Opera North’s acclaimed production of Ruddigore, by Gilbert and Sullivan, is currently touring the UK, and coming to The Barbican Centre in November. Paul was called in to assist on one of the most famous Ghost scenes of all, when the framed portraits of generations of Murgatroyd family come to life.. Conducted by the highly talented and dapper conductor John Wilson.
Paul has a long association with the beautiful Hackney Empire Theatre, appearing there in his ‘Zodiac Brothers’ act shortly after it re-opened in 1987. In September 2011 he presented a lecture about the magicians who had appeared at the theatre to a group of the world’s leading magic historians including John Gaughan, Mike Caveney and Bill Kalush. The lecture covered performers from the theatre’s first performances in 1901 right through to the present day. From Houdini, Chung Ling Soo, David Berglas up to Simon Drake’s Secret Cabaret and beyond. Afterwards he took the distinguished group on a guided tour around the amazing building. Paul’s 1997 book ‘Hocus Pocus’ is set largely around the theatre.
Paul Kieve shows a group of magic enthusiasts around the Hackney Empire (photo by Reiner Walter)
Tags: Eurocol, Hackney Empire, magic history, Secret Cabaret
