The First half involved lots of what I would call modern day style mind reading tricks, where people would write down something and then Derren would guess what they had written down in 20 questions or less. He then proceeded to demonstrate how an audience member could also read peoples minds, where he got a lady upon stage and she guessed the three different cards which where chosen by other audience members using techniques Derren had told her "Off Mic" this was highly entertaining as the whole first half carried an element of comedy and playfulness! Before the end of the first half Derren instructed to the audience that the usher's would be in the isles with small envelopes, and if anyone would like they were invited to write a personal fact about themselves, seal it in the envelope and write their initials and seating row letter. All of the envelopes were collected up and placed in a bowl on stage in full view of the audience.
The second half opened on a more serious note and included tricks and demonstrations of what I would describe as victorian magic, this included table turning and getting "The Spirits" to raise a table!
Then Derren proceeded to do the "Oracle ACT" where he used the envelopes prepared in the interval, he randomly chose one envelope at a time from the glass bowl on stage and asked who's initials they were sitting in row whatever. Random people from the audience called out and Derren then told them many facts about themselves which he couldn't possibly have known and then told them the answer to the question what was written on the paper inside the envelope without seeing it! This was truly amazing in itself as the whole selection process seemed completely random, of course the is some kind of trick involved but you know you are seeing something special when someone has the talent to suspend your beliefs for several minutes at a time!
I don't what to describe all of the ticks involved as I wouldn't like to spoil the "Kicker" endings which take you by surprise, just when you think he has finished a trick he add's a little bit on the end which truly takes you by surprise and knocks you for six!
The whole show was highly entertaining and i would recommend anyone to go and see Derren Brown live, he is good on the TV but there is something which you cant compare to "The Magic Of The Theater" and seeing these feats performed live right in-front of your eyes!
Find Tour Details Here: Derren Brown tour 2007
Buy Derren brown Books Here: Derren Brown Books
If you enjoyed this post please feel free to buy me a gingerbread late! mmmm!
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Thank you for writing your review! I'm going but not until the 22nd May! I love reading spoilers and I can't wait for the show!!
Hi there Andy, I too saw Derren for the 1st time with my girlfriend, Sian, at the Empire last night and I'm still astounded by the whole evening! Not only was I fortunate enough to end up on stage and be one of the four in the table turning - that was me in the Sunderland top - but we got to meet the man himself afterwards, get our programme signed and a photo! Legend. And a genuinely nice fella too.
The show was great - I'm in the process of bidding for an Aerobie Sprint on ebay as we speak! As far as the Oracle goes, I have no idea how it's done. And the end just needs to be seen to be believed…
Also, my girlfriend swears she saw the table lift but all I remember is feeling pretty dizzy and disorientated! Afterwards we were there at the Stage Door waiting for Mr. Brown. He came out in a black baseball cap as casual as can be. After the 1st two people he came to us asking if we'd enjoyed the show. Agreeing, I asked if I could keep his nut.
A split second of curiosity at such a random question disolved into a smile when Derren saw the large nut on a piece of string I'd been handed when I went up on stage. "Oh, that was you… thank you so much."
A quick handshake later and he was gone. We wandered off into the evening talking about the nights events, during which I checked for my watch and wallet several times - I've seen those nifty little fingers at work on the tv!!
My question during the show…? What's my middle name?
GF. Row Q
Hi Josephine, all i can say is you wont be disappointed, 2 hours of pure entertainment is well worth the wait!!
Gary, you lucky devil, getting on stage AND meeting the man himself! The oracle was a truly amazing effect, I'm sure its the closest thing I've came to real magic EVER!
Andy
If he starts at 7.30. Could someone pray tell what time show ends. Ta La
We came out about 9.45, top show
Andy
I saw him last night at Dorking - very good show but I would have thought that the large number of students would have wanted to see something with a little more blood and guts.
The gorilla thing on the table tennis film caught me out. He was his usual sparkling self and many guy in the crowd wished he was him for the night….
Find my review at http://soundsuite.blogspot.com
If you feel the need, enjoy and here's to the next tour…
Michelle
Thanks for the review, enjoyed reading it. Like previous response from Gary, I saw Derren Brown 'live' for the first time on this tour also, in Eastbourne on 9th June. Have always been a fan of his TV work but just hadn't got around to getting tickets for previous tours and by the time I tried, shows were always sold out, or only not very good seats left. Was a bit cynical that TV can be heavily edited and that 'live' was in danger of being a disappointment maybe. How WRONG I was (I have to admit!!). Just totally amazed/baffled/perplexed. Very entertaining and thought provoking and, also, I thought it was a really long show and very good value for ticket price. Ending just blew my mind.
