About this tour
When Tom from our Global Hobo crew caught this show at House of Secrets in Blackpool, he found himself in a tight, buzzy theatre watching three performers — Mark Waddington, Ryland Petty (yes, he's been on Britain's Got Talent) and Thea Petty — tear through 90 minutes of card tricks, illusions, and comedy that bounced between polished and deliberately chaotic. The venue itself is one of Blackpool's smallest magic theatres, so you're close enough to spot the sleight of hand or miss it entirely depending on where you sit. It's family-friendly without the saccharine edge, and hits that sweet spot between Vegas-style spectacle and intimate club night.
Highlights
- Three performers working in tandem — magic layered with live comedy riffs
- Intimate theatre setting means you're genuinely near the stage, not squinting
- Mix of polished illusions and improvised mischief keeps energy unpredictable
- Ryland Petty's BGT profile adds a draw for telly-savvy audiences
- Tight 90-minute runtime avoids the padding many magic shows drag through
- Blackpool seafront location — easy to pair with a wider night out
- Fully accessible venue with wheelchair access and pram-friendly setup
What to expect
You walk into Russ Brown's House of Secrets — a properly small theatre, not a converted ballroom — and within minutes the three of them are on stage doing close-up work mixed with bigger stage illusions. The pacing shifts deliberately: moments of hush when a card trick hinges on silence, then comedy erupts when one of the younger performers deliberately fluffs a line or riffs with the audience. Tom reckoned it felt less like watching magicians perform at you and more like being let in on the show's rhythm, including its mishaps.
The 90 minutes moves briskly. There's no lengthy preamble or padding between tricks — each segment flows into the next. The venue's tightness works in the show's favour: you catch details a bigger theatre would lose, but you also can't hide at the back if a performer calls on audience volunteers. It's a solid night out for families tired of pantomime cliché, and equally fine for adults after something different.
What travellers say
- Genuinely intimate setting — not a scaled-down big-theatre experience
- Three performers creating unpredictable energy, not a solo headliner show
- Ryland Petty's BGT background adds name-recognition draw
- Fast-paced 90 minutes without padding or lengthy preambles
- Accessible venue with proper wheelchair access and pram space
- Tiny theatre fills quickly — late bookings risk sold-out nights
- Audience participation moments may unsettle folk who prefer watching anonymously
- Blackpool seafront weather in winter can be raw and wet
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works best if you like comedy mixed with magic — it's not a silent, serious affair. The intimacy of the space is genuinely special; Blackpool's got glitzy entertainment venues, but House of Secrets trades spectacle for closeness. Families with kids will find it pitched right, with enough energy and humour to keep younger viewers engaged without talking down to them. The crew are clearly comfortable with ad-lib, so no two shows feel identical.
You're in a tiny theatre, so the room fills fast — booking ahead is essential. The closeness means if audience participation makes you uncomfortable, you might tense up. Early shows might not suit if your crew's running late. Walking to the venue from Blackpool town centre is straightforward, but the seafront can be windy and wet in winter.
Strictly limited seating due to the intimate layout. Wheelchair accessible, pram-friendly, and service animals welcome. The show runs 90 minutes with no interval. Bring layers — theatre heating can be variable. Public transport nearby if you're not driving.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.