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Will Houstoun LIVE (Penguin LIVE)


One of the highest rated products on the site. Learn 8 reputation-making tricks, plus some incredible sleight-of-hand. SUPPORT LIVE MAGIC. DOWNLOAD THE FULL LECTURE TODAY.
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"Will Houstoun's lecture provided an immensely satisfying evening. Like no other lecture I've ever seen, it was an original mix of eye popping sleight of hand, witty tales of literary sleuthing and amusing historical anecdotes. Having had the experience once I now want more lectures just like it but fear that wish is unlikely to be granted until Will's return to these parts." - Ernest Earick

"Will presents a fascinating historical discovery in a witty, wise, and magic-filled way. I was captivated, from start to finish." - Simon Aronson

"Will created one of my most used tricks and my go-to effect if someone stops me and asks to see something." - Dynamo

"Will is a really fine magician with some serious chops…" - Genii Magazine

"Will is a natural communicator with bags of content to match the best. You will think, learn, laugh, reconsider and be moved." - John Archer

"Smooth as silk... I loved your three fly and all your little touches. One of the best I've witnessed. Your shadow coins move so effortlessly and your attention to detail is unmatched." - Dean Dill

What will he teach?

Coin 0.5 - Will’s handling of the modern classic, Three Fly, makes some significant structural changes to the routine and features some eye popping moments as well as novel sleight of hand.

Guesstimation - A gambling themed production of the four Aces this will convince any audience that you really do have superhuman skills with a pack of card.

Minimal Assembly - This sequence offers a dramatic rethinking of the classic Ace assembly along with some startling and visual magic.

18th Century Transposition - Two cards transpose under the most impossible conditions in this two century old gem that Will discovered in a lost manuscript from The Magic Circle’s collection.

Impossible Aces - Until you learn the techniques that Will teaches for this Ace production you would truly think it is impossible. The deck can be examined and shuffled as much as a spectator wants yet you can quickly and stylishly locate and produce the four Aces.

GK Aces - In this fast-paced sequence your audience will be astonished by the magic you can perform with four Aces and a selection … and then startled by the kicker ending.

Bouncing Shadows - This is Will’s handling of one of the most beautiful tricks in coin magic. It has been carefully structured to enhance the magical impact and Willteaches all the little details that turn it from a trick into magic.

Order and Chaos - This is the effect that Will has closed all his shows with, including dozens of appearances at The Magic Circle and The Magic Castle, for the last few years. When you see it you will understand why!

In addition to the tricks Will offers a bonus selection of moves including a novel coin vanish, an alternative loading technique for the Cups and Balls and a hands-off force and peak. He also shares some of his research into the history of magic, his thoughts on performance and innumerable other hints and tips on his approach to conjuring.

Who is he?

Will Houstoun is an international award winning magician who specialises in consultancy for media and advertising as well as instruction on both the technical and historic aspects of magic. He has a PhD in the history of magical education, supervised by Dame Marina Warner and based on a study of Professor Hoffmann, a conjurer and author from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century, who had a huge influence on magicians' and the public's understanding of conjuring. Will has written and published two books on magic as well as numerous instructional DVDs and downloads that are available in his shop). He also edits The Magic Circle's 105 year old magazine, The Magic Circular, The Young Magicians Club magazine, Secrets, and Half Half Man's journal, Quarterly.

As a consultant Will has provided technical and historical information for film, television and radio. Will has also used his magical knowledge to help a diverse range of other organisations including The Wellcome Trust, KPMG, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Grolsch and The Royal Shakespeare Company.

Will is a winner of both The European Magic Championships and The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year 2015 as well as holding a Literary Fellowship from The Academy of Magical Arts in Los Angeles. He has Lectured for magic societies around the world, including The Magic Circle (London) and The Magic Castle (Los Angeles), as well as at conventions like The Los Angeles Conference on Magic History, The International Puzzle Party (Prague), The Las Vegas Magic Invitational, FFFF and The London Festival of Magic. Will also offers private tuition to magicians of all ages and levels of experience as well as leading lessons for groups of children and teenagers. As part of his teaching work he is proud to be involved with Breathe Magic, an innovative NHS-funded programme that uses magic as a form of therapy for patient groups with mental and physical disabilities.

Combining his interest in the history of magic and performance Will has written and internationally performed his one-man show Dr Houstoun's Conjuring. The performance is suitable for all sizes of audience (depending on staging) and can be customised to last anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes. Described as: "An enticing glimpse through a secret trap door into the often unbelievable history of magic," the show will leave you astonished by the magic you have seen and fascinated by what you have heard.

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Customer Reviews (showing 1 - 10 of 24)
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Sometimes wordy, but really great stuff! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on October 17th, 2016
I enjoyed Will's lecture very much. It takes a bit to make your way through some of his very British, very thorough explanations, but at the heart of this lecture are some very, very, excellent routines with some simple added gems that are not full routines, but helpful tips/moves. His color change move is clever, his coin work will take some practice, but very clever new (old?), and his four ace routine (the first he shares on the video) is worth the price of the lecture! Thanks, Penguin!
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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What a superb lecture! Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on October 22nd, 2016
Prepared myself an Earl Grey tea along with a few biscuits, sat down in the comfortable Chesterfield sofa and watched Will Houstoun's Penguin Live Lecture. What a delight it was! Tremendous insight, deep thinking, clever ideas and a great interview (actually bought three Marina Warner's books). And, most important, the Breathe Arts Health Research was real magic. Thank you Will.
2 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Great lecture Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on October 10th, 2016
He has a good charm to him, well spoken, tons of skill, and stronger teams. Get the lecture don't wait! Get ready to start practicing his material.
2 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Just Wow Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on August 5th, 2018
One of the Top 3 lectures I have. The price is too low for this one, as he gives away real gems. Nothing more to say,
1 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Outstanding Value Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on May 19th, 2018
Out of all the lectures I’ve experienced, this has to be the best to date.
An awesome blend of interesting magic history and “how-to” from a great presenter. Outstanding value!
1 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Clever stuff Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on December 20th, 2017
Very insightful and extremely well explained close-up. And done with a British accent to boot!
1 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Will is a soft spoken genius Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on October 15th, 2016
Will is one of the nicest, quietest, most understated and brilliant magicians you will ever hope to meet, and his lecture is up to his very high standards.
1 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Inspiring Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on October 15th, 2016
I've seen quite a few Penguin Live lectures and I think this was perhaps the very best. Will's technique is stunningly good and his effects are intriguing, beautifully scripted and very magical. He imparts his profound knowledge of magic and its history in a delightfully arch and entertaining way. Will also talks about a wonderful project he is involved in called Breathe Arts Health Research, which, among other things, helps children with hemiplegia improve their muscular control through the learning of magic tricks. Inspiring.
1 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Practical effects - Great instruction Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on October 13th, 2016
This was easily one of the best lectures I've ever participated in. I was particularly impressed and pleased with the quality of the instruction, not only of the effects, but also of the logic behind why certain effects and sleights were structured or assembled the way they were.

Premium attention was given to being intentional with actions and flow for a particular routine.
1 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Get this !, Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on March 17th, 2024
The tricks 10 out of ten! Explanations 10 out of ten ! This guy is simply one of the best lectures I have ever seen . His magic is top notch ! I have never reviewed a lecture before but I wanted to give this one a review because he deserves it ! Get this !,,
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