Review: The Telepath and The Conjuror, Fringe 2025

Husband and wife duo The Oberons bring their unique brand of magical collaboration to the Fringe, blending classic illusion with intriguing telepathy.

Having met and honed their craft on cruise ships, their show, The Telepath and The Conjuror, promised a polished and professional performance. And it delivered. Their dynamic partnership, with the conjuror handling the physical magic and the telepath delving into the minds of the audience, created a show that was both familiar and fresh.

A Cruise Ship Quality Performance

The very first green flag for me was the reveal that The Oberons are a husband-and-wife team who met performing on a cruise ship. Having never been on a cruise myself, I know from reputation that the entertainment is consistently top-notch. This immediately raised my expectations, and The Oberons did not disappoint. Their banter is delightful, a genuine rapport born of a real-life romance. The conjuror, seeking romance on the high seas, met his match in the telepath, who was there for the buffet – a sentiment I can definitely get behind. This authentic chemistry makes their performance feel less like a magic show and more like a peek into a charming, magical relationship.

The production value is high, and the magic is executed with a smoothness that speaks of countless hours of practice. While some tricks, such as producing roses from thin air, might be familiar, they are given a romantic twist, with the conjuror presenting them to his wife. Other classic illusions are given a modern twist, such as the flying baton transforming into a shower of glitter. It’s this attention to detail and personal flair that elevates their performance beyond the standard magic act.

The Mystery of the Telepath

I’m a self-confessed magic fan, and while I have no skill for it, I love trying to work out how a trick is done. I’m less familiar with the art of telepathy and psychic performances, which I generally avoid as I’m cynical about their true motives. However, The Oberons present their telepathy as pure entertainment, and it’s genuinely intriguing. The telepath’s ability to know an audience member’s written name and relationship to a companion was particularly mind-boggling. Was the clipboard recording? A subtle visual cue in the curtains? It’s a sure sign of a fantastic show when you have the audience actively trying to work out “how the hell did they do that?”

Perhaps the biggest vote of confidence came when another magician was identified in the audience. Not only that, but he was attending with his own magic prop – a red magician’s ball – which was even used as part of a trick. When other magicians come to see your show, it speaks volumes about the quality of the act. The telepath and the conjuror is a magic act with singing that other magicians came to see. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Overall

The Telepath and The Conjuror is a solid, top-notch performance. The singing by the telepath is excellent, and the chemistry between the husband-and-wife duo is fantastic. While there was one aborted trick, which is a risk of all live performances, their professionalism shone through, and it didn’t detract from the overall quality of the show. The magic is cruise-level excellent, and the psychic tricks were new to me and deeply engaging. This is a genuinely recommended performance, and another one to add to the must-see list.

P.S. It’s them who spell it as “Conjuror”.