Brisbane, there’s a spellbinding new pop-up theatrical precinct in town with three thrilling and immersive shows to experience. Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank is playing host to the triple treat featuring international sensations Maho Magic Bar, as well as Darkfield’s acclaimed Seance and Flight.
Each of the shows features a multi-sensory experience and we were so excited to experience two of them.
Maho Magic Bar is part show, part bar but all magic. Take a trip to a neon-lit Tokyo night spot, full of the best cocktails in town and some of the most mind-bending close up magic you’ve ever seen.
This time around is Maho’s second trip to our river city, and it’s just as much of a treat as it was the first time. As you step inside, you’re greeted by a smokey bar festooned with delicate lanterns and a cherry blossom tree sprouting from the roof.
Audience members marvel as close-up magic happens right before their very eyes at their own tables. The action takes place right in front of you, as well as around you in the main stage area. Each separate table sees a rotating roster of magicians performing their signature tricks. Patrons can also order tricks from the magical menu, which grants them a front row seat being involved in the trick as it unfolds.
There’s a feeling in the air like you really have been transported to a slick Tokyo night, and the vibe that anything can happen.
Being a big fan of magic, I was watching a lot of the tricks very closely—after all, it was literally happening less than a foot in front of me—and even I was bamboozled as to how they were done. It’s a genuinely dazzling, surprising and magical night that leaves the audience cheering and buzzing on their way out.
I genuinely want to bring some other friends along so I can witness their wonder at the fabulous tricks and atmosphere on offer.
Next up it’s onto Darkfield’s Seance. I’ve opted to do Seance and not Flight because ghosts I am fine with, but flying troubles? Not so much. (Later I am told that Flight is the more mysterious, less scary of the two but my decision had already been made.)
For Seance, we step inside a shipping container decked out in Victorian decor. We siddle along a very long table in the parlour, and take our seats in a red velvet chair, eager for the seance to begin. We pop on a pair of headphones and then… pitch black.
I don’t want to spoil the action, so I will just say this: what happens next is truly a spooky experience. Even with eyes wide open, I could see absolutely nothing and that, combined with some strategic set pieces and truly spectacular 360-degree immersive audio make Seance an unforgettable experience.
If you haven’t seen (or rather, experienced) a Darkfield show yet, you must get down to the Maritime Museum before it closes in December. This company designs audioscapes unlike anything I’ve ever heard before—spine-tinglingly realistic sounds have you swearing there are people, and maybe even spirits, all around you.
The precinct itself has come alive with the neon lights of the Maho Magic Bar and the ominous shipping containers of Darkfield’s unique experiences. It feels like a travelling carnival, and has places to sit and enjoy a drink or two from the outside bars while waiting for your shows to begin.
If you’re looking for a night that’s a thrilling escape from real life, where you won’t quite believe your eyes or ears, then you need to experience the pop-up shows before it’s too late.
Maho Magic Bar and Darkfield’s Seance and Flight, until Sunday December 8, 2024, Queensland Maritime Museum, Sidon St, South Bank.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
