ACT I (The Concise Version)
Fresh after appearing on BGT this year, Jay & Joss brought their current show "Imagination" to the Corby Cube theatre in the Midlands this week. With the promise that this was an extended show with new illusions, a bigger and overall better show.
A packed Corby Cube theatre welcomed Jay & Joss, who even had the amazing Mark Shortland as support. A nice surprise to have Mark open up the show, performing close up and parlour magic. A funny and slick set with lots of audience interaction and humour.
Once the main show started, the audience was not disappointed with amazing staging, music and lighting along with state-of-the-art illusions. Jay & Joss both making grand entrances at the start of the show that grabs your attention and sets high expectations for the rest of the show.
Slick, professional and entertaining. Both performers are seasoned in their art, presenting the best illusions that will mystify and amaze while have your gasping at the more dangerous elements. Jay and Joss do like their more dangerous illusions and so do the audience. Throughout the show, as you would expect they were supported by their team.
A family show that drew in a wide variety of ages with young and old enjoying the entertainment equally. Check out their website for more tour dates.
Thank you Jay & Joss (and their team), for the entertaining show.
INTERVAL
If this review has whet your appetite, think of this review as two acts. The concise version and then the Magic Seats Fan Boy edition.
"Magic Seats" reviews are spoiler free and no detailed show content is knowingly shared. General info about the show experience/production is discussed without detailing in-depth set content. The site's objective is to promote magic positively and keep this art alive in theatres.
ACT II (The Magic Seats Fan Boy Edition)
I first had the opportunity to watch Jay & Joss perform about 5 years ago on Zoom. Even then, they were putting on first class illusion shows for the internet via Zoom. Since then, I have had the opportunity to see them perform live before and even interview them for this site. The interview remains popular to this day (here).
As this show was quite local to me, I was able to get there quite early. The show had attracted quite a few magicians in the audience that I spotted mingling in the foyer. Many from a local Northampton club.
While I had seen this show before at BMC 2023. The difference this time is that I was a little closer to the stage. I had an excellent view and was able to watch close up and enjoy. A great position to observe the illusions, three rows back.
When it was announced by Jay & Joss that Mark Shortland was their support, he needed no introduction as is also very established and another artist I have been lucky to interview here. A brilliant surprise that made the evening a little more special than it already would be.
Mark has a great way with the audience and warmed them up nicely. Finally, being able to see him perform live was a treat. No doubt many of the children in the audience will attempt to learn a few tricks now thanks to Mark playing with balloons, bags and other props. His set was probably about 20 minutes before introducing Jay & Joss. A great family entertainer.
Once Jay & Joss started their performance, their entrance was spectacular and maybe one of the best openings that I have seen. Once both performers are on stage, the show goes into high gear with an amazing light and laser show with both grabbing attention to make an exciting show start. What then follows is plenty of fast paced illusions, danger and even the illusion that went viral when Jay got hurt during rehearsals.
I love stage illusions and cannot get enough of them. “High Jinx”, “Jay & Joss” and “Matricks Illusion” - I love them all as equally good, each with their own unique styles.
It goes without saying that the show finale was dangerous and on the edge of your seat entertainment. Very good value with tickets reasonable for standard or VIP tickets. The show was a little shorter than I would have hoped, hence likely why a support also performed.
You will have gathered that I enjoyed myself, but I feel the need to mention one disappointment. The merchandise - or lack of it!
Jay & Joss have loads for sale on their online store, but the merchandise stall was lacking products and disappointing. What was on sale was in low quantities and cash only.
I planned to buy items to collect and get them signed, then display them in my home office/magic room. It just felt like a missed opportunity as I feel they could have gained a lot of sales. Thankfully the show itself cheered me up again which was everything I expected.
What was particularly pleasing was to see the draw of this act with a packed theatre. It may have helped being that they are local themselves, but it certainly adds to the atmosphere. Everyone hyped up and excited children in the crowd.
While I did not book the VIP seating as I couldn’t guarantee getting there in time, that must have been a fantastic experience for those with tickets. I believe it included a meet/greet and possible small private gathering/ preshow.
If you haven’t seen Jay & Joss perform, do book. They do 100’s of shows a year and I am not exaggerating. Look at their website below and you will see what I mean. Hopefully 2025 dates will be out soon!
To learn more about Jay & Joss, please visit:
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