It’s a kind of magic: Limerick magician reveals the many tricks up his sleeve

STEVE Spade didn't just arrive at his interview, he appeared out of what seemed like thin air, before putting out his hand for formal introductions - but, then again, would you expect anything less from the man known as the Irish Houdini?

Originally hailing from Coonagh, Steve's journey into the world of magic began at the age of five.

As he grew older, he started captivating audiences with sleight-of-hand tricks, using odds and ends from his father's coat pockets. Transforming washers into bolts and back again was just the beginning before he moved on to dazzling the masses.

Starting from humble beginnings, Spade pursued his studies at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), formerly known as Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT). But he quickly ascended through the ranks in the magical world.

With his uncanny knack for blurring the boundaries of the possible, Spade has captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide, and earned accolades and respect from his peers.

His most recent win, a prestigious Merlin Award, was bestowed upon the Limerick man after he was nominated among hundreds of other magicians from all over the world.

To be in the running for what is known as an “Oscar of the magic world,” the Coonagh man had to leave the deciders spellbound.

Spade described one of his first daring escapes which he pulled off in the Shannon at home in Limerick.

“Off Mathew Bridge, I was nailed into a box and tasked with escaping,” he laughs. “From reading all my Houdini books, I knew what would get attention very early”.

Limerick, as a whole, he says, has been a supportive environment for him to perform in. Remembering a trick he carried out as part of the Elemental Festival in 2017, the dare-devil escaped from being burnt at the stake at King John's Castle, before appearing at the top of the castle when all the dust cleared.

While his tricks may be death-defying, Spade emphasises their necessity in carving a name in the business. Yet, he's fully aware of the disbelief his performances can evoke.

With disbelief come the “call-outs” or invitations to prove his capabilities through escapes.

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Spade recounts one of these invitations for an escape in Portrush back in 2019: “A company challenged me to get out of a mobile home that was going to be crushed.

“I was chained up, blindfolded, placed inside, and they dropped a shipping container on top,” he recalls, still very much alive to share the tale. “It was the closest I've come to being challenged to a fight, perhaps even by someone like Tyson Fury!”

As it happened, Spade likes to put his own twist on his tricks, and added some trademark flair to this particular escape. “We had arranged to have the container prematurely drop,” he smirked.

Not in the habit of spilling his trade secrets, he remarks, “Everyone thought something had gone wrong, until I appeared behind them.”

Regarding his family, Spade has a two-year-old son named Michael, who is yet to grasp the gravity of his father's profession.

He also has a supportive fiancée, Elaine, who tries to find peace of mind amidst the chaos - but that is no easy task when your partner is an escape artist.

Spade, wanting to maintain his magical morals while keeping his bride-to-be informed, tries to reassure her as much as possible.

Being a father to Michael, brings a new set of responsibilities and challenges to Spade's career, and the danger element has been elevated tenfold since his birth.

“This stuff is dangerous,” Spade states, “Something could easily go wrong with a trick, so I do have to weigh it up, but I always have people around me who have my best interests at heart.”

On the brighter side, Spade is excited to hopefully share his talents with his son. “I think Michael will be thrown into the showbiz world in a sense, I want to bring him with me.

“Will he be a magician? I don't know, but he's a real little character.”

In the age of Youtube and TikTok tutorials, the centuries-old illusions passed down by magicians are now being unveiled online.

However, this doesn't particularly concern Spade. “If you're a young magician starting out and you find your trick on TikTok, it might be challenging to deliver because there's so much exposure. I would find that really tough.”

As a silver lining for any magician facing this issue, Spade adds, “What they're exposing is what ‘lazy’ magicians would do.

Now you can develop the tricks, infuse your personality, and do something different to astonish the audience.”

With an online presence, Spade has worked hard to create bespoke magic, and by keeping most of his signature tricks for his live shows only, he tries to deter “borrowing.”

“It could be taken out of flattery, but it's your effect at the end of the day.”

Next for Spade is his upcoming Irish tour, Lost Magic, which looks to delve into the older gems of magic to startle a modern-day audience.

Curated alongside Spade's late stuntman and friend, Mark Southworth, audiences across the country are welcome to this new series of shows - but under only one condition: Do not try this at home!