Do what you love, use what you have

Proclaimed as the world's ultimate children's magician, Mario the Maker Magician makes his Bristol debut. NATALIE BANYARD found out more from the live-wire American performer

- NATALIE BANYARD

WITH his anarchic mix of sublime magic, DIY robotics, homemade props, modern slapstick and steampunk style, Mario the Maker Magician has been dubbed the world's ultimate children's magician.

Now, fresh from a sold out Off-Broadway run and triumphant appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Mario makes his Bristol debut, celebrating the start of the summer holidays.

There will be five performances of Mario the Maker Magician at Bristol Old Vic between July 22 and 24, which will have the young and young at heart feeling uplifted, spellbound and inspired.

Mario the Maker Magician, the brainchild of New York performer, maker, and creator Mario Marchese, leads his audiences through an infectiously chaotic explosion of handmade robotic art and magic for all ages. No one leaves the show empty-handed or empty-hearted.

"Yes, it’s an hour of interactive robot magic chaos!" Mario confirms. "The show is a super high-energy celebration of the things that have inspired me in my life - magic, art and invention."

There's a core message in the show - do what you love, use what you have, and have fun. The most important thing for Mario is that children leave the theatre not only entertained, but inspired.

"I don’t want kids to feel like there are any barriers to their creativity," says Mario. "I want them to feel empowered to go home and create something unique from items they can find in their own environment.

The best compliment I ever received was when I overheard a young boy tell his mom after my show, "Mom! I want to go home, dig through the garbage, and make my own magic show!

"Life is not a race... it's a relay. If my little show can impart some kind of inspiration in the next generation, I'll feel I've done what I’m meant to do in this world. And at the very least, we'll have had a whole lot of fun in the process."