News
NCM Meeting Reminder: Audition & Golden Nugget
NEWS ROUND-UP 2026
Our first news round‑up for 2026 gets off to a truly fabulous start, with our latest meeting opening on a high note as three cracking auditionees took to our close-up table. Josh, Gregor and Naveen each stepped up like seasoned pros, showing sleight, sight and just the right amount of misdirection to win over the room and earn a hearty NMC welcome. It’s often said that performing in front of fellow magicians is more nerve-wracking than any other audience which is why being such a friendly and supportive group can only boost a performer’s confidence. All three new recruits look set to add fresh ideas and strong magic to our meetings, following proudly in the footsteps of the many notable names who have graced NMC over the decades.
After the auditions, we took a trip down memory lane as members shared the very first trick they ever learned or bought, from some classic self‑workers to a “borrow a coin and hope I can make it spin with the subtle flick of my thumb” miracles. Although a magical principle may be old, it’s amazing how applicable it can still be today. The evening proved that beginner’s wonder never really vanishes.
Dave Forrest Lecture
Dave Forrest blew us away at our first 2026 lecture, marking 15 years since his last visit. The Scottish sleight-meister ditched flashy gadgets for raw impromptu card wizardry in part 1, then ramped up the laughs and mind-bends in part 2.
To begin, he whipped a full pack from his empty wallet, before the “named” Three of Clubs popped out from the same one examined only moments earlier. The Seven of Diamonds and its mates then appeared from pockets galore, topped with a sneaky three-card chaos routine morphing into four Aces. No fuss, just lots of finger-flinger practice!
After Rob’s half-time lottery larks, Dave’s “Pea Can” kicked off with equivoque and pea-brained puns, thudding a huge metal bolt on the table. A dodgy tuck case spilled psychometric secrets, a near-impromptu calculator book test crunched minds, and he even drained the colour from a signed card, tasting its value like a boozy diviner. Finale: bleach bottle roulette, all tension, no terror. Dave entertained, educated, and left us spellbound!
