Interview
! c i g a m t s Ju Enter the Asylum with illusionist Keith Barry who returns to town with his hugely successful show
Keith, you’re back on the road with your show The Asylum – tell us about it? It’s based on research I did on Asylums in the 1800’s and what happened to people who were committed. I got a huge amount of inspiration from my research on lobotomies, savants, and electroshock therapy! The show is dark, twisted, but also designed to be hilariously funny.
When did your fascination with magic begin? Since I got a Paul Daniel’s magic set when I was about four or five for Christmas. I then bought a book called ‘The Klutz Book of Magic’ when I was 14 – that book changed my life. It’s by far the best beginners’ magic book with some great effects within its pages. How did you get your first big break? I guess my first big break would be my first TV series with RTE, Close Encounters with Keith Barry. I spent a lot of money making a promo video and then pitched the series to RTE… You have your own TV show in the States, you present Deal or No Deal for TV3, and now you’re touring with your live show. What’s next? I’m planning on going to Vegas again next year and performing a very long stint there! Do you prefer doing the live shows or the television work? I love the energy and excitement from the live shows – nothing beats the adrenaline rush from hearing 2,000 people laughing and going crazy.
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books are probably my favourite two. I took a lot of inspiration from Inception, which was based in an asylum. Which is your favourite trick to perform? I don’t really perform tricks any more; more demonstrations based on observing human behaviour. I have an effect in the current show which is based on me attempting to figure out if audience members are lying or not. I love performing it as I’m really doing what I’m saying I’m doing! Have you ever been hypnotized? Yep! Paul Goldin hypnotised me when I was 15 in Waterford. I was running around after leprechauns and doing a striptease! Last year you won a Merlin Award for ‘Mentalist of the Year’ and you were voted ‘Best Magician in Las Vegas’ – what did that mean to you? It’s fantastic to be recognised by your peers, and to be considered in the same categories as Penn and Teller and David Copperfield is a huge honour.
Why do you think you’re such a hit in the States? I guess it’s a mixture of hard work, dedication and hopefully talent! Who’s your favourite magician of all time? You’ve performed a I’d have to say Doc Shiels – he’s an amazing lot of tricks on many performer and great friend who has written celebrities including around 30 books on magic and related Justin Timberlake subjects. and Beyonce, which is What do you do to relax? Fishing is my thing most memorable and why? Probably driving – I love to fly fish and also sea fish when the weather is good. Nothing beats catching your Nicole Scherzinger own dinner! at 100mph whilst blindfolded. That was great fun! Has a trick/illusion ever gone wrong? Always – I had to go to hospital a few years back to get a blackeyed bean removed from my ear canal. It’s a long story! Who or what inspires you? I get inspiration from many different places – movies and
Don’t miss Keith Barry’s The Asylum in The TLT on Friday, January 7th. For tickets visit www.thetlt.ie