Mediterranean Magic – by Joan Hoppe..
(Exclusive for Magic News.org) Starting a Magic Society does create some anxiety to whether it will succeed or not. Creating it in a country that speaks another language doesn’t help either. Furthermore the indigenous people of the country have a limited history of modern magic. Then of course the island has the only divided capital in the world and is surrounded on one half by countries in conflict one way or another. In fact Syria is only a hundred miles away. Anyone of those things may have put some people off from starting such adventure but not Peter Stammers. Truth of the matter is whilst all this sounds daunting it has to be said that Cyprus has already magic society so why start another one? In order to understand the desire you need to know something about the island.
Being a tourist island its main source of tourists is from the UK and since becoming a Euro member thousands of Brits now live over in here, especially in Paphos. One would think that magic as a performing art would be in demand unfortunately this not the case. In Paphos alone there is hardly any hotel, restaurant or bar that employs a magician. Two or three magicians may get some seasonal work in the summer but that is all. Peter thought the only way to tackle the lack of magical content in the town was to develop its own magic society. This would cater for new enthusiasts who would eventually be the nucleus of establishing magic as an art in the Paphos district. The difference to the national magic club, Cyprus Magic Society, is that would be for the local residence of Paphos, its language would in English and finally there would be two meetings a month instead of one. It appear that monthly meetings are more associated with the USA, whereas, twice a month is a British approach. With the right promotion it is hoped that magicians visiting the island on holiday will spend a little time in helping the club to grow.
Starting last September with just two raw recruits the society can now boast of sixteen members. Not only that the membership is well balanced between Cypriots and expats. Paphos Magic Society has already one holidaying magician from the UK who has entertained the members and PMS had its first official overseas lecturer – David Loosley, inventor and creator of magic and part of the Alakazam Magic Shop team. Peter told me as the first year comes to a close his aim is to create committee with a full constitution. He said; ‘At seventy eight years of age the last ten months has been exciting but tiring and feel it’s time the members run the society themselves.’
Peter’s involvement in magic goes way over six decades being taught the ghost count by the inventor himself. He said he remembers performing to the Magic Circle members when at the Hearts of Oak, Euston Road, London back in the nineteen sixties. He has also fond memories of performing to Edward Victor who was the President of his local magic club – Merlin Magical Society. Peter is a full member of the International Magic Society, Associate of the Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star as well as a member of the IBM British Ring. One of his ambitions is for the Society to become an IBM ring. For more detail check out the website; www.paphosmagicsociety.com. The society is also on Facebook..
