If you live in Richmond, Windsor, or anywhere in the Hawkesbury, you usually have to drive an hour into the city for a proper night of live entertainment. This October, for four days, it's the other way round: Sydney comes to you.
The first Sydney Festival of Magic & Illusion runs 8 to 11 October 2026 at the Regent Theatre, 145 Windsor Street, Richmond, with more than twenty shows: illusion, mentalism, comedy magic, card artistry and kids shows, all inside the Hawkesbury's own beautifully restored art deco theatre.
The Regent Is the Perfect Venue for This
Magic was made for rooms like the Regent. The theatre has been lovingly brought back to life after its multi-million dollar restoration, and there's something right about watching sleight of hand in a 1930s picture palace rather than a concrete convention centre. I've performed in sixteen countries and I can tell you: old theatres have an atmosphere money can't build.
Everything happens in the one venue, so you can make an afternoon and evening of it, with Windsor Street's cafes and restaurants a stroll away between shows.
My Show: Tricks & Stuff, 4:30pm Daily
I'm bringing Tricks & Stuff to the festival: an hour of comedy magic built around everyday objects, blenders, socks and candy bars included. I'm a two-time Adelaide Fringe Best Magic winner and this is the show that's toured from Edinburgh to Berkhamsted and back.
- When: 4:30pm, Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 October
- Length: 60 minutes, out in time for dinner
- Rating: PG, recommended 10+, great for families
- Tickets: $40 general admission
Getting There
- Train: The Regent is a short walk from Richmond Station, the end of the T5 Richmond line. No parking stress, and the 4:30pm show works neatly with the timetable.
- Car: Street parking on and around Windsor Street. Arrive 15 minutes early on the weekend shows.
- Make a night of it: A 5:30pm finish puts you on Windsor Street exactly at dinner time, and the evening festival shows start after that. Two shows and dinner in between is the move.
What Else Is On
The festival program covers everything from the Stars of Magic gala on the Sunday night to close-up card work and mentalism. I've written a full guide to the festival with my picks. If you're bringing kids during the school holidays, start with the family guide.
Fun fact: I grew up in Grafton, so a country NSW main street feels a lot more like home to me than a city arts precinct does. Hawkesbury, see you in October.