YOUNG & STRANGE (UK)
Young & Strange met when they were eight years old, their early childhood friendship was cemented with a common interest in all things magic. They spent their early teenage years attempting, and failing, to make Las Vegas style illusions with cardboard and tape. With little money, they were forced to innovate, creating original illusions and magic tricks—this early experience has led them to become one of the most unique illusion acts in the world.
In recent years their relentless development and innovation of spectacular illusions and live shows have landed them spots on prime-time television and the biggest stages around the world.
In addition to live performances Young & Strange also create online video content which showcases original formats for magic. Their video “Young & Strange take Las Vegas to Television” included the illusionists videobombing the background of a Live Sky News broadcast which went viral on the internet and had over 30 million views across various video sharing networks in just a few days. The Sky News video bomb also garnered attention from national and international publications including Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, MTV, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
“That secret kept quiet for the rest of your lives will make you one of the best magic acts the world has ever seen.” —Penn Jillette on Young & Strange
ALEX McALEER (UK)
Alex McAleer possesses the uncanny ability to apparently tap into his audiences' minds and read their thoughts at will. However, he doesn’t pretend to be a ‘psychic’ who reads fortunes or talks to the dead. Instead, he reads people and talks to the living, combining contemporary mind reading with sharp wit and a flair for showmanship.
Being an only-child, McAleer had many hobbies growing-up, including magic, but it wasn’t until his mother passed away when he was 14 years old that he dedicated his life to studying the manipulation techniques of psychics, mentalists, and hypnotists. Gradually, he taught himself the unusual skills and techniques that would eventually take him all over the world.
McAleer has gone on to make countless international television appearances including ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Seven Network’s Today Tonight (Australia), and NBC’s Access Hollywood.
McAleer is also a successful writer in the magic world, having written several books on his own techniques and delivered lectures to psychology students, mentalists, and magicians at the prestigious Magic Circle.
“Get this man out my studio. He’s possessed by the devil.” —BBC Radio
HOLLIE ENGLAND (USA)
Hollie England has appeared on America’s Got Talent, Showtime At The Apollo, Masters Of Illusion, and The Go Big Show. Her career in magic has seen her perform in London’s West End, Hollywood’s Magic Castle, as a headliner in Las Vegas, and on tour across the globe.
A trained dancer and musical theater performer, England found herself transitioning into the magic world after constantly getting hired as 'the girl in the box'. After working with many illusionists, she went on to associate produce, cast, direct and/or choreograph multiple record-breaking Broadway shows, international tours, and immersive magic attractions for companies such as Cirque Du Soleil.
For her, magic is about trying to create something uniquely beautiful... and just maybe, convincing you for a few seconds that miracles might exist.
FERNANDO VELASCO (Mexico/USA)
From the moment he steps on stage, Fernando Velasco’s powerful persona commands your attention, and his fantastically impossible magic and death-defying escapes will leave you breathless and amazed. At only 23 years old, Velasco is pushing the boundaries of what a young escapologist can do, and is already the world’s youngest to perform magic’s most dangerous illusion, the Houdini Water Torture Cell.
Born in Mexico, Velasco was 11 years old when he immigrated to Southern California where his passion for magic took him to the world famous Hollywood Magic Castle. He was taught the "tricks of the trade" by some of America's leading illusionists, quickly mastering the art and winning accolades and awards from his mentors in the magic community.
“Worthy of Our Video Game and Instagram Times…Mexican-American escape artist Fernando Velasco scores big with his straightjacketed Jaws of Death escape when he gets out just before the crushing snap.” —Paper City Houston
