Prepare to be blown away (and no, we don’t mean by the Blackpool breeze!). Watch as incredible performers and daring stunt artists bring jaw-dropping tricks and illusions to life right before your eyes in these unmissable outdoor experiences. It’s magic on the move that you just can’t miss.
Cillian O'Connor Comedy Carpet
Friday 14 February, from 5pm
To celebrate the launch of ‘Showzam’ and ‘The Blackpool Magic Convention’, join magician Cillian O’Connor and watch him attempt the impossible live on the iconic Blackpool Comedy Carpet, a landmark dedicated to the funniest men and women in British entertainment.
Hosted by Hayley Kay with support act John Kimmons, who has been making people laugh for a living since he was 15 years old.
John has a vast experience as a stage and cabaret performer and has performed in every conceivable type of venue from small private parties to the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Disney Cruise Line, theatres and television.
His blend of ventriloquism, magic and comedy crosses generations, making him a firm favourite with all age groups. It’s fun and quirky - you’ll see drawings come to life, a towel transformed into a shrieking baby and audience members become human puppets!
Young magician Cillian O'Connor is taking the world by storm with mesmerising performances and a passion for creating magic. He’s made headlines with his astounding appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, which garnered a whopping 500 million views online.
Feel the magic happen in your own hands. Remember: this is in the open air. No Mirrors. No trapdoors Is it really possible? Can a grand illusion really be performed in such difficult conditions? Why not see for yourself?
The Greatest Escape - Andrew Basso - Comedy Carpet
Monday 17 February, from 5pm
Are you ready for a death-defying outdoor spectacular?
In celebration of the legendary Harry Houdini’s visit to Blackpool 120 years ago, during which he escaped from a police cell*, the world-renowned Andrew Basso is set to perform a spectacular, death-defying, breath-holding escape: The Water Torture Cell.
Andrew Basso, from Italy, is regarded as one of the world’s leading magicians and considered by the press to be the ‘natural successor to Houdini’ and the ‘world’s greatest escape artiste’. Andrew is the current holder of a new Guinness World Record title in escapology and has taken to prestigious stages all across the world, in London, Washington, Broadway, Hollywood, and Sydney.
As a highlight of Showzam! 2025, Andrew Basso will present his signature act: The Water Torture Cell. According to Harry Houdini, who devised the original version of the escape, it represented the peak of his career. Developed to replace his famous underwater ’Milk Can’ stunt, it has become the most legendary escape in history, with numerous attempts to reproduce it having proved fatal for the artists involved. It was immortalised in the 1953 movie ‘Houdini’, starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.
In Andrew's spectacular version, there is no trickery involved - he is handcuffed, suspended by the ankles and lifted into the air, lowered upside down into 1000 litres of water, and finally locked into the tank! Unlike Houdini’s original version, this adrenaline-filled act will be presented *without cover and in full view of the audience*. Andrew Basso’s unmistakable presentation of this extremely dangerous act is unique in the world.
Get ready to hold your breath with him and see the heart-stopping spectacle on the Comedy Carpet.
*Did you know that the door to the police cell from which Houdini escaped can be seen in Showtown Museum? Find Blackpool’s first museum of fun and entertainment a stone’s throw away from The Blackpool Tower.
S
pectacular, Spectacular
Friday 21 February, from 5pm
Spectacular Spectacular will bring together amateur and professional performers for a live performance on-stage on the Comedy Carpet.
Halo Glow:
The Halo Glow Show is an explosive visual stage act. Super-bright LED (glowing) hula hoops, juggling clubs and ‘Hyperlight’ poi illuminate the complex patterns and textures drawn in the air by up 2 virtuoso circus artists. ‘DigiPoi’ technology displays customisable words, logos and pictures in the show's finale. Stunning, elegant and extraordinary, this hugely entertaining act moves from beautifully presented feats of control and delightfully synchronous choreography to a jaw-dropping human- kaleidoscope finale.
Drum Machine:
Larger than life, drumming collective ,playing their own unique style of Drum & Bass, Techno and Breaks. From the stage to the dancefloor and from the streets to the fields. Drum Machine is an audio visual experience to be witnessed.
Hip Hop Circus:
From costumed hip hop dancing circus performance leading to the parade of illuminated animal dancers (Monkeys, Lions and GiraRes) . Accompanied by the beats and breaks of our drumming collective we’ll dance the night away into a circus frenzy.
Grand Finale:
Drummers, jugglers, dancers, costumed performers and audiences will take to the stage for a final celebration leading to audience selfies and ‘meet the performers’.
Street performers
Samuel Hurst
Saturday 15 February, St Johns Square - 12pm/1pm/3pm
The People's Magician has done it all in the entertainment industry. Street shows, rock concerts, Beat The Wand, consulting and running a successful cabaret evening Beautiful Magicians' Club.
However, his proudest achievement is winning the UK Family Entertainer of the Year. His dry wit and relaxed approach and generosity has helped him gain great respect from magicians and the public worldwide.
He can been seen daily performing his hilarious street show in London’s world-famous Covent Garden. Join Sam as he brings that show for one day only as part of Showzam! to Blackpool.
Kitsch Cafe
Tuesday 18th February, Comedy Carpet - 11am/1pm/3pm
Pamela and Gordon and their mobile ‘rolling buffet’ bring you all that was great about food in the 60’s and 70’s. Our resident food experts recreate the lost arts of “piping mashed potato for pleasure and profit“, “fun with spam” and much more.
Add virtuoso stylophone, a gallery of genuine terrifying 60’s recipes and the worst in easy listening music and you have yourself an irresistible cocktail of starch, funk and indigestion…..the perfect family meal.
Just In Case
Wednesday 19th February, Central Pier- 11am/1pm/3pm
An all-action musical comedy thriller. Two sharp suited performers arrive with five mysterious flight cases. Inside each case is a new comedy adventures, such as an unforgettable tribute to the Sound of Music, smashing plate manipulation, circus tricks and a juggling version of Hamlet.
Daft As A Brush
Thursday 20th February, From Comedy Carpet, 11am/1pm
Contemporary clown seeks audience for playful interactive circus nonsense. Gasp and guffaw at his coat hanger antics and feel the excitement mount as the audience race biscuits for the honour to join Maynard in his now legendary egg catapulting stunt.
Heaps of audience involvement all rolled up in Mr Flip Flap’s very own virtual reality.
Comedy Waiters
Saturday 22nd February, From Sandcastle Waterpark, 11am/1pm/3pm
This dinner service delight combines silent comedy and graceful slapstick to great effect. They begin with the odd plate flip or sculpted napkin until with a flick of their bow-ties, our undercover comedians reveal their true colours to your food festival, city street or ambassador’s ball.
To a rousing soundtrack of all time classics, they evoke the genius of Morecambe and Wise and conjure adolescent admiration with a hilarious boyband homage. In the theatrical finale, rain cascades from umbrellas with beautiful choreography performed to ‘Singing in the Rain’.