𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 – 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜
It was exhilarating to attend the Magicana Stage Magic Championships at 7pm in the Star Theatre. Huge fun, entertaining and inspiring. The Close-Up Magic Championships were held in the afternoon but I was unable to be there.
I was totally wowed by the young and talented magicians. It seems that the average age was 16/17. There were three women performing their OWN acts – ie they were not just assistants to male magicians. I loved the ingenuity, skill, creativity and theatricality. I reckon that The College of Magic has pioneered its own genre of theatrical magic which has its heart beat set to an African rhythm – with not only inspired illusions – but also costumes, choreography, music and lighting. Magic requires focus, skill and lots of practice but that is not enough to make stage magic which is theatrically rich, layered and interesting. It goes beyond the “wow” factor of magic, the “how did you do that?” We can watch YouTube for quick thrills. We go to the theatre for a deep and immersive dive into stage magic. The COM is doing wonders in nurturing young magicians who are not only skilled in turning out tricks, making us go “wow” but who are also developing their own vocabularies in presenting their magical art. That goes beyond impressive. It is inspiring. These are school learners who are juggling their magic studies with school work, sports and other demands. Many of them are from under resourced communities and are dealing with socio-economic challenges.
David Blaine visited the College recently. The students are learning from the best in the biz. As testimony to the bar of theatrical excellence that is set by the College of Magic, Cape Town theatre maven Roshina Ratnam – was one of the judges. Each and every set was exceptional, with in the Stage Magic section. Every set was underpinned by a conceptual arc.
We left before the winners were announced as we were off to another event – so we missed the guest act, Li Lau (aka One Crazy China). A list of winners in the box, below. Please scroll down. Sinalo Mtwana won both main titles – Close-Up Magic Championships and the Stage Magic Championships. It was the 2nd consecutive year that he received double honours at the Magicana Junior Magic Championships in Cape Town. Watch video here of Sinalo Mtwana performing at Magicana: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CZTA7sLFn/ and https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSUNUFKrx/ For more pics and a video at the champs, see https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ZXhZnt7pe/
Circling back to my comment about the unique genre of theatrical magic that the COM has pioneered, that requires top-notch production values and although the COM constructs what it can in its workshops, money is required to manufacture illusions, sets, costumes and to put in place high tech sound, lighting in a professional theatre setting. Excellence, talent and hard work is essential, sure, but theatrical stage magic cannot be finessed without support. Let us take a moment to applaud the sponsorship by Magicana – “a Canadian not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the study, exploration and advancement of magic as a performing art.” Without its sponsorship, presenting the Magicana Championships would be challenging. Venue hire, props, mentorship – all that takes funding. Chad Findlay, Creative Director of The College of Magic is grateful for Magicana’s support: “Magicana, came on board in 2022 as a sponsor, supporting a few projects including the champs. It grew out of conversations about showcasing and strengthening standards of our performers, the idea is that we have different mentors that help with the acts and the finalists go through a process of act development leading up to the champs. It has made a big difference in the standards of the acts.” Findlay is hoping that Magicana will renew its committed sponsorship as the current tranche ends this year.
I cannot wait to see these youngsters on stage in the future. Bravo to team College of Magic.
And may I just praise these youngsters. In addition to their talents, they are polite and gracious. They truly bring magic into our lives and we need that.
| Magicana Junior Magic Championships 2025 – hosted by The College of Magic, Cape Town Results Street Magic Contest: • Street Magician of the Year – Someleze Wonga • Second Place – Jamie McKinney • Third Place Tie – Esihle Manuel and Lenja Köbler Close-up Magic Championships: • Close-up Magic Champion – Sinalo Mtwana • Close-up Magic Runner-up – Justine Williamson • Allan Slaight Award for Most Promising Up-and-Coming Close-up Magician – Lithemba Mti Stage Magic Championships: • Stage Magic Champion – Sinalo Mtwana • Stage Magic Runner-up – Vuyolwethu Kwatsha • Supreme Trophy for Most Promising Up-and-Coming Stage Magician – Sisonke Mkwela |
✳ Magicana Junior Magic Championships 2025, Cape Town. Photo: Anya Ramparsad.
