TEESSIDE is a magical place that has produced respected magicians Paul Daniels and Pete Firman. To that should be added a third name – John Archer. The former Cleveland police officer has a string of awards to his name and a growing career as a magician.

So why does Teesside have a reputation for creating men of magic? “Certainly in Paul Daniels’ time it was the working men’s clubs. Performers would have to get up and tackle tough crowds,” says Archer, who lives in Stockton.

“I still have a Northern sense of humour that works very well for a stand-up comedy magician.

Paul, Pete and me are different in many ways, but similar in being able to talk to an audience. This area seems to have that – you have to be able to be loved, but be cheeky with the audience.”

He also notes that “another good thing” is Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians. “We all came up through that organisation and are all honorary vice-presidents. There’s still a great crowd there.

We do public shows and some magicians don’t go out and entertain like we do,” says Archer.

He’ll be performing again at this year’s 11th South Tyneside International Magic Festival next month, when some of the magic community’s greatest talents assemble. Many have never performed in the UK before.

As well as public performances, the festival features a three-day convention, offering professional magicians and fans the chance to hone their skills with a series of lectures and masterclasses led by high-profile performers.

Archer is a regular. “They will wheel me out every year to compere one of the gala shows,” he says. “Most of the time I’m doing shows for the general public. This festival is different because you’re performing for other musicians as well as lay people. It’s very different from anything else I do.

“Some magicians hate performing for other magicians.

I don’t worry about it too much. I don’t worry about the fact they know what I’m doing, but try to make the journey as fun as possible.”

The only time he was nervous was performing for American magic greats Penn and Teller on the ITV show Fool Us which, as the title implies, asks magicians to perform a trick or illusion that the duo isn’t able to work out how it was done.

“That was nerve-racking. The deal was very different – to perform in front of them. They’re very knowledgeable and the sole aim was to try to fool them. We all know the techniques that are around, but I had a new method that had never been done before for what was a classic trick,” he recalls.

He never thought he would fool them – but he did on the first show in the series.

ARCHER’S own interest in magic came from an uncle. “He’s not a magician, but he knew a few tricks. Over Christmas he got a pack of cards and did some tricks. Eventually I worked out how it was done.”

Then he went to London to study at art college, opposite which was Alan Alan’s magic shop, where he could follow up his interest in magic. Archer began with practical jokes, and then card and coin tricks. He began performing magic as a hobby.

After joining the police force, he continued to do magic semi-professionally. His ten years with the police have had an effect on his magic, but he says you wouldn’t know it. “Certainly, skills I learnt in the police help me perform,” says Archer.

“There’s a lot of audience and people-management, and good police work is about that – about being able to handle people and deal with a situation so it doesn’t flare up.”

He spent his last five years in the force as a police school liaison officer, using his skills as a magician to engage with the youngsters on issues such as road safety and saying no to drugs. So in effect he was performing every day.

TV came along with the Sky series Undercover Magic, a hidden camera magic show. Various scenarios were carried out, including one in which Archer played a teacher in a classroom. It proved popular and clips were used to pitch a TV show Help, My Supply Teacher Is Magic, a show that won a Bafta in the entertainment category at the Children’s Baftas in November.

“It’s for six to 12-year-olds, but parents sit and watch it. I get a lot of adults who say their kids watch it, but then admit they do as well. We do proper magic in a grown-up way for kids, and are a bit silly and stupid with it.”

The 11th South Tyneside International Magic Festival, March 10 - 16 

  • There are gala shows at the Customs House, South Shields, on March 14 and 15.
  • A family magic extravaganza, arranged with festival sponsor Newcastle MagicBox, is at the Customs House on March 12.
  • Tickets from the Customs House on 0191-454-1234