A feast of magic in Northcote 

By Julia Irwin

ABRACADABRA! It’s time for Darebin’s answer to Harry Potter or Hermione Granger to get ready for the first Australian Junior Championships of Magic.

The championships will be held during the Melbourne Magic Festival at the Northcote Town Hall next month.

“Contestants will have two to five minutes to pull their best trick out of their sleeves and they will be assessed on personality, creativity and magical skill,” Australian Institute of Magic president Sue-Anne Webster said.

“If they do well here, they’re on the path to representing Australia at the World Championships in 2012.”

Ms Webster’s husband and fellow Northcote magician, Tim Ellis, is producing the magic festival, which boasts 64 performers, a magic auction, and children’s and adults’ magician workshops.

Top performers include Simon Coronel, who specialises in close-up magic: “He’ll borrow a $5 note and with a wave of the hand, turn it into $20,” Ellis said.

Not a bad trick in these tight financial times.

Dwayne Robbins’ Inspirational Hour would also prove popular, he said.

“He’s a motivational magician ... it’s a parody on motivational speakers,” Ellis said.

Tickets to Webster’s I Dream of Jeannie Tribute show are selling well.

Ellis is doing several shows, including AspyCadabra and Ellis in Wonderland.

Look out for his Run-around Sue trick, where he produces a milkshake from nowhere. It won him a World Championship silver medal.

* The Melbourne Magic Festival runs from June 29 to July 11.

For more information go to http://www.melbournemagicfestival.com