117 Years of Magic in Manchester
Since 1909, The Order of The Magi has been Manchester’s hub for magicians and magic enthusiasts alike, offering a welcoming space for everyone passionate about the art of illusion. From magic tricks to children’s entertainment and balloon modelling, our society embraces all aspects of the magical arts. We gather twice a month at The Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill, sharing ideas, learning from renowned magic lecturers, and hosting fun, friendly competitions.
Whether you’re a seasoned magician or just starting out, if you’re in Manchester or nearby, come and see the magic we can create together. Take a look at our Membership Page to explore the benefits and join one of the UK’s oldest magic clubs.
Upcoming Events:
CABARET & STAGE MAGIC COMPETITION
TUESDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2026, 7.30PM
The Order of the Magi in Manchester presents an evening of cabaret and stage magic, with the Best Cabaret Act Trophy and Best Comedy Award both up for grabs.
Members are invited to take part in this popular competition and showcase their performance skills in front of both magicians and a live audience. Entries are open to a range of styles, including serious or comedy cabaret, parlour, and stage magic. If you would like to enter, please register your interest with Competitions Officer Max Townsend.
Each act should be between 12 and 15 minutes in length. Performances shorter than 10 minutes or longer than 15 minutes will incur a deduction in marks, so careful timing is important.
Members are also welcome to bring friends and family along at no cost, helping to create a lively and varied audience for the evening. Performing for non-magicians as well as fellow members adds an extra dimension to the competition and reflects real world conditions.
This is a great opportunity to perform, gain experience, and be part of the continuing tradition of one of England’s oldest magical societies.
LECTURE – MICHAEL DIAMOND
The Real Inside Secrets of Escapology
TUESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER 2026, 7.30PM
We are pleased to welcome Michael Diamond to The Order of the Magi in Manchester for a fascinating and detailed look into the world of escapology.
This lecture explores the history, techniques, and realities behind one of magic’s most intriguing performance areas. Michael shares insights into legendary escape artists, the equipment they used, and how these methods have developed over time. Alongside this, he will demonstrate escapes from a range of restraints, including handcuffs, straitjackets, chains, and padlocks.
Drawing from his own collection, Michael will present a variety of authentic restraints and explain how they function, along with the practical techniques used to escape from them. He will also address some of the misleading information that has appeared in print over the years, offering a clearer understanding of what really works and why. This includes the story behind the well known “Mirror Cuffs” and their place in escapology history.
The lecture also looks at the life of an escapologist, covering the challenges performers face, the realities behind the scenes, and the rivalry that has existed within the field. There is also an exploration of escapology’s historical role in exposing fraudulent mediums, adding further context to its place within the wider world of magic and performance.
This is a lecture aimed at magicians with an interest in escapology, offering both historical insight and practical understanding from an experienced performer.
Visitors are very welcome. Tickets are £10 per person when booked online in advance, or £15 on the night.
Have a Magical Lecture or Event Idea?
The Order of The Magi is always looking to keep our event line-up fresh and exciting. From lectures and competitions to hands-on workshops and brainstorming sessions, we love adding new, unique, and inspiring experiences to our calendar.
If you have a lecture idea or a creative concept that you think our members would enjoy, please drop an email to ents@orderofthemagi.
Visitors:
Visitors are very welcome to attend up to three meetings or lectures during each Magi syllabus year (April to March), giving you the chance to experience what The Order of the Magi has to offer.
Advance tickets for lectures are £10 per person when booked online, or £15 on the night. Open events such as sales days, auctions, and competitions are not included within this limit.
If you find yourself wanting to attend more regularly, membership offers the best value, with full access to all lectures, club nights, competitions, and social events throughout the year, along with the opportunity to take part and perform.
To discover more about becoming a member of The Order of the Magi, please visit our Membership page.
The Order of The Magi News
As Seen On Granada Reports!
The Order of The Magi recently appeared on Granada Reports, as presenter Paul Crone recently visited our Manchester headquarters to explore the remarkable story of one of England’s oldest magical societies.
