The Modern Mystic League
FEBRUARY 2026
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
The largest gathering we have had for some time, including country members and a ‘guest’, assembled to welcome back one of our own – local lad made good, Matthew Wright.
Matt wrote in our visitors’ book: ‘It’s absolutely great to be back home with friends. The MML has a very special place in my heart.’ The feeling was reciprocated.
Matt now runs the Chamber of Secrets in Torremolinos, and is a triple FISM award-winner, mentored by Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. Indeed, he remains the only person to win all four major British close-up competitions, so we knew we were in for a masterclass of magic.
Titled ‘Hooks’, Matt’s lecture centred upon methods of engaging the audience. Creating his own genre of ‘true magic’, he believes that our magic should be plausible, linked to real life events and situations even when rooted in fantasy.
Much of Matt’s work has been directly inspired by the late Eugene Burger, with whom he spent a lot of time in Chicago. His opening ‘Deliverance’ routine incorporated Burger’s ‘Haunted Deck’, also paying tribute to Don Alan and Al Baker.
Matt then spoke about his interest in rare and valuable coins, transposing a 1963 Queen Elizabeth penny with a 2013 Kennedy silver dollar; both dates linked to the death of the President. This was another example of weaving an effect into a plausible story – the major concept behind bizarre magic.
Matt wrote in our visitors’ book: ‘It’s absolutely great to be back home with friends. The MML has a very special place in my heart.’ The feeling was reciprocated.
Matt now runs the Chamber of Secrets in Torremolinos, and is a triple FISM award-winner, mentored by Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. Indeed, he remains the only person to win all four major British close-up competitions, so we knew we were in for a masterclass of magic.
Titled ‘Hooks’, Matt’s lecture centred upon methods of engaging the audience. Creating his own genre of ‘true magic’, he believes that our magic should be plausible, linked to real life events and situations even when rooted in fantasy.
Much of Matt’s work has been directly inspired by the late Eugene Burger, with whom he spent a lot of time in Chicago. His opening ‘Deliverance’ routine incorporated Burger’s ‘Haunted Deck’, also paying tribute to Don Alan and Al Baker.
Matt then spoke about his interest in rare and valuable coins, transposing a 1963 Queen Elizabeth penny with a 2013 Kennedy silver dollar; both dates linked to the death of the President. This was another example of weaving an effect into a plausible story – the major concept behind bizarre magic.
STAR LECTURE
with
MATT WRIGHT
with
MATT WRIGHT
Matt created his own close-up ‘stage’ by the positioning of artefacts, posing the central questions of ‘who?’, ‘what?’, and ‘why?’ in relation to the magician and his magic, launching into a ‘camera trick’ utilising a phone app.
‘Lucky 52’ was based upon a “snap!” theme, while others included typically bizarre symbols and items. The storyline of the ‘Noble 52’ referenced Camelot and the noble chivalric virtues of Honour, Loyalty, Wisdom, Strength and Virtue, using a special ring for the denouement and with a miniature Excalibur playing a part.
Matt stressed the need to establish ‘likeability’ within the first few seconds of a performance, and promoted Burger’s view that ‘spectators’ should be regarded, and treated, as ‘participants.’
Above all, Matt emphasised the need for simplicity in method and ease in performance (why not use a one-way or ‘reiterating’ deck?), allowing the focus to be placed upon story-telling and engagement.
An excellent example was ‘Magical Visions’, which predicts on the back of a playing card the exact image simply thought of by an audience member. This employed the ‘Marvelous Magi-Stick’, recommended for use in many effects.
The afternoon passed swiftly, complemented by more of Allan’s baking, and it was soon time to thank Matt and bid him farewell . . . until next time.
Brian Lead
‘Lucky 52’ was based upon a “snap!” theme, while others included typically bizarre symbols and items. The storyline of the ‘Noble 52’ referenced Camelot and the noble chivalric virtues of Honour, Loyalty, Wisdom, Strength and Virtue, using a special ring for the denouement and with a miniature Excalibur playing a part.
Matt stressed the need to establish ‘likeability’ within the first few seconds of a performance, and promoted Burger’s view that ‘spectators’ should be regarded, and treated, as ‘participants.’
Above all, Matt emphasised the need for simplicity in method and ease in performance (why not use a one-way or ‘reiterating’ deck?), allowing the focus to be placed upon story-telling and engagement.
An excellent example was ‘Magical Visions’, which predicts on the back of a playing card the exact image simply thought of by an audience member. This employed the ‘Marvelous Magi-Stick’, recommended for use in many effects.
The afternoon passed swiftly, complemented by more of Allan’s baking, and it was soon time to thank Matt and bid him farewell . . . until next time.
Brian Lead
