Now You See Me Live has opened at London Coliseum to a four-star verdict from Time Out theatre editor Andrzej Lukowski, who calls the magic "jaw-dropping" even as he stresses you should not expect the plot or tone of the Jesse Eisenberg film trilogy. The Australia-originating international touring show, which runs at the Covent Garden venue from 3 August to 6 September 2026, is a no-nonsense spectacular built around high-level performers, not cinematic narrative.
What the show delivers
There is no heist plot, Lukowski notes, and no hidden message about fighting capitalism through grand larceny. What audiences get instead is a series of magic acts framed by a grungy, black-wearing aesthetic and the branding of its core four magicians as "the Horsemen". That branding, borrowed from the film IP the producers have paid for, gives the night a more focused, less cheesy vibe than many multi-magician West End spectaculars.
The performers are Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester and Matthew Pomeroy. Lukowski says that while individual names are subsumed by the concept, these are top-class performers. The evening includes at least three tricks he describes as astonishing, none of which he spoils in the review. There is also a tribute to Harry Houdini performed by Basso, which Lukowski found utterly nerve-wracking to watch, though he reveals the escapologist does not drown trying to pick the locks of his watery prison — at least on press night.
Highs and lows
The show's quality ebbs and flows, in Lukowski's assessment. Some tricks are less spectacular than others, and the tone is all over the place. A breathless introduction from recent Britain's Got Talent contestant Rafferty Cooper comes across as fine but doesn't gel with the slick international vibe that follows. There are also a couple of slightly mawkish "magic changed my life" moments that feel at odds with the source material's cynicism, and the bombastic, repetitive music gets on the nerves.
Yet Lukowski argues these are quibbles. "You're not paying for Chekhov," he writes, "nor are you paying for a new stage adventure from the movie characters: you're paying to have your mind blown by some top flight magicians." On that count, the show delivers. He points out that the production's next stop is a multi-month residency in Las Vegas, which says a lot about the general level of performance.
Practical information
Now You See Me Live is staged at London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES (nearest Tube: Charing Cross). Performances run approximately 2 hours, with tickets priced from £30 to £150. The run begins on 3 August and continues through to 6 September 2026, with evening performances at 19:00.
