The world famous College of Magic is set to welcome a new generation of would-be magicians to its mysterious Victorian manor base in Claremont in 2018.Registration for its entry levels courses, which commence on Saturday 3 February 2018, is now open.

Cape Town’s eager young learners are invited to come and learn the thrilling art of magic at the College of Magic, the only magical organisation of its kind in the world, through its beginner programmes:

• Course One, a 15-week introductory tour through the world of magic for budding young magicians from age 10 to 13.
• Magic and Showmanship course, an intensive 30 lesson programme providing high school students with a solid introduction to magic.

The ever-popular lessons will be held on Saturdays at the College ‘s enchanting century-old building, where, in addition to commencing their magical studies, new students will also have access to Africa's largest magic museum, a multi-purpose Imagination Centre, a magical library, the Magic Shop and more

In 2018, the College of Magic celebrates 38 years of teaching the theatrical performing art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults. The organisation is excited to welcome its new recruits:

“Magic provides a wonderful new way of learning for students, imbuing them with confidence, the ability to perform and captivate an audience and hope to realise their dreams. We look forward to sharing these positive effects with our aspiring magicians and we cannot wait to share the wonder of magic with all of you! ”, says David Gore, director of the College of Magic.

Learn the art of magic:

The Course One and Magic and Showmanship courses will commence on Saturday 3 February 2018 and will run at the College of Magic (215 Imam Haron Road, Claremont). Fees for Course One (half year course) are R520 per month or R2 850 for full payment, and for the Magic and Showmanship course (full-year course) fees are R520 per month or R5 210 for the entire course. Fees include lessons, notes, magical equipment and allied arts such as puppetry, juggling and mime and clowning sessions.

To register, please call +27(0)21 683 5480 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.

College’s largest intake of youngsters enjoy their first day of magic school

A wand handover ceremony, a whirlwind mansion tour and the recital of the mysterious Magician’s Code amazed more than sixty of Cape Town’s aspiring magicians as they began their magical education at the College of Magic in Claremont on Saturday 28 January, 2017.

The Mother City’s brightest young wizards-to-be, from ages 10 to 16, and hailing from Gugulethu to Grassy Park, Hout Bay and more, have the proud distinction of being the College’s largest new student intake in its nearly 40 year history. 

Forget Hogwarts’ hat sorting ceremony - at the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the wizarding newbies are sorted into Course One and  the Magic and Showmanship Course where they will be taught the basics of magic, presentation skills, patter, and how to entertain an audience. 

Course One runs for 15 weeks while the Magic and Showmanship Course is 30 weeks long. Lessons are held on Saturdays during the school term. 

The first day of lessons included a look behind the wizard’s curtain as the students were led on a tour of the College of Magic’s mysterious Victorian manor. In addition to providing host classrooms for more than 200 students each Saturday, the century old building is home to Africa’s largest magical museum, the continent’s premier magic shop and the wondrous Imagination Centre where the College’s popular festivals and events are held. 

One of this year’s impressive recruits is ten-year-old Kiara Davids, a former marching band enthusiast, from Grassy Park. The multi-talented prodigy is thrilled to be learning magic: 

“I think magic is incredible and I can’t wait to come back to the College every week to learn something cool!” 

Hout Bay’s Samuel Peters (12) has loved magic since the age of 2 and has been watching magic tricks on YouTube because he’s been too young to join the College of Magic before. Now that he is of age and a College student, he is eager to fulfill his magical dreams: 

“I’ve learnt some pretty mind blowing tricks on my first day at the College and I can’t wait to learn more so that I can be as amazing as world-famous magician Dynamo, my magical role model”, says the youngster. 

In addition to teaching magic effects, the College offers a variety of the allied arts (juggling, mime and clowning, puppetry). A rising juggling star is Anathi Fodo(10), from Gugulethu who, on his first day, was already impressing fellow students and teachers with his gravity-defying clubs routine: 

“Juggling is one of the better known allied arts and I want to be the best in it. I’m looking forward to improving my balancing skills over the next few months!” said the dexterous youth. 

Much like the amazing world of Harry Potter, performing magic is passed down through generations of a family like Hout Bay’s mother and daughter magical duo Leonie Mollentze, a College of Magic alumnus, and Heidi van Wyk. 

Heidi (10), who attends Kronendal Primary and is a budding synchronised swimming star, is following in her mom’s trained magician footsteps this year: “My mom does amazing children’s magic like balloon modelling and vanishing effects, but I really want to learn all of the dazzling card magic tricks, as well as ventriloquism. I can’t wait to get started!” 

The mischievous foursome and their new classmates had just enough time during their first lesson to choose a magic wand and learn their first wand effect of the year - how to make the wand float - before reciting the all-important Magician’s Code. The code, amongst other things, is a promise to never reveal the secrets of magic to “muggles”! 

The College of Magic, which has been teaching the theatrical performing art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults since 1980, is pleased with the first day’s new student turnout: 

“We’ve been amazed at the high rate of registration this year and the number of learners who are eager to learn the art of performing magic. I can promise our new students that they are in for the most amazing experience of their lives!” says David Gore, the director of the College of Magic.

Registration for the second intake of Course One for the year will open in July 2017. For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call 27(0)21 683 5480.