RENOWNED Irish magician and escape artist Steve Spade is about to embark on a national tour which includes a show at Liberty Hall Theatre on September 6.
Ahead of this tour, Northside People chatted to him about how he will bring audiences on a journey full of ancient magic, illusions, mind reading, hypnosis and escapology.
Dubbed Ireland’s Houdini, Spade has performed for celebs including Rihanna, astronaut Chris Hatfield and boxer Mike Tyson.
The Irish master magician, who is just as busy behind the camera as a TV and Movie Consultant for actors including Florence Pugh on The Wonder and on the Universal movie Cocaine Bear, was the winner of the International Merlin award for Magic and Escapology Las Vegas 2023.
As a magician and escape artist, Spade has been burnt alive, carried out daring underwater escapes, got behind the wheel and driven a classic car blindfolded as well as predicted headlines.
On home soil, Spade has carried out “the biggest escape stunt to ever happen in northern Ireland.”
The stunt involved a breathtaking challenge escape where he had to free himself from chains and locks while locked inside a mobile home primed with explosive with a 50 tonne shipping container hanging above him.
Speaking about how he first got into magic, Spade said his father was a huge influence.
“I got started in magic at the age of three, a long time ago,” Spade tells Northside People.
“I used to tell people that when I grew up I wanted to be a magician.
“Doing Magic as a kid was great as I was always an inquisitive kid and would ask my dad how everything worked.
“He was a mechanic and I loved seeing how things worked from the Inside out.
“Dad passed away five years ago and I created a piece as a tribute to him in my upcoming tour.”
And when it comes to performing, as well as teaching famous faces how to pull off great magic tricks, Spade said he has been lucky enough to have performed for some of his favourite stars.
“I’ve had many opportunities in my career to perform for celebrities like Mike Tyson, Rihanna and James Hetfield.
“The best thing about performing for celebrities is how they react.
“It’s a very child-like experience in that they know it shouldn’t be possible but they just saw it happen.
“I think when you can get a celebrity to react like that in a very pure and raw state it’s extremely powerful but for you.”
He went on: “I’ve been on few movie sets now. As well as being a magician I like to get involved in productions where I can use my skill set and expertise as a consultant and SFX advisor.”
And Spade said it’s not just international celebrities he has worked with but also some of Ireland’s biggest names.
“I have been asked to do private performances for some very well known Irish celebrities at their weddings,” he said.
“I did a gig with The Saturdays in Tipperary.
“Irish footballer Shane Long was there and then asked me to preform at his wedding.
“It was a great day and I really enjoyed the experience.
“Soon after that many other celebrities reached out to me to perform during their big day including Irish rugby legend Rob Kearney.”
Spade said he hopes to follow in the foot steps of David Blaine and get a residency in Las Vegas.
“Growing up I was watching David Copperfield and David Blaine on TV,” he said.
“They definitely inspired me to follow my dreams of becoming a master magician.
“I think that the home for the world’s greatest entertainment has always been Las Vegas with the likes of Penn and Teller, Criss Angel, David Blaine and David Copperfield all making it their home. “I have the same award as these great showmen and I’m getting closer and closer to that childhood dream.”
Tickets for his new show, Steve Spade: Lost Magic Tour are on sale now.