I read on one website that he is doing another West End run early next year (of this last tour) - does anyone know if that's correct?
Also, thought it a bit strange that on his official website, they don't appear to have a sign up with your email address for news type facility, or am I looking in the wrong place?
There seems to be so may happy people after seening this show, it was an awsome experience and I hope he does a tour next year! I'll defianely be there!
As for updates, I'm not sure why there is'nt an email subscribe section. I guess we'll just have to keep checking back!
Andy
hey fellow derren brown fans!
myself and my partner went to see derren at Bristol Hippodrome on sunday 17th june and my partner was one of the people that derren spoke to (the oracle trick). derren blindfolded himself and just got the "vibe" of my partners name - instead of picking his card…and he told my partner his name, age, starsign and the fact that there was a big age gap between our ages. He also told us to either check or change our window locks…we got home that night and found our bedroom window locks were open! im still freaked out by it! he's one amazing dude! cant wait till the next tour!
lizzie
wiltshire.
We went to see Derren in Salisbury on the evening of the Champions League final. One of the people who had put a question in the envelope had clearly asked what the score would be because Derren just told him "Milan 2-1".
Amazing because this was at 9.30'ish and before the game had even finished!
I was doubly impressed because I'm a Man U fan.!!
Fantastic, He seems to come up with a ne "littel Gem" for each performance! Roll on next year!
Hi DB Fans everywhere
I am going to see the master himself on April 23rd in Leicester.
I have read a few of the books he has and learned a trick or two.
I cannot wait. I'm so sad I even walk around with tickets, just in case someone breaks in and steals them whilst I am out. Now how sad is that !!!!!!
I CAN'T WAIT and would not miss it for the world. i would love to meet him. I hear he is a really nice bloke and I love some of his "one liners" and his book is good too
DERREN BROWN FOR PRIME MINISTER - MOVE OVER GORDON !!!!
Yeahh I went to see him at Epsom's Playhouse last night, I loved it! Every single bit of it. And he's so funny and whitty too, I thought it was fantastic.
Got an autograph at the end too. Such a lovely guy.
Fantastic show, recommend it so anyone.
I hope he does another tour or some TV stuff soonish.
Alexandra - Me and my partner were there on the 27th too at Epsom. It was amazing! I wrote about it on my site.
went to see Derren last night in Belfast, such an amazing show!! I can't even pick a favourite moment cause I enjoyed it all. Part of me wants to wonder about how it was done but the other half of my brain is so fried that it just wouldn't register, it's best just to accept it. Waited outside after and met the man himself, didn't get a conversation or anything cause there was over 100 people waiting but i got a pic and an autograph in my programme, oh and a "thanks for coming out tonight" made my day
Hey Karla;
I was at the show in Belfast too and I WON THE £5000!!!!!! i CAN'T BELIEVE IT - did he give away 5K every single show?
@ dave, i was at belfast too! did you seriously get the 5 grand?! how did he know it was you and not some other random "dave"?! i was on stage for the phonecall bit, but my mate ian didnt answer, d'oh! AMAZING show!
hey, im going to see derren brown soon and i was wondering if anyone who has seen his tour could tell me how long it is? and if it starts at 7.45 what kinda time it would finish? thanks a lot.
hey hayley, it starts just after 745 (depends when the whole theatre is filled up), and is scheduled to finish about 10:25 or so! and theres an interval in the middle for about 20-30 mins - have a great night, i know you will!!
This man is awsome, well worth the money and more.
I went to see him yesterday(3rd April 2008) and was so amazed it was so remarkable what he did. Luckily I was a person who got to go up and do the pendulum trick(he let me keep the pendulum) and I am staring at it know as i am writing this comment!
Ediz
I'm going to see Derren Brown Live on the 5th May at the Garrick Thearte in London! I'm really excited cos I'm a massive fan of DB and his work.
Been checking out what others have had to say about his performance, and I can't wait. It's gonna be an amazing night!!
Sarah x
I saw him in Reading Sat 12th April, and was totally blown away!! I was lucky enough to be the 'Psychic' one chosen at the end of the show to go on stage for the big finale when he opens the box!
Definitely well worth seeing live - will definitely see him again!
"The oracle was a truly amazing effect, I'm sure its the closest thing I've came to real magic EVER!"
There are so many things wrong with that sentence that I'm not even going to begin debating why that sentence defies all sense of logic.
Derren Brown is an excellent illusionist, and one of my favorites right now! His ideas are always cunning and each illusion he does amazes me again, but the best thing about him is that he explains how he was able to manipulate our/or the participant's mind. I've attempted to replicated several of his stunts and succeeded about 75% of the time - I can't wait to see what he dreams up next!