20 January – 14 February

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This show belongs to the FRINGE WORLD Festival 2026 season. This season is now over.

Graphic featuring performer Josh Staley in a red suit jacket and glasses, holding up one finger while playing cards float nearby. Large text reads “Josh Staley: Deception by Design.” Award laurels line the bottom, noting wins and nominations across comedy, magic, fringe, and audience choice categories.
Two people stand against a dark background as a magician performs a coin trick. One reacts with wide-eyed excitement while the magician gestures mid-action, coins visible between their hands.
Two people stand against a dark background, laughing during a live moment. One claps with delight while the other, wearing glasses and a suit jacket, holds a rectangular board and smiles, suggesting an interactive or comedic performance.
FRINGE WORLD Festival 2026

Josh Staley: Deception by Design

Comedian, magician, & showman Josh Staley returns after his recent success at the "Magic Olympics”, award-winning, sell-out shows across the world & being crowned 'Australian champion of magic’.

Deception by Design is a high-energy fusion of world-class sleight of hand, razor-sharp wit, and spontaneous comedy. Every moment is interactive, unpredictable, and unforgettable — where comedy meets conjuring.

In an ambitious creative experiment, Josh pulls back the curtain on the architecture of impossibility. Each night, he will attempt to build a brand-new magic trick live on stage, guided entirely by audience input. Every show is a unique, spontaneous journey where you don’t just watch the magic—you help design it.

From mind-bending illusions to hilarious audience encounters, this is magic reimagined for the modern stage - clever, chaotic, and full of wonder.

"We saw Penn & Teller last year in Las Vegas. Josh was better! See him before he's headlining Vegas" Fringe Feed

"Josh Staley is undoubtedly one of Australia's best magicians" - Theatre Matters

"Staley isn't just performing magic, he's redefining it" - Glam Adelaide 

Don't blink. Don't miss it.

Presented by: Josh staley

Josh Staley creates live performance art that seems utterly impossible. He is the winner of multiple awards and achievements, including the Australian Junior Champion of Close-up Magic. Josh has appeared on TV, performed across Australia and internationally, and is a Guinness World Record holder, helping lead a team of magicians to break the world record for ‘longest magic show’. His unique skills are constantly in demand, whether as a corporate performer, entertainer at private parties, or sell-out shows nationwide. Magic is about creating a moment where something truly impossible occurs that you'll never forget witnessing. Josh creates these moments every time he performs. Using sleight of hand, comedy, theatre and psychology, Josh creates unique memories you'll never forget.
Magic & Illusion • Comedy
Victoria • World Premiere
Audience reacts
  •   1
  •   8
  •   5
  •   4
Media reviews

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Suitability & warnings

Content rating: G
Family friendly: Yes
Audience Participation: Frequent

Presenter

Presented by: Josh staley

Josh Staley creates live performance art that seems utterly impossible. He is the winner of multiple awards and achievements, including the Australian Junior Champion of Close-up Magic. Josh has appeared on TV, performed across Australia and internationally, and is a Guinness World Record holder, helping lead a team of magicians to break the world record for ‘longest magic show’. His unique skills are constantly in demand, whether as a corporate performer, entertainer at private parties, or sell-out shows nationwide. Magic is about creating a moment where something truly impossible occurs that you'll never forget witnessing. Josh creates these moments every time he performs. Using sleight of hand, comedy, theatre and psychology, Josh creates unique memories you'll never forget.