The Melbourne Magic Festival at Arrow on Swanston

Melbourne Magician TIM ELLIS is Australia’s most highly awarded magician – known around the world for his original, innovative and entertaining approach to the art of magic. For over 50 years Tim has been featured in hundreds of Australian and international magazines, press articles, and television shows including ‘Hey Hey It’s Saturday’, ‘Today’, ‘Sunrise’, ‘Good Morning Australia’, ‘Location Location Amazing Homes’ and ‘Fox News’ (USA). Tim is one of the most consulted experts in magical matters for film, television, theatre and even other magicians. Tim delivers a high-energy, stunning comedy magic show guaranteed to leave any audience on the edge of their seats – when they aren’t falling off them with laughter… From being buried alive, breaking Guinness World Records or even performing at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle, Melbourne magician Tim Ellis is at home in any situation that calls for a little dexterous deception. In the process he’s gained an international reputation for his innovative, original and highly entertaining blend of magic and comedy. Melbourne Magician Tim Ellis has been buried alive, escaped from a wooden crate at the bottom of the Yarra River, freed himself from straitjackets hundreds of feet above city streets, and driven a $100,000 sports car while blindfolded. Tim has been awarded many titles including ‘Best Stage Magician in Australia’, ‘Best Close up Magician in Australia’, and was the first Australian ever to win twice at the FISM World Championships of Magic. Since then, Tim has also lectured, performed as a guest artist and is now a regular Jury Member at the World Championships. He has performed many times at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle, lectured to fellow magicians at The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, and headlined at The Grand West Casino in Capetown, South Africa. He also makes special guest appearances on several luxury cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Cunard. He has also produced many large scale events including The National Festival of the Magical Arts (9 years), several International Magic Conventions, and co-produced the NHKTV special ‘Magical Mystery Tour in Australia’. He is currently artistic director of ‘The Melbourne Magic Festival’, and the owner of 'The Laneway Theatre'. In 2006 the ‘Dictionnaire de la Prestidigitation’ was released and this Melbourne magician is one of only two living Australian magicians to be included in this world history book of magic spanning the centuries – along with Orson Welles, Houdini, David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy. Recently, Tim was diagnosed as having Asperger’s Syndrome, and he explored the positives and negatives of the condition in an autobiographical one-man show ‘AspyCadabra’.