MAGICIANS are notorious control freaks. Whether it’s David Copperfield vanishing the Statue of Liberty or David Blaine boxed up for 44 days, conjurers have the power to bedazzle us, but always on their own terms. They tell the audience what they are going to do rather than the other way around.

Not so with Oliver Meech. The magical entertainer is touring Devon through Villages in Action and the unbelievable feat on offer is the fact that his show is 100 per cent dictated by the audience.

“The whole show will be a bit unexpected,“ Oliver, who takes his show Whose trick is it anyway? to Zeal Monachorum Village Hall on Thursday, February 4, explains, “as magicians almost never do spontaneous tricks. But I find playing off audience suggestions keeps every performance surprising.”

The show tells the story of a made-up magician and involves audience members aged from seven to 70 making up the characters, choosing the music and even the tricks.

The compelling element is whether ambitious Mr Meech can pull it off. Given he has sold out his Edinburgh shows two consecutive years, the answer is must be “yes”.

Theatre Wales describes the Oxford Psychology graduate as someone “to rival Derren Brown” and Broadway Baby awarded his “ambitious, hilarious” show four stars.

Villages in Action shows happen in village halls, so there are no trap doors or hidden wires for Meech to hide behind in this audacious challenge. He has nothing to rely on but a lifetime of practice and a steely nerve.

The show at Zeal Monachorum starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available by calling 01363 82469.