A master of his craft, Josh Staley had the audience captivated from the moment he opened his mouth. In this one-hour show, Josh Staley: Deception by Design, was trick, after trick, after trick – even when you least expected it. A jam-packed hour, Josh had us mesmerised and entertained to the very end. WOW!

The wide variety of techniques exceeded expectations - from sleight of hand to mind magic and everything in between, this show truly had something for everyone and this was reflected in the diversity of the audience. Josh’s magicianship was truly world-class and it is no surprise that he has represented Australia in his craft. The intimacy of the venue added to the intrigue… There truly was nowhere to hide. Coming in as a fan of Penn and Teller, I had my eyes wide open and yet what I got was my mouth wide open in astonishment, over and over again. 

This jaw-dropping magic was also coupled with Josh’s humour and cheerfulness. The comedic delivery added to the entertainment. I had a smile on my face from start to finish. It was full of surprise and intrigue, but also laughs and giggles. He made the audience feel comfortable throughout and garnered many willing participants, resulting in a room full of people feeling included.
 

The night we attended was a sold-out show for a reason. It truly is a must-see at this year’s FRINGE WORLD Festival. We will be talking about Josh Staley: Deception by Design for years to come.