Magic moments

A talented teenage trickster spending his gap-year in Bahrain has been amazing friends and acquaintances with his magic tricks.

This week he begins a series of weekly magic shows at The Bookcase in Seef Mall and Budaiya.

Christian Grace, 18, from London, discovered magic at a very young age. He was fascinated by the effect a showman has on his audience.

"I loved the idea of performing for people from the day I was introduced to magic as a six-year old," he explained.

"There was this mysterious magician who lived across the road from us. I have no idea who he was, but I remember the effect he had on me.

"Almost everyday, I would walk across the road from home, knock on his door and he would entertain me with new tricks. And I knew then that I wanted to be a magician."

Today, Christian is a skilful magician, performing close-up magic with coins, cards, fire and psychological techniques. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, and at glitzy events in London, Slovenia, France and Australia.

He has also used his magic to help people suffering addictions.

"I worked with drug addicts in Newport, Wales to help them take their minds off their problems and feel positive," he said.

Since arriving in Bahrain last month, he has entertained guests at the Think Pink breast cancer charity ball and at a piano concert.

"I am really lucky to be spending my time in Bahrain experiencing the kingdom's culture and sharing the excitement of my magic with as many people as possible," he said.

Christian began his career with a children's circus called Albert & Friends at the age of nine. He was the circus magician, juggler and cyclist.

"I would perform magic to keep my troupe happy. When I was homesick at my boarding school, I would endlessly practise magic at my desk with a mirror and improve. My friends would encourage me and I learnt improvisation and newer techniques," he explained.

Christian's other passion is playing the piano and he hopes to train as a jazz pianist.

"Just as jazz helps me communicate and share my emotions with other players, magic helps me interact with people whom I am not familiar with, make them feel positive and relax them.

"In the same way as techniques such as rhythm and sight-reading come together to make a musical piece, manipulation and sleight-of-hand come together to make magic.

"And most importantly, both art forms can only be perfected by sheer practise."

The young magician revealed that his dream is to serve up a mixture of magic, music and cuisine.

"Ultimately I want to open a restaurant that serves excellent food and entertain my guests with my music and magic," he said.

Christian will be demonstrating his magic every Saturday from 3pm to 3.30pm at The Bookcase in Budaiya, and on Thursdays from 7pm to 7.30pm at The Bookcase in Seef Mall, from tomorrow until the end of December.