Metaverse of Magic

The Metaverse of Magic is an extraordinary experience that seamlessly blends illusion, spectacle, and storytelling along with interactive audience gameplay. 

Brought to life by a remarkable cast of performers, it is fronted by Lenox (Ash Hodgkinson, AKA Ash Magic), who leads the audience into the mystical Metaverse. Along with his AI sidekick Digi (Erin Bruce), both he and the audience must complete a series of tasks to level up in a magical playground. 

The narrative takes the audience on a captivating journey through the Metaverse, gradually unravelling secrets and unveiling mind-bending illusions. The pacing is well-managed, ensuring the audience is constantly engaged and eager to discover what lies ahead. 

Hodgkinson, a magician himself, begins the magic, followed by fellow Aussie Charli Ashby. With an old-time set and steampunk vibe, she pays tribute to the history of magic. Horret Wu (Taiwan) is a sleight-of-hand master with a twist, while Harra (Japan) stunned the audience with Japanese Fusion magic.

Sabine Van Diemen (Netherlands) is one badass magician with escapes, mind games, illusion, archery, and cracking bullwhip skills who finishes the night. There is one magician whom I haven’t mentioned, the comical Jarred Fell. He says he is a Kiwi, but Aussies have a way of claiming our friends over the sea as our own and judging by the response from the audience, I think we claimed him. Fell is hilarious, with just the kind of humour that resonates with an Aussie audience and bucketloads of magical talent. He is a master at the art of distraction. You never know if he is joking or if the magic has begun until you are genuinely duped. 

This ensemble of magicians, all successful in their own right and many award-winning, captures the attention and imagination of everyone in the theatre, adding intrigue to the Metaverse narrative, each playing a crucial role. Along with the fabulous dancers who were the assistants, this ensemble works seamlessly together.

Incorporating twists, surprises, and audience participation adds an interactive element, making the experience even more thrilling as audience solve puzzles on phones in real time. You can also rent battery chargers if you didn’t get the memo to arrive with a fully charged battery. This will cost you around $20. The only comment I would make is that the gaming experience for some audience members, including myself, was glitchy and did not always load each game experience or transfer points. 

Combined with precisely choreographed lighting and special effects, the stage becomes a canvas for illusions and jaw-dropping tricks. Whether disappearing acts or mind-reading, the execution and attention to detail are flawless. In the immersive environment, the set design takes the audience from the mundane to the extraordinary creates a world of wonder, transporting them into a realm where reality and magic intertwine. 

Director Siobhan Ginty offers a glimpse into the philosophical aspects of magic. It emphasises the power of perception and invites an exploration of the boundaries between what is possible and what we believe to be possible. With its captivating performances, visually stunning effects, and charismatic master magicians this is a spellbinding delight for audiences of all ages. The Metaverse of Magic is a must-see production that will leave you spellbound and longing for more. 

Nicole Smith

Photographer: Jeff Busby