Creative Education
Entertainment Potential
Marv's Blog Page
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If you want to know what I've been up to and where I've been, then you've come to the right place.
'Booked' for Magic Show
I started off the New Year with my 'Book Magic' show and a return visit to Lanchester and Consett library. The shows went really well with bumper audiences at both libraries. I'd like to thank Liz Tavner for asking me back.
Packed up and away at Lanchester
Myself and Maisie from the Lanchester 'Village Voice' newspaper.
Lanchester Library Standing proud.
Consett library
Left - Reading a story to 'Sid the Kid'
Right - 'Billy the Bird' being naughty as usual!
Recycle Magic on the Green Isle
My first visit to Ireland this year with 'Recycle Magic'. I started the tour as a guest of Dublin City Council. Thanks so much to Clare Egan and Fiona, who came along to help me find my way around.
O.L.I. Juniors, Darndale, Dublin.
Above left - Recycling a newspaper.
Above Right - Not sure, it looks like I'm hailing a taxi.
Scoil Bhride, Donaghmede, Dublin
Great audience and what about
that wall mural.
Here I go to Sligo
From Dublin I travel north west to Yeats country. County Sligo. I'm spending two days in Sligo at the request of Fionuala Meagher from Sligo County Council.
Scoil Mhuire Drimina .
Top Left - Having a ball
Top Right - All topped out in hat and tails. If only 'Billy the Bird' would behave!
St Micheal's N.S. Clonacool
Above - Reducing all the way.
Below - A student has the bottle
Castle Rock N.S. Aclare
Above - The school all flagged out.
Have your Say
Click 'Billy'
St Lassara N.S
Left - Doing a dance, sort of!
Above - A quick cup of tea before the first show
of the day
Holy Family N/S Tobbercurry.
Above left - Who's that guy behind me. I never noticed him during the show.
Above Right - A big audience enjoying the fun.
Scoil Mhuire gam Smal. Curry.
Left - Land Fill experiment with two eager helpers.
Right - Striking a sermon pose.
On the Wayo to Mayo
From Sligo I travelled west to Mayo. I remember a few years ago while visiting the county, seeing a zebra running around a field with the cows. It's always nice to be back in Mayo and I have to thank Sharon Cameron the Recycling Officer for the county, for asking me back.
On day one I set up my show at the Ballinrobe Community School. There were three performances and several schools from the area attended. Thanks to Trish, Maura and Sharon Cameron from the Mayo County Council Environment Department for helping me on the day.
Above Left and Right. Students enjoying the Recycling fun at the
Ballinrobe Community Centre
Performing in the Linenhall Arts Centre Theatre in Castlebar. It was so nice working in a theatre, and 'Billy the Bird' particularly liked it, with the lights picking up his colourful feathers and the twinkle in his eye. He really played up to the attention, he thought he was on X Factor! It also turned out to be quite an event for all the children who attended. Once again Sharon Cameron was their to help and it was so nice to meet up with Mary Forde again who is also from Mayo County Council Environment Department. And a big thank you to Oisean, the stage manager, for making sure I felt at home.
Me, all flagged out, packing away after the last show of the day.
A Litter Way to Ballina
After the Linen Hall shows it was pack up, put the equipment in the car and head off 45 minutes north to Ballina Town. The town council had funded and organised a L (litter) Factor event in which 5 local schools competed with each other. Each school had wrote and arranged an anti - litter song. These songs were nominated for a national award but unfortunately did not win. Anyway this was to be a special evening of song, dance and performance. I was asked by Ballina council to be one of the judges for the event and also to do a short interval act featuring a few routines from my 'Recycle Magic'. The evening was a great success and all the schools put on outstanding performances. I'd like to thank Lisa and Linda from the council for looking after me on the night and making sure everything ran smoothly.
One of the schools performing their anti - litter song and routine.
On stage with
'Billy the Bird'
Three Judges: The Magician, the Deputy Mayor and the Engineer.
Can you guess who's who?
Magician for Hire. Advertise Here!
Virgin Mary Boys National School.
Above Left - A cuppa before the show.
Above Right - Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle everyone
Virgin Mary Girls National School
Above Left - The 'Rubbish' show begins.
Above Right - Doing the 'Recycle Rap'.
Dun Laoghaire.
Last Visit of the Tour
The last visit of the tour finds me just south of Dublin as a guest of Dun Laoghaire and Rathdown County Council. Dean Eaton from the Council organised my two day stay visiting five local schools in the area. Thanks Dean for all your help.
Domincan N.S Dun Laoghaire
Above - Recycle Magic in full swing.
Below - What a cute wee stage!
Harold B.N.S Dalkey
Above - Billy chatting away
Below - Time in the show for some magic paper
St Andrews College, Dun Laoghaire.
Above left - Now you see it, now you don't!
Above Right - All seated for some interactive fun
Ferry Quick Turn Around
Arriving home from Ireland at midnight ,it was a quick turn around from Recycling to encouraging book reading; Ten hours after arriving home I was in Sandhill Library in Sunderland starting my 'Book Magic' for a local primary school. Stephen Dodds , Young People's Librarian For Sunderland, asked me to perform my 'Book Magic' show in two of his libraries. Thanks Stephen for your support and I'd also like to thank Sue Potts the Senior Library Assistant and Yvonne Bilba the Assistant Manager as well as all the other staff at the library for their help in making the event a success.
Leaving Sandhill is was just ten minutes down the road to Doxford Park Libary. Janet the head librarian and Tony showed me where to set up for the afternoon show. Thanks for all the help.
Above - Sandhill Library Sunderland
Below - Yvonne and Sue striking
a pose after the show.
Above - Doxford Park Library
Below - Tony and Janet the head Librarian.
Above and Below:
Having fun at Mount Anville Montesorri.
Above - Performing in Scoil Naithi fully equipped theatre. What a treat.
Left - Caught site of this kite flyer on the way to the Dublin ferry and had to stop and take a pic.
Stanley Library
'Book Magic'
Continuining the Book Magic Fun I travelled to Stanley Library in County Durham. The show was attended by year 2 students from East Stanley Junior School. It was a fun afternoon and I'd like to thank Geraldine and Jill from the library for their warm welcome.
'Sid the Kid'
Doing his ABC's
Costume checking
before the show
Jill and Geraldine at Stanley Library.
