Canberra will be one of the first cities in the world to see Ash Magic’s internationally touring interactive magic show, Metaverse of Magic. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.
Australian magician, actor and TikTok star Ash Magic’s life-long dream to stage his very own magic spectacular is about to become a reality – and it’s coming to Canberra.
Also known as Ash Hodgkinson, the 21-year-old’s meteoric rise to fame began when he started posting videos teaching people how to do magic tricks to TikTok while in high school.
He now has almost 10 million followers and 200 million likes on TikTok, has acted in RFDS and Heartbreak High and is about to tour the world for his new Metaverse of Magic live show.
But before the show visits London’s West End, North America, the Middle East and Asia, Canberrans will have the chance to see it first at Canberra Theatre Centre in November and December.
“A lot of people know me for my more close-up TikTok stuff where I’m doing magic with everyday objects like cards,” Ash says. “It’s awesome to bring this big stage spectacular and show it’s not all camera tricks and it’s not all editing. But it is real and we can do big stuff. There’s people teleporting and being cut in half. All that big magic stage stuff is what I’m most excited about.”
Ash is joined by an all-star cast of magicians, including Tokyo’s Hara Hiroki, Taiwan’s Horret Wu, New Zealand’s Jarred Fell, The Netherlands’ Sabine van Diemen and Australia’s Charli Ashby.
“Growing up as a young kid and magician, I always saw these big stage magic spectacular shows, I was always a big fan of theatre and it was always a dream of mine,” Ash says. “I remember the exact moment I was sitting in one of the back rows watching this big theatre magic show and thinking, ‘One day, that’s going to be me on that stage’ and it’s so weird it’s all happened like this.”
Those who know and love Ash for his interactive flavour of magic will also have the opportunity to join forces with his character Lenoxx and Game Master DIGI – just by using their mobile phones.
“It’s not just another magic show,” he says. “You can come and be a part of the show and you get to affect what happens on stage and how things play out. No two shows will be the same.”
Together, Lenoxx and the audience embark on a quest to reveal the secrets of the four masters of illusion, gain access to the ‘Inner Realm’ and ultimately unlock the secrets of all magic.
Ash says his interest in involving his fans in his magic – whether they’re watching on TikTok or live on stage – began with the very first magician he ever saw busking on the street.
“He said, ‘Hey Ash, name a card’ and I said the six of spades and he snapped his finger and spread over the deck of cards and every single card was the six of spades,” Ash says.
“It was that element – that I influenced that – and what if I had said a different card? It’s not just `how did he cut her in half?’ Maybe there’s a hole in the box or something.”
Magic is also deeply personal for Ash, who struggled with his ADHD and anxiety as a child before finding tutorials online via YouTube and Instagram.
“It wasn’t until I found magic that I really became myself and gained the confidence to talk to people, look people in the eye and have conversations with people,” he says.
“I’m trying to give kids who may be looking for an interest or trick they can show their friends or make new friends with at school the same experience I had when I first discovered magic.”
Metaverse of Magic will show at Canberra Theatre Centre from Wednesday 22 November to Sunday 3 December. To find out more or book tickets, visit the Canberra Theatre Centre website.
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