Show name: The Tom Brace Magic Hour
Performer: Tom Brace
Venue: King Dome at Pleasance Dome
Date and time: Tuesday 18th August, 4.50pm
Ticket price: £19.50
Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
Reviewer: Sarah Turnbull
Part television special, part family game night, The Tom Brace Magic Hour is a warm, high-energy hour. Back for his 10th year, Brace frames the evening as a broadcast, complete with theme tunes and even a cheeky “ad break”. The framing gives the show a breezy rhythm: segments snap into place, stakes escalate and the whole thing moves with the confidence of a seasoned host who knows exactly when to press for laughs and when to press for gasps. The atmosphere feels relaxed and playful.
The theme is games, and Brace mines it cleverly. Board games become springboards for mind-reading; card decks are conduits for misdirection; a Scrabble-inspired routine builds from playful to properly perplexing as multiple reveals stack up. He threads in sleight of hand, card work and prediction pieces, often roping in phones and chance selections to keep things feeling spontaneous. None of it feels bolted on: each trick sits neatly within the game-night frame, which helps less familiar audience members follow the logic of what’s at stake and why it matters.
What really powers the hour, though, is Brace’s rapport. He’s quick on the quip, warm without being overly so and, crucially for this style of show, in complete command of the room. Volunteers are everywhere, from eager kids to slightly wary adults, and he manages the inevitable chaos with an easy touch. When an especially exuberant youngster threatens to run away with a moment, Brace harnesses that energy rather than squashing it, turning potential derailments into highlights while never losing control of the effect. It’s generous, deft crowd work that makes everyone feel safe to play along.
It’s very entertaining, and Brace is a very good showman. There’s lots of audience participation and the magic is excellent. The television framing allows for neat pacing tricks, with a mid-show detour landing a good laugh, while the final set-piece ties earlier threads together in a way that sends the crowd out buzzing and comparing notes.
Magic aficionados may clock familiar methods beneath the polish. But even when you think you know where something’s headed, Brace’s timing, structure and audience handling keep the surprises landing.
Family-friendly without feeling watered down and funny without ever punching down, The Tom Brace Magic Hour is an affectionate love letter to live magic, delivered by a host at the top of his crowd-pleasing game. The atmosphere is infectious and the finale is a belter.
★★★★
