REVIEW: Krisgar's Halloween Magic Show at Stantonbury Theatre

A Magical Treat for the Whole Family

Halloween afternoon was full of tricks, treats and plenty of laughter at Stantonbury Theatre as local magician Krisgar returned with his popular Halloween Magic Show, and it proved to be a brilliant afternoon of family entertainment.

Award-winning magician Chris Garside, better known as Krisgar, has been entertaining audiences for more than a decade, and it's easy to see why his Halloween show has become something of an annual tradition at Stantonbury Theatre, returning for its fifth year.

I took my young child along to the performance, and he was absolutely enthralled from beginning to end. The combination of impressive magic tricks, silly humour and plenty of audience participation was just right for his age, and judging by the laughter around the theatre, he certainly wasn't the only one enjoying himself.

Krisgar has a natural ability to connect with younger audiences, keeping the pace moving and making sure there's always something happening to hold their attention. The magic tricks had my children genuinely amazed, while the comedy provided plenty of laughs for the grown-ups too.

Joining him was his mischievous puppet sidekick Tricky Teddy, bringing another entertaining element to the show with ventriloquism and humour. It's a lovely combination of traditional children's entertainment and magic, delivered with plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

The Halloween theme was particularly well judged. There were plenty of spooky touches to make the afternoon feel special, but nothing too frightening for younger children. It struck just the right balance between Halloween fun and family-friendly entertainment, making it an ideal way to spend the afternoon before heading out trick-or-treating.

At around an hour long, the show was also perfectly timed for its younger audience. There was enough variety, with magic, comedy, music and audience interaction, to keep everyone interested without outstaying its welcome.

What I particularly liked was that this wasn't a show trying to be overly elaborate or complicated. It was simply good, old-fashioned family entertainment, performed by someone who clearly enjoys what he does and knows exactly how to entertain children.

My little one certainly loved it. He was captivated by the magic, laughed at the jokes and thoroughly enjoyed the Halloween atmosphere. It's not always easy to find a theatre show that keeps young children completely engaged, but Krisgar managed it effortlessly.

With affordable tickets and entertainment that appeals to both children and parents, Krisgar's Halloween Magic Show is a great example of the family shows that local theatres do so well.

A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of magic, laughter and Halloween fun. We'll certainly be looking out for Krisgar's next show!

★★★★★ 5/5