Paul Zenon in Linking Rings

‘Houdini's right-hand man deals with the death of his boss. A half century later, a Blackpool joke shop proprietor takes on a wide-eyed young protégé. Linking Rings is an affectionate look at a misspent youth and unsung heroes; a touching true tale of interlocking lives.
Not a magic show – magical nonetheless.’

TV Street Magic pioneer and Channel 4 Countdown favourite Paul Zenon is set to amaze audiences using a different set of theatrical skills in Linking Rings, his one-man West End debut.

With a rich and varied career spanning three decades, Paul Zenon is perhaps best known as one of the world's leading comedy magicians, with performances in around 40 countries in both solo shows and as a regular cast member in productions such as the Olivier Award-winning La Clique and La Soirée.

Over the years, Paul has pushed himself consistently to explore new avenues – from performer to pundit, presenter to paranormal sceptic and author to actor. His career started as a real-life sorcerer’s apprentice in a seaside magic shop, prior to his first television break courtesy of the ITV talent show New Faces. Paul fronted the Children’s BBC series Tricky Business and Tricks n Tracks in the early 90s and since then he has appeared on dozens of TV programmes across many genres, including five one-man Street Magic specials on Channel 4 and ITV1 and around a hundred appearances as special guest in Countdown’s Dictionary Corner. He is a Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Circle, and last October received the prestigious Carlton Award for Comedy.

Partly autobiographical, Linking Rings is Paul’s first self-penned theatre piece, marking another exciting change of direction and also a return to acting. The show received much critical acclaim at the 2015 Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, including 5 star reviews from the Edinburgh Evening News, The List and Fringe Review. Its London debut will take place at the Jermyn Street Theatre in January 2016.

Paul says: “Linking Rings is a piece that I’ve wanted to do for many years, inspired by my fascination with Houdini and the parallels between his right-hand man Jim Collins and my own lifelong friend and mentor; a back-room wizard from Blackpool named Bill Thompson. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is by far the most heartfelt and honest show I've ever performed."

‘A contemporary master of his art.’
- The Times

‘Heartfelt and strikingly genuine...there's a warmth and charisma to Zenon's storytelling that just can't be faked.’
- The Stage

‘A touching, deeply authentic, beautifully-made magic cabinet of theatre-story. Outstanding.’
- Fringe Review