Inspired by the films of the same name, Now You See Me Live at the Sydney Opera House is a fantastical night of illusions, sleight of hand and death-defying stunts. Performing together in Australia for the first time, Adam Trent (USA), Enzo Weyne (France), Andrew Basso (Italy), and Gabriella Lester (Canada) are the four Horsemen who will leave you questioning what the hell just happened.
The real challenge for me is how to adequately describe the performance without spoiling the magic, as the art of surprise is part of the wonder with this show. So I will not be going into details or revealing any punchlines, but what I will say is parts of this performance will blow your mind. Each magician brings a different skill set to the table, and each is given their time to shine. Full of humour and audience participation, there was a real sense of community in the room, as people turned to the stranger next to them in disbelief.
In a world where the answers to everything sit within the palm of our hands, it felt genuinely special to spend an evening sitting in the unknown. It is within this unknown that you rediscover your sense of child-like wonder, and it is a beautiful thing to experience. While there were some tricks that the cynical part of my brain scoffed at for being completely out of the realm of possibility, there were many others that I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The production itself, from the staging to the lighting, is exceptional, with the music serving to heighten the tension. Having roaming cameras on the stage projecting to a screen, providing a full 360-degree close-up view of some of the illusions, was clever and effective. The discourse between the performers is humorous – if a little cheesy – with an overwhelming degree of showpersonship that will keep you engaged from start to finish.
After what has been a difficult week across the country, Now You See Me Live was like a balm to the senses. Suitable for adults and children alike, the performance was fun, highly entertaining and absolutely worth seeing.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Now You See Me Live will perform at the Sydney Opera House until 4 January 2026, before touring to QPAC Brisbane (Jan 8-18) and Crown Theatre Perth (Jan 23 – Feb 1).
For more information and to purchase tickets, head to the Sydney Opera House website.
Reviewer attended on Friday 19 December 2025.
Photo credit: Ken Leanfore
