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It’s hard to know where to begin with Derren Brown. To call him a magician feels too small, “mentalist” sounds clinical, and “illusionist” barely touches the surface.
What Brown does on stage is something altogether unique: a blend of psychological trickery, theatre, comedy, and human connection that leaves you questioning what you’ve just seen long after you’ve left the theatre.
Having followed his career for years, from television specials to earlier live tours, I walked into Only Human with high expectations. I was not disappointed.
Derren Brown – Only Human at LOWRY
The show’s theme, at its heart, is about choices. The ones we make, the ones we think we make, and the ones that are made for us. But to reduce it to that would be misleading, because as with all of Derren’s work, the journey is as important as the destination.
The structure is meticulous, yet it feels spontaneous; intimate one moment, spectacular the next. Every moment builds toward revelations that are as jaw-dropping as they are thought-provoking.
How to describe Derren Brown?
Of course, writing about a Derren Brown show presents the ultimate reviewer’s dilemma: how do you talk about it without giving anything away? Suffice it to say, there were audible gasps in the room, followed by the kind of laughter and applause that only come when an entire audience shares a collective moment of astonishment.
What makes Derren so compelling isn’t the scale of his illusions, but his presence. He is warm, witty, and endlessly engaging, as quick with a sharp one-liner as he is with a deft sleight of hand. At several points, he drew audience members directly into the performance, and rather than feeling like participants in a trick, they became co-stars in a shared theatrical experience.
“You’ll find yourself replaying scenes in your head on the way home, and debating how it was done in the pub afterwards”
It’s no exaggeration to say that Only Human will stay with you. You’ll find yourself replaying scenes in your head on the way home, debating how it was done in the pub afterwards, and even waking up days later wondering about the significance of seemingly throwaway details that might not have been so throwaway after all.
Derren Brown has been redefining live entertainment for over two decades, and with Only Human, he proves he’s still at the very top of his game. Unmissable.
Tickets for Derren Brown – Only Human at LOWRY
Derren Brown – Only Human is on at LOWRY from 3rd September to 13th September. You can get tickets by clicking here
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