Bringing together the cultural history of magic with the practicalities of staging magic for live theatre audiences, Magic: The Performance Practices of Conjuring and Illusion offers a uniquely rich study of this popular performance form.

Perfect for fans, practitioners and students of performance, it combines key historical texts with contemporary ways of thinking about the material crafts and practices of performance magic.

Opening with a tour of the cultural history of performance magic from the 17th century to the present day, Nik Taylor explores the increasing sophistication of illusions in each age and their relationship to notions of 'reality' and belief. A critical analysis of some of the most important published texts about magic draws on both classic and contemporary works, including the writings of William Vincent, Harry Houdini, Albert A. Hopkins and Derren Brown.

Besides exploring the history and practice of magic, Taylor examines how magic intersects with issues of gender, business, culture, heritage, deceit, method and boundaries. It illuminates the role of spectators, of magical objects and the importance of communities such as the Magic Circle, while interviews with a range of international practitioners provide different perspectives and insights into the art of making magic.