Six of Cape Town’s most charming teens proved their magical prowess and took home gold at the 2021 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships on Saturday 18 September 2021.

The Championships, hosted annually by the College of Magic, the Mother City’s only magical arts organisation, was presented in a new hybrid virtual and live event format at the College’s mysterious Victorian manor in Claremont and online via the Quicket platform. 

Eleven of the province’s teens went wand to wand at the Championships, with judges grading them on the visual impact and presentation of their acts, their technical and magical abilities and showmanship skills. In the end, six of these outstanding teens won top honours.

Somerset West’s Sebastien van den Hoogen (17) charmed his way into winning the Stage Magic Champion trophy with a graceful performance featuring elegant dove and silk  production effects. With an impressive bag of tricks up his sleeve,Sebastien also clinched the Close-Up Magic runner-up title. 

The teen is ecstatic about his double achievement:

“I’m over-the-moon excited! I practiced for months leading up to the competition and I am just so thrilled that all of my hard work paid off. I hope winning this title will open more doors for me in the world of magic and I am so keen on developing new acts.”

Century City’s Sahil Samlal (18) successfully defended his Close-Up Magician title for the second year running. 

In a surprise magical twist, the runner-up Stage Magic Champion title was awarded to both Lilitha Frans (17) from Phillipi and Tristan Grant (18) from Diep River.

Lilitha, a grade 11 learner with aspirations of becoming an actor someday, is quite vocal about the benefits of studying magic and competing:

“Studying magic at the College of Magic has been life-changing for me and to be able to take what I’ve learnt there and perform it in an award-winning act has been a dream come true. Winning this award  has inspired me to enter more magic competitions and I cannot wait to show everyone what I’ve got!”

Future engineer Tristan is happy that the judges and audience enjoyed his winning act:

“I have started to see magic not just as a sequence of moves, but rather a way to tell a story, and a way to make people have fun.It gives me great joy to know that the Champs spectators were blown away by my story!”

Tying for the Supreme Up-and-Coming Junior Magician Trophy are Deyna Viret (17) from Yzerfontein and Riyago Maartens (17) from Durbanville .The Supreme Trophy is awarded to a performer for their successful performance skills and great potential.

As one of only three female competitors at the Champs this year, Deyna is thrilled to be awarded this wonderful accolade:

“There is no better thrill than getting the audience as excited as you are! I hope to show future female magicians that anything can be achieved if you set your heart and mind on a goal – and put in the time to practice. You only do your best when you’re having fun – and performing magic is great fun!”

Maartens,who has produced and performed in two of his own shows for the public, credits the College of Magic for his astonishing accomplishment and instilling the confidence he needed to win:

“The College of Magic has given me my passion and it was my entry into the performing arts. It has and will continue to give me an extra edge against other performers in competitions like the Championships, with the uniqueness and wonder that magic presents. My life is more wondrous and exciting with the College of Magic in it!”

Come and watch your magic champs dazzle live at the upcoming Children’s Magic Festival this October:

These teen magic champs will next be seen sharing the wonder of magic with Capetonian families at the 2021 Children’s Magic Festival, to be held at the College of Magic in Claremont, from 14 to 18 December 2021. With a spectacular cast of magicians, jugglers, clowns and more, a week of safe, magical hijinks awaits!  

For more info and programme updates, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or follow them on Facebook.

Eleven of the Western Cape’s most charming teens will go wand to wand in the dexterous art of Close-Up magic and stunning illusions of Stage Magic at the 2021 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships on Saturday 18 September 2021.

Proudly hosted by the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships sees the province’s most talented and beguiling youngsters compete for top honours.

The 2021 Championships, like most events in the past 18 months, will have a wonderful transformation this year when it is hosted as a hybrid online and live event! While most spectators will be tuning in for the thrilling proceedings virtually at home, a select few magic fanatics will be able to watch the dazzling action in-person at the College’s mysterious manor in Claremont.

An afternoon of amazing magic awaits!

Come and support your magical local champions at the 2021 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships:

A ringside seat ticket to all of the incredible action is available from R50 per person for online spectators or R 100 per person for those wanting to experience the magic live. The Close-Up magic contest will be held at 2pm, followed by the Street Magic contest with the grand Stage magic contest bringing all of the enchanting hijinks to a close at 4pm. Remember – buy one ticket and it is valid for both shows – how magical is that?!

Don’t miss THE magical battle of the year - get your Championship tickets TODAY at Quicket.

Celebrating its 41st anniversary in 2021, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, welcomes donations from members of the public. Please donate at www.collegeofmagic.com/donate if you are able to.

For updates about the incredible 2021 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, please follow the official College of Magic Facebook page.

Cape Town’s College of Magic is sharing the wonder of magic for free this September by hosting its 2020 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships online on Saturday 5 September 2020.

Hosted by Stuart Taylor, one of South Africa’s leading comedians and a graduate of the College of Magic, the Championships will see magical teens from all over the province go wand to wand for top honours and the Close-Up and Stage Magician trophies! 

Share in the magical Ubuntu spirit for free online: 

Raise your magic silk hankies for your favourite young contestants by joining Stuart Taylor, his co-host Ran’D Shine ,one of the USA’s most sought-after performers, and the College of Magic at the 2020 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships on Saturday 5 September 2020. 

