Cosentino brings An Evening of Wonder home to Melbourne

Melbourne’s own International Magician of the Year, Cosentino, is returning to home soil with a brand-new daring stage production in Southbank he promises is “unlike anything you’ve ever seen”.

The world-renowned illusionist will present TRICKED – An Evening of Wonder at The Palms at Crown in Southbank from November 21 to 23 – a five-show run he describes as part magic spectacular, part high-stakes escape act and part theatrical storytelling.

After years touring Asia, breaking box-office records and broadcasting television specials to more than 750 million viewers worldwide, Cosentino said performing in Melbourne remained uniquely special.

“I love it, I really love it,” he told Southbank News. “The home crowd always show up and it’s always great to play in front of friends and family.”

His return is no small undertaking. The escape artist has spent more than a year developing the production, and five months in daily rehearsals of up to six-and-a-half hours – ensuring every illusion, stunt and escape is tightened to perfection.

“I see it as a movie,” he said. “It’s the whole story – the journey, the excitement, the suspense and the romance.”

While audiences may expect sleight-of-hand trickery, Cosentino insists the danger is real. Every lock, chain, trap and underwater sequence is genuine.

“They’re all real,” he said. “I push myself to my limits – staying underwater longer, learning not to breathe for longer, escaping upside down from real contraptions in real time.”

Those risks come with consequences. “I’ve been to the hospital a lot,” he added, noting that cuts, bruises and breath-control hazards are part of the job – but best not to mention those magical insurance premiums!

The work begins long before the stage. Most of Cosentino’s large-scale illusions take up to two years to design, engineer and build. His father, a civil and structural engineer, collaborates on each concept.

“We start with sketches, then miniature models – sometimes out of paddle-pop sticks – then larger versions, and finally the full-scale apparatus,” Cosentino said. “Sometimes we build it and realise it won’t work, and it’s back to the drawing board.”

The success rate speaks for itself. Alongside his international accolades, Cosentino has authored six books, toured globally and become Australia’s most commercially successful magician.

But TRICKED isn’t just technical wizardry. The magician said audiences regularly approach him after performances, overwhelmed not only by the spectacle but by the emotional arc of the show.

A significant portion of the show is dedicated to interactive moments, designed to surprise both children and adults. After being repeatedly asked by young fans how levitation works, Cosentino decided to bring them into the act – literally.

“I thought, why not invite children from the audience and levitate them?” he said. Their reactions, and the polaroids taken afterwards, have quickly become a highlight. Crucially, only volunteers are brought on stage. “Plenty of people are happy to sit back and enjoy the wonder,” he said.

He emphasises that TRICKED is not a traditional children’s magic show, but a contemporary, family-centred entertainment experience. “This is an experience – a modern masterpiece with something for everyone,” he said.

For Cosentino, the thrill lies in combining danger, drama and storytelling to create a complete world for the audience. “Every part of the show is designed to evoke excitement and emotional attachment,” he said. “It builds tension throughout and pays off in a satisfying conclusion.”

And after years performing across the globe, he said nothing beats bringing that world home.

“It’s wonderful performing around the world, but it’s the best feeling being back in Melbourne.”

TRICKED – An Evening of Wonder plays at The Palms at Crown Melbourne from November 21 to 23.