Magician bringing show from Shropshire to Edinburgh Fringe

Sylvia Sceptre, formerly known as Miss Picklelily of Picklelily Circus in Shropshire, will be appearing at Edinburgh Fringe with her Phantasmagorical show.

Channeling the Victorian female magicians, the character combines storytelling with magic, ghost stories and illusions.

The spellbinding show has won praise at events and private performances across the UK and beyond.

It will run from August 2 to 26, at 12.15pm, in the Long Room at Cabaret Voltaire, a Laughing Horse venue.

Sylvia’s character and the Phantasmagorical show were devised by Careena Fenton, one of the few female members of the Magic Circle, inspired by Gothic art, films and literature.

Careena, who now lives in Tettenhall but was previously from Bridgnorth, began her magic career in 2006, having been inspired by a young age and dabbled in hypnotism on the school playground.

She trained with Philippe Gaulier in Paris and Desmond Jones in London and became one of only 100 female members of the Magic Circle a decade ago.

Careena was based in Bridgnorth for many years and is known for performing magic at private corporate events and weddings when not in character as Ms Sceptre.

Audiences will be treated to 60 minutes of storytelling, drama and magic inspired by the roles of female magicians and mediums from the turn of the 20th century.

A scene from the show won first place at an American magic competition focused on mind reading and bizarre magical presentations.

Derbyshire audiences will also have the chance to see the show at the Buxton Fringe in July.

Careena said: “The show is aimed at those who enjoy their entertainment with a hint of the supernatural and emulates the uncanny thrills of the Golden Age of Spiritualism.

“It has been very well received wherever I’ve performed it around the world so I’m really looking forward to sharing it with audiences at both the Buxton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.”

For more information, visit www.sylviasceptre.com