Magic in the city

Numbers, sums and subtractions, multiplications and divisions are, in the minds of many children, a true nightmare. Mathematics has been for many students a stumbling block in their school itinerary. But numerical calculation, as the basis of economics, is necessary in many areas of our daily lives. Mental agility, combining figures, is one of the techniques that illusionists use to make us experience magic.

Mag Stigman is an artist making the aversion or reluctance to mathematics disappear, thanks to his charming tricks based on scientific and mathematical reasoning. This year, the Barcelona illusionist has celebrated twenty years on stage performing magic shows for audiences of all ages.

Stigman fascinates with mathemagic. In a very visual way, he helps teachers and students understand mechanisms that favor the acquisition of agility for calculation. Practically every week he visits a school or institute in Barcelona and its metropolitan area and, through illusionism effects, he fosters a taste for mathematics with very practical examples of tricks that teachers themselves can use as complementary tools to the more classic lessons.

Stigman is one of the magicians who make this millenary art beat in the city of Barcelona. He is a showman and multifaceted artist. His shows are a party that alternates magic with dance, juggling, music, and interaction with the audience. They schedule his gigs throughout Catalonia. Soon, he will perform in Ràpita, Guissona, and Calafell. In 2022, he won the Teatre Barcelona award for Best Magic Show, and throughout his career, he has performed solo at the Apolo Theater, the Romea Theater, at Luz de Gas, and in many auditoriums, theaters, and festivals also outside Barcelona.

Stigman is also a psychologist. From a very young age, he knew that psychology was essential to be a good magician, a dream he has now realized. As he was underage, he had his mother register with the Barcelona magicians' association so he could go with her to experience the magicians' atmosphere. He graduated in Psychology and has been a professor at Universitat Ramon Llull – Blanquerna. He combines his artistic facet with pedagogical innovation, teaching a university course on the application of his magic in education. Stigman performs Més que Màgia, and very often performs in one of Barcelona's venues where, among plays and small art exhibitions, magician performances are also programmed.

A very magical little theater in Gracia

It is the Cincómonos venue, on Roger de Llúria street. It is a small theater, very intimate and endearing, and at the same time, it is also an art gallery. It is run by Jorge Salinas's family. They are: his partner Lucia Jurjo, and their three children: Pablo, Christian, and Claudia, hence the name cinco monos (five monkeys), says Jorge. The two sons act and the daughter is in charge of the art gallery. The father explains that they belong "to text theater, they interpret classics, but always with social and human content as an important part."

Jorge came from Argentina more than forty years ago and for twenty-five years he and his family have been bringing the small theater in Gràcia to life. "We love theater and we give space to a lot of people who do a different kind of theater than ours. It's always culture and expanding it is very good. We pay a lot of attention to human quality and when we work with artists in the case of entertainment magic, too."

Cincómonos is a small theater, very intimate and endearing, and at the same time, it is also an art gallery

The illusionist Raül López Cancho also performs on the stage of his theater, with his show Experimental.

Other spaces with magic in Barcelona

In the small room of Luz de Gas, once a month, illusionism shows are also usually programmed. Its owner, Fede Sardà, is passionate about this art that leaves anyone bewildered. The magician Joaquin Matas is a regular at his venue.

The Poliorama theater is also committed to bringing magic to the stage. This December, magician Jorge Blass will surprise with his show Flipar. And, in March 2025, we will be able to go see magician Yunke perform, unfolding his Hangar52 on the stage of the Teatro Apolo.

The Teatraneu de Gracia also has magic shows in its program, and in the same neighborhood, we find La Casa dels Contes, where Mágic Andreu performs every month.

In the city of Barcelona, however, we cannot overlook that an internationally known magician, Antonio Díaz, the Mago Pop, with his acquisition of the Victòria theater, injected energy and new blood into Paral·lel. The theater, which had previously been managed (since 1986) by the Tricicle company, is now in the hands of the prestigious illusionist who performs all over the world, with commitments that do not allow him to land in his theater until the end of 2025. It will be from October 29 to November 2 of next year when the city of Barcelona will be able to see his show live again.

Magic shops, in the city center

On Diputació street, there is the magic shop Magicus. They sell magic games and manuals and, in case the passion for illusionism pursues someone, they also offer courses for adults over fifteen years old.

Attending any magic show can make us want to experience a magic trick in our hands, to know more, or to continue looking for these artists who place us where no one else can. We are left speechless by the surprise of the unexpected, of what we don't know how it happened. Illusion has the answer.

All this magical ecosystem of Barcelona has deep roots that lead us to Princesa street, in the Born neighborhood, where the shop El Rei de la Màgia is located. It was founded in 1881 and in 1984, Josep Mª Martínez and Rosa Mª Llop took over the business. Today it is their son, Pau, who is at the helm of the shop, with his partner Pere Rafart.

Entering this shop is like taking a leap into a past full of magic. Decks of cards, dice, small balls to make appear and disappear. And behind the counter, a thick curtain separates a secret space. This is where demonstrations are made of how the tricks acquired by customers work.

Also in the back room there is a space where they hold introductory magic courses. Both Pere and Pau are magicians. Pere Rafart was named best magician at the state level with the Ascanio Memorial award in 2017, and has been twice runner-up in the international illusionism competition FISM Worlds Championships of Magic. When actor Leonardo Di Caprio visited Barcelona two years ago, Rafart's magic tricks were exclusive for this celebrity who wanted to enter El Rei de la Màgia. Many fans from all over the world consider this Barcelona store a mythical reference, considered the oldest magic store in the world.