Now You See Me LIVE | QPAC in association with Tim Lawson & Simon Painter
Images: Cameron Grant
I don’t think I have ever seen a truss so tall looming over the Concert Hall stage at QPAC. From the moment the lights came up to the suspenseful music, I felt like a little kid again, in awe of the possibilities of what a magic show could entail.
The towering steel structures, lighting rigs, and special effects set the scene, with smoke spraying like a cannon of excitement, sparks flying at key climactic moments, and every magical prop imaginable making an appearance. The production design alone plays out like a cinematic blockbuster. It’s immediately obvious why Now You See Me LIVE is a sell-out—every person in the audience is completely enthralled from start to finish.
Inspired by the wildly popular Now You See Me film franchise, the live show takes the slick, high-stakes world of the Four Horsemen and pulls it off the screen and into the theatre. What makes the transition so thrilling is how seamlessly the illusionists blend the language of cinema—quick cuts, dramatic reveals, and suspenseful build-ups—with jaw-dropping illusions, physical stunts, and constant audience interaction, peppered with off-the-cuff banter that keeps things playful even when the tension is sky-high.
The international lineup of illusionists features Adam Trent (USA), Pablo Cánovas (Spain), Andrew Basso (Italy), and Gabriella Lester (Canada). Each performer embodies a distinct style, but together they form a tight, charismatic ensemble.
The show is truly live, with a cameraman roaming the stage to capture every moment, allowing the audience to get up close and personal via the screen above. There’s no editing here and no second takes—if something goes wrong, it happens right in front of you. However, I couldn’t tell if anything ever did. I’m still puzzled by how an iPhone teleported across the stage into a box, or how four playing cards matched after being ripped up, shuffled, sorted, and flung everywhere.
Images: Cameron Grant
One of the standout elements is how expertly the lighting is used as a storytelling tool. Light and shadow become accomplices in deception, masking movements, redirecting attention, and amplifying mystery. The pacing is razor sharp—card tricks flow into daring escapes, sleight of hand gives way to full-scale spectacle, and the audience is even let in on a few lessons about misdirection (just enough to make you think you’re clever… right before you’re fooled again).
And then there was Amy. Plucked unsuspectingly from the audience, she found herself at the centre of one of the night’s most unforgettable moments. Tasked with delivering increasingly hard slaps to Andrew Basso’s cheek while he calmly held a live scorpion in his mouth, so was this Scorpion a little monster? Would Andrew disappear forever? Every wince and gasp was captured on the big screen, the sound echoing through the hall as Amy’s confidence, and the audience egging on, grew. Thankfully, no one was hurt, bitten, or emotionally scarred… though Amy may never forget her brush with showbiz notoriety.
I loved how audience interaction peppered the whole experience and the camaraderie between the magicians made It extra fun and surrounding the various stunts and tricks. I loved every minute and you will too!
Now You See Me LIVE played 18 January at the Concert Hall, QPAC Brisbane.
Images: Cameron Grant
