This week in XCLUSIVE! The world’s best selling touring magic show The Illusionists – Witness The Impossible has finally arrived in London’s West End! For part two of my Xclusive ‘Illusionists’ special, I caught up a Colin Cloud - celebrated as the ‘real life Sherlock Holmes’ he is also known as The Deductionist. But how will he fair under the microscope?
When did your love of magic first start? Never really magic bizarrely, I was fascinated by Sherlock Holmes when I was younger, and I read the books when I was eight and thought the guys’ amazing. When I was ten I discovered he never actually existed, gutted – I was devastated. By then I had the bug and was really into Sciences and understanding how things work, the way people think, and really into hypnotism. I went to university when I was quite young; got accepted at 15, studied forensic investigation, specialising in criminal profiling. Realised that stand up comedians are amazing at being under pressure and being aware of audiences, so I got into that, because the only way you can learn to do that is being on stage. And then combined that world with the forensics and created this idea of trying to be like the real-life Sherlock Holmes.
What was the catalyst that refocused your career on Illusion? I never really thought this would happen - this is a dream come true. At the end of university I had the option of - do I want to be stuck in a lab everyday doing or do I want to be travelling the world doing shows for people, and I was like… no brainer. I started mainly doing a lot of corporate events for companies, after dinner speaking, hosting events and doing the Edinburgh festival a lot, which is handy as I live close by. That led to things like getting the NBC TV show and eventually The Illusionist guys saw that and went we think you’re right for this.
You performed in The Edinburgh Festival this year too, is that a totally different
show? That’s an hour show of just me but the core skills are there – reading people, deducing facts about them. Edinburgh was a blast! It was a complete sell out and it was in a big venue, so that was amazing, and all the reviews were incredible from people and the media so I am delighted.
How many shows did you do in total? 24 in the regular venue, and then 2 extra shows.
And were they consecutive shows? Every night, so it was pretty intense.
You've earned yourself the name of The Deductionist – where did the name come
from? Sherlock Holmes being the master of deduction! An episode of Elementary, the TV show (based on the Sherlock character) also had an episode called The Deductionist, and that was just the perfect title.
Colin you're often compared to your literary hero Sherlock Holmes is that
something you relish or does it add a lot of pressure? I’m flattered that they think the skill-set is the same, but Sherlock Holmes was a sociopath and very arrogant and rude. So, I’m glad, for the right reasons, with the greatest respect to the fictional character that I’m nothing like the persona he was meant to be.
You're also described as a Mentalist what does that mean? Mentalism is more the psychological side of magic, the trick side, so I’m definitely drawing on that. The beauty of it is, on stage, I allow myself the luxury of blending it all so that you just get the experience of seeing the real-life Sherlock Holmes. So I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything, other than hopefully I’m entertaining. That’s the only claim I try to make.
Comedy is a big part of your performances style, is personality just as important a
tool for a magician, as their magic skills? Comedy is a way of being really honest and bare in front of an audience and I think when you learn to do that and really connect with people, you engage them and your performing has much more meaning. There is though, that appeal of magic being mysterious and not knowing exactly how it’s done and it makes it interesting and dare I say, sexy. It’s meant to be fun and intriguing.
You are one of seven magicians to be performing at The Illusionists show which
will be taking up residency at the Shaftesbury Theatre in November – what can
audiences expect? The show we’re planning is going to be fully immersive, it will contain things people may have seen in movies or TV but never actually experienced. And to take something from a two dimensional platform and to see it happening right there in front of you, it’s a totally different experience. It’s like watching a band play on TV and then going to the concert and seeing them live. Being there live, the experience, the atmosphere, the energy. It changes everything.
What’s it been like working with the other Illusionists? When the other guys do their stuff, because what I do isn’t really in that same world of magic, as such, I can watch what they do and be totally blown away by it and not have a clue how it works, so it’s great.
And if I was a fly on the wall in the green room what would I see? We sit and play poker. I’m reading them; they’re cheating with the cards… Imagine X-men hanging out…. No, you know its great, because our styles are so different there’s no level of competition. Were on stage and helping each other through things, we’re there to support each other, it’s not a competition. We want this to be the best show, and it will be incredible.
How similar will your solo set be to your Edinburgh show? Well, this Edinburgh show built to a grand finale where I would kill somebody on stage, and I got away with murder every night, so… we’ll ditch that bit. But, I mean certainly reading people, deducing things and forecasting outcomes of events - that will all be there.
With your style of illusion, every show must be totally different... Yeah because people are different, right. You also have to be delicate… If someone in the audience is having an affair with their neighbour you don’t want to divulge that, I mean hold on to it and blackmail them at a later date obviously. But no, I’m very delicate and only reveal things that are still amazing but that are upbeat, uplifting and fun.
Developments in technology and social media have had a huge effect on every
entertainment industry – how do feel it has impacted the art of illusion? Do you
use special effects in your performance? Lighting and music to keep it upbeat and Rock and Roll. I think sometimes too much of that can detract from what it is you’re doing. So often the magic you’re seeing is amazing on its own, and too much of that makes it get lost. Aside from the performances at the Shaftesbury, you also have your own TV show in the works.
What can you tell us about that? The network has started releasing a few clips. So its that feel of being able to deduce, showing the signs but it still keeps the mystery, because that’s what makes it entertaining to watch, so that’s all on the go at the moment.
Has anything ever gone really wrong while you were deducing someone during a
show? No never, and I’m offended you would think that. No, certainly early on when you’re trying stuff; you don’t know how people will respond and react, so it’s a case of learning quickly. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, right, and I want every performance to be perfect, but now with the comedy, if things are going wrong, I can hide it.
Any major goals that you’d like to work towards for the future? I’d love for everything that I’m doing to be well received by everyone, and I work really hard to ensure that it is. I want to constantly grow, evolve, make it bigger, better, more exciting so that the audience is constantly blown away. Its one thing to be doing it, but to stay at that level… I want to be constantly reinventing it and making it as amazing as it can be.
What is the best piece of advice you could give an aspiring magician who wants to
make this their profession? When I was at school, I was quiet, reserved, shy and into Sciences and there were a lot of bullies. It was horrible and I really hated a lot of that. So for anyone who is really passionate about something, regardless of what it is, to not let that deter them from the thing that they love to do.
Any finally Colin… What is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled? Convincing the world that he doesn’t exist!
For more information on The Deductionist Colin Cloud:
Website: http://colincloud.com
Twitter: @Colin_Cloud
Facebook: ForensicMindReader
*****
THE ILLUSIONISTS – WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE™ At the Shaftesbury Theatre from until Sunday 3rd January 2016. Tickets are now on sale from the box Office: 020 7379 5399 and are priced: £15 - £85. Age guidance: Perfect for the whole family. For more information visit www.theillusionistslive.com / Twitter: @illusionists7
That’s all for now! More entertainment and music Xclusives coming soon!
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Gorgios
Mazonakis’ is
hoping to end 2017
with
a bang as he unleashes his
first single in a year!
“Siopa
Kai Akou”,
composed
by the
super talented
writing duo Giorgos
Sampanis and Eleni Giannazoulia, is
the cheeky,
no-nonsense
track
that
marks the next chapter in the singers recording career. Mazonakis’
recent switch to
Minos
EMI / Universal in
the summer means
“Siopa
Kai Akou” will
be his first official release on the label.
The release also coincides
with the opening of Mazonakis’
winter
season at the
bouzoukia
“Enastron”
in Athens
where he’ll be appearing onstage alongside Paola and Stelios Rokko.
