Derren Brown Miracle at the Theatre Royal Brighton Review
Derren Brown: Miracle
Theatre Royal, Brighton
23-27 February 2016
Reviewed by Emma Salmon
A full moon and a total array of planets were a timely portend for the start of the Brighton stretch of the latest Derren Brown tour ‘Miracle’ – albeit a sign that he would laughingly dismiss, being a renowned sceptic of all things superstitious.
Derren is the master mentalist – an enchanter of minds and conjuror of perception with a talent for bizarre tricks of concentration and memory that never fail to leave his audience incredulous. As with previous shows, he asks that the events of the evening are not revealed in order to preserve the mystery, although the curious can search online if they want to find the spoilers!
Miracle is a show of two halves – the first follows the routine of those previously televised – random audience members invited to contribute and participate in illusion and trickery – sleight of hand, misdirection, mind reading and control – with control being the important factor. Despite Derren opening to a monologue expounding how we should let go of all we cannot control, to understand that we can only control our own thoughts and actions, it soon became apparent that the audience were mere puppets, manipulated by perfectly orchestrated strings of control by Mr Brown, although willingly and delightedly so.
The second half delved more deeply into one of the superstitious belief industries that he has investigated in the past. His previous show, Infamous, replicated the work of psychic mediums, and this show followed a similar line, beginning with a very intense whole house guided hypnotic experience with visuals and special effects, and following into a range of deeper interactions with particular audience members. We may not all have been affected so profoundly but I am pretty sure that we came out a little lighter of spirit and ready to change the stories we tell ourselves – Derren is so much more than an accomplished showman, his understanding of psychology ensures that he often speaks a truth so simple that his words are an inspiration – it is not often you find yourself so entertained and yet uplifted at the same time.
There was some talk in the foyer afterwards as to whether those people were plants, as the only rational explanation to what we had witnessed during the evening. All I can say was that I had been chosen to be part of the psychic reading during Infamous, and am baffled to this day as to how he did it, and I am certainly no stooge!
I attended with my partner and two children. The recommended minimum age is 12, although I brought my near 10 year old, but consider that there will be tricks which make you wince, jokes that pull no punches, and full immersive audience hypnotic participation when deciding whether to include younger members.
Miracle was at the Theatre Royal Brighton, before travelling on around the UK.
If you love him, go. If you are sceptical, go. If you just want to feel better about yourself and can’t afford therapy, go. And check out the new Derren Brown experience, Dark Secret, at Thorpe Park, opening this spring – a one of its kind ride developed with Derren.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £40.40 £54.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Derren Brown Miracle is at the Theatre Royal in Brighton until 27 February 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7650.
Theatre Royal. New Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1SD | 0844 871 7650
