James Phelan returns with 'The Man Who Was Magic', a new 2026 magic show at the City Varieties.
James Phelan brings The Man Who Was Magic to City Varieties Music Hall on Tuesday 3 November, 7:30pm. It's a brand-new production for 2026, and it marks the return of a show that's been touring for five years. If you've seen it before, this is a different version.
For those who don't know him, Phelan is an award-winning magician who's built a bit of a name for himself. He's best known for jamming the BBC switchboard after predicting the lottery, and he was the first magician in history to sell out a solo run at The Magic Circle. This show is the one he's been taking around the world for the last five years, and the 2026 version is a fresh production. Critics have given it five stars, calling it a testament to the impossible becoming possible, and the promise is a night where secrets unravel and you're left aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief.
It's a long one: the running time is about 2 hours 25 minutes, including an interval, so you'll have a break in the middle. Age guidance is 13+, with parental guidance recommended, so it's more of a teen and adult night than a family outing. The venue is well-equipped if you need it: audio description, British sign language, captioning, relaxed performances, an accessible toilet, baby changing, a hearing aid loop, wheelchair access, and a welcome for guide dogs.
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Tickets are £28.50 plus a £2.50 booking fee. If you're after a box, those are £31.50 per person and you'll need to call the Box Office on 0113 243 0808 to get one. That puts the whole thing at City Varieties Music Hall on Swan Street, Leeds LS1 6LW, on Tuesday 3 November at 7:30pm.
