{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Variety Show","title":"Bear Mitzvahs, Tommy Cooper & mind-altering theatre","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3229,"description":"To stay updated on future episodes, follow us on:TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thevarietyshowpodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/thevarietyshowpod/If you have any comments about the podcast or are a performer who wants advice please do email info@thevarietyshowpodcast.co.ukIan Saville is a performer, magician and ventriloquist who has been practising socialist magic for over 40 years. Rooted in the radical theatre and alternative cabaret movements of the 1970s and 80s, Ian has developed a unique act that uses the language of magic and illusion to explore left-wing politics, class struggle and social history. He performs with a ventriloquist dummy of Karl Marx and has shared stages with performers including Ben Elton and Linda Smith.Episode summaryIn this episode of Variety, Ian Saville joins us to explore a life spent finding the politics in magic and the magic in politics. The conversation moves through his Jewish upbringing in Whitechapel, his schooling at Hackney Downs alongside the influence of playwright Harold Pinter, his early obsession with magic shops and Tommy Cooper, and his years with the radical theatre group Broadside Mobile Workers Theater. Ian also reflects on the alternative cabaret scene, the question of whether art can change minds, and why he has spent four decades performing tricks that make audiences think as well as laugh. Along the way, he performs the Class Struggle rope trick live, teaches the host a knot, and brings out Karl Marx for a word or two.In this episode:Ian's Jewish upbringing in Whitechapel and schooling at Hackney Downs alongside the influence of Harold PinterDiscovering magic through childhood kits, West End magic shops and the comedy of Tommy CooperHow Broadside Mobile Workers Theater turned Ian into a socialist magicianPreaching to the converted and whether theatre and performance can genuinely change mindsLive magic: the Torn and Restored Newspaper, rope trick teaching and Karl Marx on ventriloquismThe alternative...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/JHRDqil-H1p__PcBxkFKeWgvmzANKXqZzhsKiqUP0gc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mODc5/NmZkY2I4Nzk5OWNi/MjFiNDFhNzY5MTNi/NzI1Ni5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}