manchester

business

Philip finds Royal magic

A MEETING with Prince Charles conjured up a seven-star booking for Manchester magician Philip Partridge.

Before you could say "abracadabra", he had been invited to perform at a New Year's Eve spectacular at the ultra-luxurious Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, after managers spotted him on the Prince's website.

Now Philip, who performed at Brooklyn Beckham's third birthday party, has appeared in Las Vegas and on a Weakest Link special, is preparing to stage a show with his own brand of close-up magic and comedy patter, tailor-made for the audience at the famous hotel which is built in the shape of a billowing sail.

The booking is the latest trick up the sleeve of Philip, a former pharmacist, who graduated from Manchester University, and went on to turn his hobby into a full-time business.

Philip received a grant from the Prince's Trust in 1997, which helped him launch his business - Philip Partridge Entertainment.

He also benefited through the Trust's mentoring service, learning about the business side of showbusiness. Now he is a business mentor for the Trust, especially able to help arts-related business start-ups. He also lectures in schools.

Ropetrick



It was through his links with the Prince's Trust that Philip met Prince Charles when he visited Bowden in April this year, to meet young people and business mentors.

Philip's "royal command performance" mystified the Prince. A a sleight-of-hand ropetrick so intrigued him that he requested a video playback from the BBC.

The item appeared on the Prince's website, and was spotted by the hotel, who will fly Philip out to Dubai at the end of December, for the special show.

Philip, 33, from South Wales, has always loved magic, and pursued it as a hobby when he was worked as a pharmacist at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, and then at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

But when he got the chance to make it his full time career he grabbed the opportunity. He said: "When I speak in schools, I tell them to go with your dream. I have turned a hobby into a business. I love my magic, but you have to be practical to survive, so it is business first, entertainment second, and magic third."

When not entertaining, Philip, the youngest president of the Liverpool Magic Circle, and next year President of the Manchester Circle of Magicians, uses his magical skills to draw clients into trade show stands.