Magician Ben Hart is a familiar face at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and this year the Britain’s Got Talent star brings his new show “The Remarkable Ben Hart” to the gorgeous Palais du Variété tent at Assembly George Square Gardens.

The piece is an enchanting mix of magic, storytelling and charm that captivates the packed audience from the very first moment. Hart proves once again that he is not just a magician but a showman & master of experience, engaging his audience on multiple levels. There’s also nice visuals in the production including a lighting design of lamps dropping at different heights from the ceiling which sets the theme of the show beautifully.

From the outset, Hart draws you in with his effortless charisma. He blends sharp wit with his mysterious personality and uses audience members throughout the show as his volunteers for his many astounding tricks.

It’s always difficult to review the content of a magic show, not wanting to reveal any of the secrets, plus it has to be seen to be truly believed! The tricks themselves are nothing short of astonishing and Hart uses his creativity and imagination to make his illusions unique and original. Notable highlights include a clever opening routine in which he reveals specially chosen colours of stools which audience members are sitting on and a ring binding trick which I’m still scratching my head about now! It’s a shame that a mind-reading routine with the audience writing down facts about themselves in the middle of the show is far too lengthy.

I would say that having seen Hart previously, he seems to have lost some of his unassuming and childlike guise. Maybe in time where his career has grown, he’s naturally become more confident but I did miss the playful, innocent modesty that he’s shown previously. It’s also worth noting that although the venue looks grand and fits Hart’s vaudeville style, Assembly’s Palais du Variété is a strange space for this show. Where almost fully in the round, some seats are behind the magic which makes the view somewhat restricted.

Fortunately, there’s no false advertising here though and with Ben Hart’s outstanding magical talents, the show is still remarkable as the title suggests.

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