in Peel this weekend to find who is the island’s foremost master of magic.

The Magicians of Mann will hold its annual competition and show at the Peel Centenary Centre on Saturday, October 24, with seven competing for the Arthur Culpin trophy.

Among the acts taking part are Chris Burns, who will perform as the juggling and comic children’s entertainer Cookie The Clown.

Fittingly for this time of year, Michael Kelly will perform a routine of his own form of arcane and horror-based magic and John Cain, the 2016 champion, will attempt to astound the crowd with feats of illusion and levitation.

The former Junior Achievement Next Big Thing winner Giles Beaumont will compete against his mother and fellow magician Rosalie Beaumont to perform acts including slight of hand and Juan Corrin, himself a former winner of the title, will perform a routine of classic parlour magic, including rope and card tricks and slight-of-hand.

The final act will be a display of memory, predictions and mind-reading from mentalist Mike Daniel.

Each magician will have just 10 minutes to demonstrate their skills, wow the crowd and impress the panel of judges.

Also appearing during the night will the reigning champion, Paul Martin, who won the trophy last year, and compere Lexi Dernie, the organiser of the show, who will introduce the acts and also perform a couple of her own tricks.

’We are lucky to have a very varied show this weekend,’ said Lexi.

’There are all sorts of different acts and each one has a different style of magic.

’We hold the show each year, with last year’s champion appearing as a guest, and we always like to come back to the Centenary Centre as we always have a good crowd there.

’There are around 15 to 20 people performing magic in the island and we always look forward to seeing who will be the next champion and what tricks they will perform for us.’

The show is sold out.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers