Stokes’ magic is sensational
Sarah Jane McDonald A Straiton magician pulled it out of the hat to win the top title at the Scottish A s s o c i a t i o n o f Magical Societies convention.
Fraser Stokes, 20, conjured the title of Scottish stage magician of the year. He also won the children’s award and the best original act at the SAMS convention in Adamton Country House Hotel, Prestwick.
The Ayrshire College student, whose stage name is The Sensational Stokes, has been spellbinding audiences from Ayr and beyond with illusionist acts inspired by Harry Houdini.
Revealing the trick behind winning, he told the Post: “I’ve always been interested in performing arts and started performing magic tricks when I was eight.
“The key to success as a magician is putting on a really good show. The more entertainment and character you give in stage magic, the better a show will be. I like to make it an immersive experience and it is really fulfilling, watching the reactions from the audience.
“It is commonplace to associate a magic show with children’s acts but a professional performance delivers so much more than this.
“I am really proud to be the Scottish champion. To get this far is a real achievement.”
Fraser, who is a member of Kilmarnock Magic Circle, has already scooped ten prizes for his bewitching shows and was a finalist in Gaiety’s Got Talent 2015.
Fraser said: “I like to inject personality into performances with confetti, streamers, lights – the works. You really have to go for it when you’re on stage.
“At the moment I am specialising in manaround ipulation magic, which is the act of tricking the eye by manipulating objects through extreme dexterity. It is a guaranteed winner with the crowd.
“I also love old- style Victorian magic.
“Most of my props are inspired by the great Houdini. He really focussed on what the audience were feeling and I draw inspiration from that, right down to my costumes.”
Looking to the future, he added: “The dream would be to perform in theatres across the UK.
“I hope that this win can build on my aspirations to perform magic full- time and I look forward to being the first act to perform at next year’s convention.”