Nestled in the Garden of Unearthly Delights is a black, neon light theatre that houses the mysterious Maho Magic Bar. It has quickly become a Fringe favourite and tickets need to be grabbed quickly before they sell out. The inside is beautifully decked out as a Tokyo bar, with several stations around the room. Upon entry, you are invited to take a seat at one of the stations where you are met by one of the five magicians who reside in the Maho Magic Bar. This sixty minute interactive show is brilliant. Five incredibly skilled magicians rotate between the stations, each performing a series of close up magic that leaves you bewildered. I have always had a fond fascination with magic, but seeing it so up close (and at times invited to touch the illusion or partake) took my appreciation of this ancient art form to a whole new level. There is a reason why these five magicians are some of the best in the business. This year, Maho Magic Bar featured Kaori Ktazawa with some incredible paper crane and sleight of hand card tricks, Shirayuri brought some comical card tricks and a cheeky sense of humour, Wambi showcased some incredible magical inventions with brilliant showmanship, Sho Chan showcased some brilliant swindling and mischief, and finally Shunji brings bucketloads of cheek to amazing card magic. The whole event is tied together by Spica, the hostess, who warmly welcomes everyone to the Maho Magic Bar and sends us out with a moving traditional Japanese blessing. If you can peel your eyes away from the magicians, you can also be entertained by the venue’s resident mixologist, Jun Nakamura. Throughout the show, audience members are invited to purchase a bonus trick that features a combination of the five magicians, performed in the centre of the room for all to see. These tricks are of a slightly larger scale, but still performed up close and really highlight the fun nature of this event. The only little niggle of Maho Magic Bar is the volume of the music. At times, it made it almost impossible to hear what was being said by individual magicians. Whilst Maho Magic Bar is on the upper end of the price bracket for tickets, it is truly worth every cent. It’s not everyday you get to see some of the best up close magic being performed. Go and experience the wonder that is the Maho Magic Bar.