BRB, We're Still Questioning Reality After Watching 'Now You See Me Live' In Singapore
If you thought the movies were mind-bending, wait till you see the magic happen right in front of you! Based on the wildly popular Now You See Me films (which made illusionists the coolest people in the room when they were released), Now You See Me Live is currently playing at Sands Theatre in Singapore. Our verdict? Let's just say we have trust issues with reality now.
Photo from BASE Entertainment Asia
In case you haven't seen any of the films (add them to your next weekend binge ASAP!), they follow a team of magicians who pull off bank heists and robberies using illusory tricks, and reward their audiences with the money. These magicians, known as The Horsemen, are also the stars of Now You See Me Live.
Played by world-class illusionists Andrew Basso (Italy), Gabriella Lester (Canada), Matthew Pomeroy (United Kingdom) and Pablo Cánovas (Spain), the slick, cinematic energy of the films has been transformed into a live stage spectacle with high-tech illusions, solo stunts that make your heart stop, and jaw-dropping moments that will have you side-eyeing the laws of physics.
Photo from BASE Entertainment Asia
As an fan of magic shows, I’ll admit I walked into Now You See Me Live feeling slightly sceptical. I grew up watching enough sleight-of-hand, levitations, and “impossible” escapes to spot the average joe magician's misdirection, body doubles, camera tricks card-counting, and trapdoors. In short, nothing but the most seamlessly performed magic tricks were going to impress me.
Photo from BASE Entertainment Asia
Plus, this production is rated G, and is family-friendly enough that children as young as five or six years old can enjoy it too. Now that's great and all, but it sounded like the law-breaking, high-stakes thrill and magic of the films (rated PG13 in comparison), would be lost in a bid to make it more palatable for the general public.
While I was partially right and this live production has virtually nothing to do with heists and bank robberies, Now You See Me Live somehow managed to keep everyone on the edge of their seats anyway! Here's why:
1. So. Many. Plot twists.
What impressed me most, as someone who watches magic with an analytical eye, is how boldly the show plays with audience assumptions. There is no doubt that this show was created by people who have mastered the art of plot twists. Certain sequences feel intentionally predictable… almost too clean.
You start mentally reverse-engineering the method. Just when you think you've figured out the trick — nope, you're wrong.
There were even a few performances where the magicians boldly hit redo on their tricks, proudly showing off how multiple potential solutions were completely impossible, leaving us all in a state of shock and disbelief.
2. Very relatable Horsemen
Photo from Lionsgate Entertainment
It also helped that The Horsemen are all incredibly charming and fantastic at creating a connection with the crowd.
Funnyman and conjuror Matthew Pomeroy plays with everyday objects like candy and pencils while playfully complaining that the audience was not cheering enough. Escape artist Andrew Basso began praying before his dangerous Houdini-style water tank escape. All the Horsemen also shared sentimental stories of their first encounters with magic in a show like this one, where they decided to hone their craft and become a magician.
Unlike the average magician, who might use their mysterious personas to create a layer of unpredictability, all four performers showed off a refreshingly human and vulnerable side to themselves, causing us audience members to root for them during their stunts.
3. You'll get to be part of the show!
Photo from BASE Entertainment Asia
Instead of just playing out magic tricks for the audience's benefit, Now You See Me Live takes things one step further with plenty of immersive sequences. All sorts of volunteers are brought up to the stage to assist with tricks, from adults to little children. Audience members get to contribute personal 'trash' items to be used for magic tricks, and there are even card tricks that you can try out, all without leaving the comfort of your theatre chair.
By the final act, I was surrendering to the ride… which is the highest compliment I can give a magic production. My companion and I discussed the performances all the way home, trying (and sort of failing) to decode the mechanics of those tricks.
It's safe to say that Now You See Me Live will leave casual viewers amazed. And if you’re an avid magic watcher like me, you’ll leave impressed and slightly annoyed that you still can't figure out how they were done!
Now You See Me Live will run from now till 8 March 2026 at Sands Theatre in Singapore. Tickets range from $88 – $233 on Klook and Sistic.
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