What We Talk About When We Talk About Magic

If you have ever wondered what we actually mean when we describe something as magical in our daily lives, there is a new show coming to the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts that digs into exactly that. On Friday, 15 May 2026, the venue will host What We Talk About When We Talk About Magic, a performance piece directed by Vincent Gambini. For those who might not know him, Gambini is the stage name of Augusto Corrieri, who is an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Sussex. The show is part of the Brighton Festival and is also supported by the University of Sussex’s Festival of Ideas, aiming to explore the intersection of arts, humanities, and media.

The performance itself moves beyond a standard magic show. Instead of just presenting tricks, Gambini uses the stage to invite the audience to look behind the curtain, questioning whether magicians are performing actual magic or if something else is happening entirely. The programme includes a mix of card tricks, poetic incantations, and even a story about a talking pigeon. It is designed to be a reflective experience rather than just a spectacle, culminating in a Q&A session hosted by performance maker Ocean Hester Stefan Chillingworth. This segment allows the audience to engage directly with the artist and unpack the themes presented during the show.

Regarding the logistics, the event takes place in the Jane Attenborough Studio. Tickets are priced at £15.00 for standard entry, with a concession rate of £10.00 available. If you are planning to book, keep in mind that there is an additional £3.50 fee per order for both online and telephone bookings. It is a straightforward setup for anyone interested in theatre or the mechanics of performance art, and it offers a chance to see how academic research into theatre translates into a live, public-facing event.