Magic allows people to believe in the impossible — and it is the look on his audience’s faces that has driven Eastern Cape magician and mentalist Brendon Peel to become one of the most sought-after entertainers in the industry right now.
So much so that Peel, 27, was handpicked as the only South African to feature on Magic Caught on Camera, to be aired on SA’s travel channel later in 2020.
The hugely successful show — in which some of the best magicians from across the world take to the streets to perform mind-blowing illusions — has already aired in the US.
Peel said he was honoured to have been headhunted and given the opportunity to represent his country with his never-before-seen card tricks, hypnosis, sleight of hand, levitation, vanishing acts and more.
He also recently featured on Britain’s Got Talent.
The Pearson High School matriculant said he was humbled to have been chosen for the new show alongside magicians he had always admired from China, the US, Australia and the like.
A date for the show to hit SA’s screens has not yet been released.
Peel is the model for hard work having paid off.
At the age of five, he was watching magic tricks on TV.
From there, he would go to the library and take out all the books on magic he could find.
“Then, at the age of 15, I was given an opportunity to perform at Spur. I walked around from table to table doing magic tricks,” he said.
In 2011, Peel did his first stint at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown).
“It just grew and grew. Eventually I was asked to do private events, and later to perform at corporate gatherings.”
He said a lot of people enjoyed watching magic but did not necessarily have the drive to learn how to perform tricks.
“I have just personally been interested in puzzles and mysteries and learning new things my whole life, and have always had a keen interest in performance arts,” he said.
“Essentially magic is a huge, mysterious puzzle.
“I love to see the reactions from people when I perform. It is as if, in that moment, they believe anything in the world is possible, and that really drives me.
“It is the reason I do what I do.”
He said his influences were UK mentalist Derren Brown and the legendary David Blaine, from the US.
“I like to blur the lines and have people walk away wanting to know if what they saw was reality or illusion.” - Weekend Post
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