DERRYBOYE magician Trevor Price has been crowned Ireland’s family entertainer of the year and is hoping to go on and win the overall UK title in Blackpool next February.
Trevor is heading to the famous Winter Gardens venue where he will be competing against eight other regional winners from Scotland, Wales and various parts of England and performing in front of a 3,500 strong audience.
The iconic venue has entertained and welcomed crowds of revellers in its collection of theatres, ballrooms, exhibition halls and public spaces, since opening in 1878, with its star attraction The Opera House, which has a near 3,000 capacity.
Trevor, who is married with two young sons, won the All-Ireland title in Dublin several weeks ago when he was up against eight other family entertainers.
A former All-Ireland junior champion aged 16, the magician has been performing in front of live audiences for many years and is up for the challenge that awaits in England.
Trevor, who said he was very creative as a child, got paid for a magic performance when he was just 14 and since then has carved out a major reputation as one of Ireland’s leading and highly respected entertainers.
Previously the resident entertainer in the prestigious Galgorm Manor every Sunday, for almost 20 years Trevor worked in a number of venues in Belfast including those owned by Botanic Inns, various restaurants and bars including Madison’s, McHugh’s and The Kings Head. He also worked in Benedict’s restaurant for 10 years.
His highly toned act, which mixes magic with humour, features trained doves and a rabbit.
“Next February will be the first time a magician from Northern Ireland has competed in the UK finals and I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “I use live Japanese Java doves and am a traditional magician. I have years of experience behind me and am delighted to have made it to the finals of such a prestigious competition.”
Trevor said his show is based on good old fashioned family entertainment and said while some of the other regional heats to complete the final line-up have yet to take place, he is concentrating on what he does best and not who he will be up against in Blackpool.
During next February’s final, the winner will be decided on the votes of a judging panel and members of the audience.
“I am in it to win it,” declared Trevor. “I will be doing everything I can and know what I want to do on the night. I am really looking forward to the final and my focus is solely on my own act, not the other magicians I will be up against.”
Trevor said magicians from the United States and Europe are flying into the UK to take part in the regional heats in a bid to secure a place in the final.
“I have to concentrate in what I do best,” he said. “The American and European sense of humour is different from mine and I have no doubt I will be able to relate to the audience.” Given his long career in magic, Trevor said he is well prepared for the final and that his experience working with live audiences will be vital.
He said two young boys think magic is ”normal” as it is something they have grown up with, adding: “They may or may not follow in my footsteps, but they are still very young. We will have to wait and see what happens.”