It’s not just magic. It’s socialist magic!
Ian Saville is the world’s leading performer of socialist magic tricks. He may well be the world’s only performer of socialist magic tricks. He’s been doing them for more than 40 years, so he is, at least, persistent. Some people also think that he’s very good. And very funny.
Performers of the Indian Rope trick made a boy assistant disappear. Houdini made an elephant disappear. David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear.
But Ian Saville has the much more ambitious goal of making International Capitalism and exploitation disappear. True, he hasn't quite succeeded, but he keeps on trying, and at the very least, he has made a lot of people laugh, and got some of them to think.
Ian’s act is a funny, magical, thought-provoking and topical celebration of Socialism.
Ian’s Cabaret Act can last for anything from 15 minutes to an hour and is suitable for all sorts of events and venues. If you are organising a social, a celebration, a training event or a public meeting, get in touch to see if Ian can add his magic.
Ian has presented full-length shows: Brecht on Magic, Getting Nowhere — Again, Left Luggage, The Free Money Magic Show and Revolution in the Magic Square.
With singer Leon Rosselson, Ian presented Look at it This Way.
And he does shows for children (though Karl Marx and Bertolt Brecht don't feature in those).
Awards won by Ian Saville include The Brighton Fringe Review Award, The Tapwater Award (a more acceptable alternative to the Perrier) and a Time Out Theatre Award.
Ian Saville has performed socialist magic on picket lines, at benefits, and at many labour movement events, conferences and meetings, to audiences all over the UK, and overseas.
He's also performed in comedy clubs, theatres (including the National Theatre), arts centres, Performance Art events, universities and the Albert Hall. If you would like him to perform for your organisation, festival, theatre or campaign, or if you have ideas about how to develop the art of socialist magic, get in touch.