The feature celebrated over 117 years of magic in Manchester, showcasing classic sleight of hand, mind reading, and interviews with current members of the society.
Founded in 1909, The Order of The Magi is the oldest magic society in the North West and the third oldest in England, continuing to bring together magicians, mind readers, and enthusiasts from across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Take a look at Paul Crone’s visit and see what makes The Order of The Magi so special.
Watch the Granada Reports Feature
The 2026 to 2027 Magic Programme is Now Live
The Order of the Magi is pleased to announce that our full programme of magic lectures and events for the 2026 to 2027 season is now available.
Over the next 12 months, we will be hosting a wide range of magic events in Manchester, including professional lectures, club nights, competitions, and social evenings. The programme features an exciting mix of established names and original thinkers from across the UK and beyond, covering close-up magic, stage performance, mentalism, bizarre magic, and more.
Whether you are looking to develop your skills, discover new ideas, or experience high quality magic from leading performers, this year’s programme offers something for every magician.
Lecture entry for visitors remains at £10 when booked in advance online, or £15 on the night.
This year’s lecturers include:
- Vinny Sagoo
- Graham Hey
- Lee Alex
- Ian Rowland
- Oliver Tabor
- Kevin Gallagher
- Chris Rawlins
- Michael Diamond
- Roger Curzon
- Mark Leveridge
- Andrew Normansell
- Adrian Sullivan
- David Michaels
- Jonathan Royle
You can explore the full list of events, dates, and details on our events page.
Members: Annual Subs Now Due!
Members should note that your annual subs are now due. Please see the latest magazine for details, or contact the Treasurer.
Student Discount
Students in Full Time Education now benefit from a new discounted membership rate. Read More…
Latest Blog Posts:
- Why Magic Is a Hobby for Life
When people think about magic, they often picture a stage illusion, a television special, or a magician producing a rabbit from a hat. What many people never discover is that magic is also one of the most rewarding hobbies anyone can take up, whatever their age or background. At The Order of The Magi, we regularly meet people who first became interested in magic as children, alongside others who only discovered the hobby after retirement. Some members perform professionally, while many simply enjoy learning new skills, meeting like-minded people and experiencing the satisfaction that comes from entertaining friends and family.… Read more: Why Magic Is a Hobby for Life - What Happens at a Magic Club? A Look Inside a Magic Society
If you have ever thought about joining a magic club, you have probably wondered what actually goes on behind closed doors. Is it all top hats and secret handshakes? Is there some sort of magician’s oath? A mysterious initiation? A hidden room beneath Manchester where members gather around candlelight discussing card controls? Well… not quite. Despite what some people imagine, joining a magic society is nothing like joining the Freemasons, and sadly rather less like Hogwarts than many of us might secretly hope. At its heart, a magic club in the UK is simply a place where people with a… Read more: What Happens at a Magic Club? A Look Inside a Magic Society - The Mystery of the Missing Magi Volume: Correcting the Numbering of The Magi Magazine
For more than a century, members of The Order of The Magi in Manchester have received a monthly copy of The Magi magazine, the Society’s long-running journal covering magic, magicians, lectures, performances, club news, and the rich history of one of the UK’s oldest magical societies. Recently, a question was raised regarding the numbering of The Magi magazine and whether the 2026-2027 Society year ought to be appearing as Volume 118 rather than Volume 116. What initially seemed like a small point of curiosity soon developed into a fascinating journey through more than 100 years of magical history, archive material,… Read more: The Mystery of the Missing Magi Volume: Correcting the Numbering of The Magi Magazine
Membership
Membership is open to anyone with a serious interest in the performance of magic, and / or the history of the noble art.
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History
Read our History to see just why Manchester’s The Order of the Magi, is such a popular and respected Magic Club all over the world.
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Programme
We host a wide range of exciting magical activities in Manchester, including competitions, lectures and auctions every year.
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Magazine
The Magi Magazine is the Order of The Magi’s Club Periodical, and has never missed an monthly publication.
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