From the Britain's Got Talent stage to Norwich Market – magician Jamie Raven took his impressive tricks out onto the streets of Norwich ahead of appearing at the Theatre Royal in June.
Mr Raven, who wowed Simon Cowell and was runner-up in the 2015 television contest, surprised passers-by as he conjured up an array of illusions on the market and London Street yesterday.
Among Mr Raven's audience members was Mel Secker, who works on CJ's Fruit and Veg stall on Norwich Market. She watched in amazement as he turned Britain's Got Talent notes into £50 notes, guessed the number on a dice time after time, and made a fork bend before her very eyes.
She said: 'I was blown away, especially with the fork trick. I can't get my head around it all. I do not know how he did it.'
When asked how performing in Norwich Market compared to the BGT stage, the down-to-earth illusionist, whose own favourite magicians include Paul Daniels and David Copperfield, said: 'It's exactly the same in every way. It doesn't matter where you do magic.
'All that matters is I get to share what I love doing, it's my take on the art that I love and I hope everyone enjoys it.'
But he admits his life changing performance on Britain's Got Talent is one he will remember forever.
'It was February last year at the Dominion Theatre. It was six minutes and I will never forget Simon Cowell saying that now he actually believed in magic,' he said.
That moment and the huge success that followed – including headlining The Illusionists magic show at London's Shaftesbury Theatre in November and December – came after 10 years of Mr Raven working as a professional magician. He said he still has to pinch himself every day because he is 'living the dream' and pursuing the career he has wanted since he was a boy.
When asked what the Theatre Royal audience can expect from his Jamie Raven Live show in June, he said: 'There will be some sleight of hand stuff, some of the big illusions and I will be getting people up on stage to help with tricks.
'There will be some technology illusions, some mind reading and we will even be levitating a member of the audience!'
Mr Raven, who lives in Ascot and whose uncle and aunt Malcolm and Mary Raven run the Hare and Barrel Hotel, in Watton, added that he was looking forward to exploring some of Norwich's cultural scene and the city's pubs when he returns in June.
Jamie Raven Live is at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday, June 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7-£18.50. To book, visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call 01603 630000.
Do you have an arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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