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The Mechanics of Magic with Peter Clifford
In today's episode, Caroline talks to actor and magician Peter Clifford about how his boyhood obsession with magic, which first served as a social bridge in his shy early teenage years - flourished into a fulfilling career that has seen him collaborate with the likes of David Blaine and Derren Brown. Peter unravels the true art of misdirection and beautifully explains the intricate journey of a magic trick.
Join us as we investigate the blurring between truth and illusion and discover why practice does not make perfect, as we look at life through a different lens.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Misdirection is subtle, the magician takes your mind on a journey that distracts you from what is happening.
- To be a good magician you need to be a good performer, a good actor.
- with magic, you take impossible things and make them seem real. David Blaine is taking things that are real but making them look impossible.
- Remember practice makes permanent. If you practice something badly, that's what you're practising.
- Pushing against your limitations helps you to grow.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Optical illusions are fascinating, because they reveal, not how your brain is wrong, but how your brain works.’
‘Misdirection leads you on the path of the narrative of the effect, and away from the method.’
‘It's easier to fool someone than to convince them that they've been fooled.’
ABOUT THE GUEST
After becoming obsessed with conjuring as a boy, winning several local and national magic and talent contests, Peter used magic to pay his way through drama school in Manchester; since graduating he has worked as an actor on stage and television as well as continuing to perform as a magician. He has worked as a magical advisor, creating effects for many theatre shows; creating a stomach-churning eye-plucking scene in “King Lear” (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol; with whom Peter has acted in 12 of their productions) and producing a whole cast from nowhere in “The Mysteries of Father Brown” (Worcester Swan), creating spooky supernatural happenings for Dracula: the blood count (Feelgood theatre). Magical Television appearances include Isaac Fawlkes in BBC’s “Magic” -a History of Magic, Stanley Milgram in “Derren Brown: The Heist” and Professor John Gladwell in Derren's “Fear and Faith: Placebo.” Peter was an original part of the creative team for the award-winning Derren Brown television series. He also co-created and co-directed the sell-out tour and West-end runs “Derren Brown – Live.” At Bristol’s Tobacco Factory Theatre Peter has performed seven solo magic shows. Recently Peter has worked as a consultant for David Blaine on “David Blaine: Beyond Magic” on television and he was a co-creator and co-director of David’s first live tour (David Blaine: Live) toured North America and was seen in the UK in 2019.
Socials & Contact:
FB: Peter Clifford
Twitter: Cargomatic
Instagram: peter.clifford
ABOUT THE HOST
Bio
Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy.
CONTACT METHOD
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
This is a podcast series about discovery, understanding, revelation, and stories.
How we perceive the world is rooted in everything that has influenced us throughout our lives, emotionally and psychologically. We become the sum of our parts and each of us has our own unique view of the world. 'Vision' truly is an act of interpretation.
In this podcast series through fascinating conversations, I set about trying to understand how we form our perceptions, view different perspectives, and examine how perception has influenced, inspired, or hindered the lives of each of my unique guests.
View all episodes
By Caroline PartridgeIn today's episode, Caroline talks to actor and magician Peter Clifford about how his boyhood obsession with magic, which first served as a social bridge in his shy early teenage years - flourished into a fulfilling career that has seen him collaborate with the likes of David Blaine and Derren Brown. Peter unravels the true art of misdirection and beautifully explains the intricate journey of a magic trick.
Join us as we investigate the blurring between truth and illusion and discover why practice does not make perfect, as we look at life through a different lens.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Misdirection is subtle, the magician takes your mind on a journey that distracts you from what is happening.
- To be a good magician you need to be a good performer, a good actor.
- with magic, you take impossible things and make them seem real. David Blaine is taking things that are real but making them look impossible.
- Remember practice makes permanent. If you practice something badly, that's what you're practising.
- Pushing against your limitations helps you to grow.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Optical illusions are fascinating, because they reveal, not how your brain is wrong, but how your brain works.’
‘Misdirection leads you on the path of the narrative of the effect, and away from the method.’
‘It's easier to fool someone than to convince them that they've been fooled.’
ABOUT THE GUEST
After becoming obsessed with conjuring as a boy, winning several local and national magic and talent contests, Peter used magic to pay his way through drama school in Manchester; since graduating he has worked as an actor on stage and television as well as continuing to perform as a magician. He has worked as a magical advisor, creating effects for many theatre shows; creating a stomach-churning eye-plucking scene in “King Lear” (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol; with whom Peter has acted in 12 of their productions) and producing a whole cast from nowhere in “The Mysteries of Father Brown” (Worcester Swan), creating spooky supernatural happenings for Dracula: the blood count (Feelgood theatre). Magical Television appearances include Isaac Fawlkes in BBC’s “Magic” -a History of Magic, Stanley Milgram in “Derren Brown: The Heist” and Professor John Gladwell in Derren's “Fear and Faith: Placebo.” Peter was an original part of the creative team for the award-winning Derren Brown television series. He also co-created and co-directed the sell-out tour and West-end runs “Derren Brown – Live.” At Bristol’s Tobacco Factory Theatre Peter has performed seven solo magic shows. Recently Peter has worked as a consultant for David Blaine on “David Blaine: Beyond Magic” on television and he was a co-creator and co-director of David’s first live tour (David Blaine: Live) toured North America and was seen in the UK in 2019.
Socials & Contact:
FB: Peter Clifford
Twitter: Cargomatic
Instagram: peter.clifford
ABOUT THE HOST
Bio
Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy.
CONTACT METHOD
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
This is a podcast series about discovery, understanding, revelation, and stories.
How we perceive the world is rooted in everything that has influenced us throughout our lives, emotionally and psychologically. We become the sum of our parts and each of us has our own unique view of the world. 'Vision' truly is an act of interpretation.
In this podcast series through fascinating conversations, I set about trying to understand how we form our perceptions, view different perspectives, and examine how perception has influenced, inspired, or hindered the lives of each of my unique guests.