Now You See Me Live A thrilling evening of spectacle, illusion and wonder

Playing at the London Coliseum until the 6th September, Now You See Me Live, inspired by the hit film franchise, is brought to stage in a fast-paced show of illusion, and feels as though you are one of the audience in the films themselves. Rather than retelling the story, this show captures the same energy and mystery, and creates a theatrical magic show where audience become an integral part of the experience.

The current Horsemen are Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester and Matthew Pomeroy, all established names within the magic community in their own right. Bringing them together in one show gives each the opportunity to showcase their own distinctive style and personality, without overshadowing each other. Their charisma and stage presence keep the momentum going, making the evening fly by. The guest performers were Eden Choi, Fraser Penman and Rafferty Coope, younger magicians who many will recognise from Britain's Got Talent. They slotted naturally into the evening and added another layer of variety.

One of the show's greatest strengths is its audience interaction. Volunteers are selected in inventive ways, using methods such as throwing paper planes and releasing bouncing balls around the theatre, and while you can never be entirely sure how spontaneous these moments are, they did seem quite realistic and the audience members genuinely appeared surprised. Rather than feeling like gimmicks, these interactions become part of the magic itself.

The variety of illusions keeps the evening fresh and unexpected. There are intimate sleight-of-hand and card tricks, alongside large-scale spectacle. A particularly memorable sequence sees a performer locked inside a cage rigged with explosives, and then five people emerge moments later. Yes, the standout moment belongs to Andrew Basso, whose famous underwater escape had the entire auditorium holding its breath, as did he, for nearly three minutes before making his dramatic escape. This was astonishing to watch.

Not every illusion landed perfectly. Although, most of the tricks were remarkably effective, including an impressive interactive card routine with the audience, which tricked even those who shuffled or handled their cards incorrectly.

The staging is smart and evolving, allowing the show to move seamlessly between tricks. Hugo Mercier Bosseny's lighting design deserves particular praise, enhancing the atmosphere while subtly directing the audience's attention cleverly to contribute to the show's many moments of deception.

Ultimately, Now You See Me Live is not about trying to work out how every trick is done, but about sustaining disbelief and embracing the experience. It will leave you questioning what you have witnessed, while accepting that some mysteries are best left unsolved. Whether you are fascinated by magic or simply looking for a couple of hours of escapism, this is an inventive, charismatic and impressive production that captures the wonder of live illusion.