COLUMN: Lydia Wilkins

When I told friends I was going to see Derren Brown live, the response was rather mixed. Some decried his tricks as ‘cruel’; others took a more decidedly sceptical note. After his latest special, Pushed To The Edge, it may be fair to depict Brown’s work as being, sometimes, controversial, or even polarising. They were wary-if a little apprehensive, like me. Still, what could possibly go wrong?

It’d make a creative exercise-as in, to write about-either way..

Soon after I arrived, we were asked to keep the show ‘secret’-not telling anyone what was happening .Even if we were on Twitter! (I’m @Mademoisellllee) Even pointedly said to Journalists attending : “I know there’s a few of you here tonight, reviewing the show”. Oh dear… Along with everyone else, I promised not to. There won’t be any great spoilers here, therefore. (In my view, you need to see the show to believe what goes on. If I described it, you probably wouldn’t, anyway.)

A review usually has some specific points about the show, doesn’t it? Some parts of the audience I thought were a little left out, due to the section they were sat it, although partaking at times was dictated whether you caught the globe lookalike balloon. I do realise that’s me being pedantic. Expect the evangelical, chocolate tricks, and even some risk taking. (And yes, it can be horrifying.)

My favourite part was the audience participation; to see members of the public taking part in the show was something quite extraordinary. To avoid the most obvious spoilers, I’ll stop there…

As an aside: Taken from one of his book jackets, Derren is described as maybe being “the scariest man in Britain”. Although unusually sprightly, running round (almost) the bottom of the auditorium,

I have begun to completely agree. Some tricks, just to watch, looked terrifying. He did seem like a lovely man, though-making jokes about his “twin pert peaches”.

Despite being a ‘cynical’ teenager, I am now very glad to have attended. Please be aware, however, that there’s a ‘not suitable for under twelve’s’ policy in operation.

At times, the Miracle show could be sweary-not to be meaningfully offensive, but by a way of a quip-and obviously disapproving of some things. That’s what makes the Miracle show obviously brilliant, however. If you do go and see it, go because it’s Derren’s last show for a while.

The Miracle Show is currently still running until July.