Following their historic victory as the first African duo to win on the hit reality show, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Gqeberha-born magicians Brendon Peel and Li Lau are returning to the South African stage later this week
The dynamic duo is set to dazzle audiences at the National Arts Festival – which takes place from 20-30 June in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape.
Brendon Peel shared his excitement for the festival, stating, “Being part of the festival for its 50th anniversary is amazing. The festival has been instrumental in my career, so partaking in the big 5-0 is incredible. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase new material and work on new and improved acts.”
Li Lau echoed this enthusiasm, highlighting the significance of the festival in his career. “Performing at the National Arts Festival is a huge highlight of my year. It’s a great platform where many amazing artists have built their careers. I’m excited to debut my latest material there.”
For Peel, this year’s festival is exceptional as it marks his 14th consecutive year performing at the event. “The vibrant experience of the National Arts Festival, surrounded by like-minded artists, is something I look forward to every year,” he said.
Lau, participating in his 7th consecutive festival, will be presenting his 3rd new solo show outside of his duo performances with Peel. “Magic is a niche but legitimate style of performance art that should be celebrated on platforms like the National Arts Festival,” he stated.
Discussing the evolving nature of magic, Lau noted, “Magic has always been at the forefront of adapting to new entertainment trends. Whenever new technologies or methodologies are created, the magic community quickly integrates them into their performances, further developing these innovations through real-world practice.”
Lau enjoys introducing new audiences to the world of magic at arts festivals. Reflecting on memorable moments, he recounted a crossbow accident during a performance that led to many great opportunities, emphasising the unpredictable nature of a magician’s journey.
When engaging with audiences, Lau focuses on interactivity, involving as many people as possible to maintain their attention. He has faced challenging audiences but manages to win them over with well-timed comedic beats and subtle prompts for applause, guiding their responses to his daring acts.
Looking ahead, Peel and Lau are working on new material, with Peel promising, “Our next project might be our greatest effect ever. Just be prepared to bite your nails clean off!” Peel envisions his career evolving to include more international shows and TV performances, encouraging fans to stay tuned on all social media platforms for updates.
Both artists are thrilled for the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, which begins in a few weeks. Tickets for Li Lau’s brand-new show, The Bizarre Magic of Li Lau, and Brendon Peel’s Illusionarium are available on the National Arts Festival website: https://nationalartsfestival.co.za/
Additional info: Brendon Peel:
Born and raised in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and started his career by performing at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, where he recently became the top-selling producer at the entire festival, not just from a magic show perspective but across the entire festival. Since then, he has toured shows across South Africa and the world, including Dubai, Edinburgh Festival, and the USA. He was also featured in a starring role in a new TV series that aired worldwide on the Travel Channel called ‘Magic Caught On Camera’ where only the best magic performers from around the world were featured. In 2021 he also received a Master’s Degree in Business from Rhodes University. Currently, he headlines on some of the biggest and most prestigious cruise ships in the world, putting him in the upper echelon of the best magic performers in the world. He is also currently writing a book about his experiences and how one can use their minds to improve their lives. Currently, he has been highlighted by Forbes magazine as one of the top entertainers on the continent!
Social media links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendonPeelMagic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendonpeelmagic/
X: https://x.com/BrendonPeel
For further info you can visit his official website: https://brendonpeelmagic.com/
Additional info: Li Lau:
Raised in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and eventually moved to the UK where he started becoming prominent in the world of escapology. He eventually came back to South Africa where he started touring unique escape and sideshow acts that quickly allowed him to make a name for himself. Li Lau is now one of the few world record-holding escape artists in the entire world. From there he has performed in shows and performances around the world and was even a featured guest on Big Brother Titans! With a background in criminology, Li Lau has applied his knowledge to everything he does and is ranked by many media houses as currently one of the best-performing escape artists in the world. Li Lau is also set to make and break new world records that will come to light very soon!
Social media links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onecrazychina
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onecrazychina/
X: https://x.com/onecrazychina
For further info you can visit his official website: https://www.onecrazychina.co.za/