The Close-Up Magic Contest will be hosted at 2h30pm, followed by the Street Magic Contest at 3h30pm and the Stage Magic Contest  at 4h30pm.

 Register for free to receive the streaming link NOW!Streaming will open 15 minutes before show time. 

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, welcomes donations from members of the public. Please donate if you are able to. For updates about the enchanting Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, please follow the official College of Magic Facebook page.

The ultimate battle of the teenage wands, the 2018 Western Cape Junior Magicians, will transform Cape Town's Bergvliet High into an epic magical battleground on Saturday 8 September 2018!

Proudly presented by the College of Magic, the Mother City’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships will see nine of the province's top teen wizards go wand to wand in the dexterous art of Close-Up magic and stunning illusions of Stage magic for the Junior Magician titles and top honours.

Dazzling preparations have been underway at the College of Magic’s mysterious Victorian manor base in Claremont as the excited teenage competitors, Grant Best, Anele Dyasi, Liam Hewitson, Emma Hutchison, Luvo Mrolota, Siphesihle Ndayi, Sahil Samlal, Duncan Shelver and Dion Wabanie, hailing from Khayelitsha to Goodwood, work hard on their unbelievable acts to impress spectators and judges.

Celebrating its 38th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2018, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, is delighted to once again host the Western Cape Junior Magician Championships:

“To host a fantastical spectacle of this prestige year after year is a great honour. The Championships not only gives our young contestants the opportunity to put their performance prowess to the test against their peers but also allows us to share the wonder of magic with a greater audience. We look forward to welcoming everyone to THE magical battle of the year! “, says Yolandi van Jaarsveldt, CEO of the College of Magic.

See the magical action up close:

The public is invited to witness the wondrous combination of showmanship and competition the likes of which they’ve never seen before at the 2018 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships this September!Tickets for the Championships at Bergvliet High School on Saturday 8 September 2018 are available from R 100 with special discounts for group bookings. The Close-Up magic contest will be held at 4pm while the Stage magic contest will follow at 7pm. Book  your tickets TODAY at Quicket or by calling +27(0)21 683 5480.

For more information about the College of Magic and the Championships, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Ten young magicians vie for provincial champion titles and top honours

The ultimate provincial magical teen battle of the year, the 2017 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, returns to Cape Town’s Bergvliet High School on Saturday 23 September 2017.

Hosted annually by the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships will see ten of the province’s most promising young wizards go wand to wand in two thrilling contests for the Western Cape Junior Magician title and the opportunity to attend international magical events.

It is every teenage wunderkind for his or herself as they prepare to wow a judging panel of entertainment veterans and the audience with their competing acts in the dexterous art of Close-Up magic and stunning illusions of Stage magic.

While the judges deliberate about winners for the Close-Up and Stage magic events at 4pm and 7pm, audience members can enjoy the not-to-be-missed Street Magic Contest. The contest sees mischievous buskers perform their marvellous coin magic, card tricks and balloon modeling up close for fans who can then vote, via ballot paper, for their 2017 Street Magic Champion.

Celebrating its 37th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2017, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, has proudly hosted the Championships for more than three decades:

“It is an incredible honour to host the Championships, one of the most highly anticipated magical events of the year, once again. A family- friendly event of this nature not only prepares our contestants for competing in the professional magical world but it also gives magic fanatics a taste of astonishing entertainment they won’t soon forget!”, says David Gore, director of the College of Magic.

Be a spectator at the ultimate teenage magical battle of the year:

An entertaining afternoon/evening of magical showmanship awaits spectators at the Western Cape Junior Magician Championships at Bergvliet High School on Saturday 23 September 2017! Tickets for the Championships start from R100 and are available at www.collegeofmagic.com/tickets. Book yours TODAY!

For more information about the Championships and the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.

The ultimate battle of the wands kicks off in the Mother City this September!

Eleven provincial teen wizards will be locked in the ultimate battle of the wands when the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships is hosted at Milnerton High School  on Sunday 18 September, 2016!

Hosted by the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships is billed as the ultimate battle of the wands, testing the mettle of young magicians in the quick-fingered art of Close-up Magic and the grandiose illusionary techniques of Stage Magic.

Forget Hogwarts’ Triwizard Cup - the Championships contestants are vying for the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician title, top honours and opportunities to perform at international magical events!

As the competitive spirit reaches an all-time wizardly high, Milnerton High School will be transformed into the ultimate magical battle ground with the Close-Up event at 2pm and the Stage contest at 4pm.

In addition to these charming events, audiences can see street buskers throw down the magical gauntlet in the Street Magic Contest, showing off their impressive skills in card magic, puppetry, coin effects, juggling and balloon-modelling.

Celebrating 36 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2016, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, is thrilled to once again host the not-to-be-missed Western Cape Junior Magician Championships:

“The Championships event is a fantastic platform for our young magicians to get a taste of what it is like to compete professionally in the world of magic. I’ve had a sneak peek at the creative acts our contestants are preparing and they are incredible. Join us and see them for yourselves! ”says College of Magic director David Gore.

Tickets for the Championships start from R100 and are available at www.collegeofmagic.com/tickets.For more information about the 2016 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, please contact the

College of Magic on +27 (0) 21 683 5480 or visit www.collegeofmagic.com.