Derren Brown: Underground, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - review

Acting as a best of show, Underground featured Derren’s personal highlights from past tours collected into its own show, touring around supposedly smaller and more intimate theatres in the UK before taking up residency once again in London’s West End. It’s arguable that at over 1300 person capacity the New Alexandra isn't very intimate; however this shows the scale and increasing popularity of Derren Browns live shows over the past number of years.

Being sworn to secrecy as to the content of the show makes reviewing it a little more challenging; however as it was a collection of the best moments from previous shows it’s arguably the best Derren Brown show that you could possibly watch.

Based in manipulation, illusion and ‘mind control’, the show was very inclusive of the audience with no one feeling safe of not being chosen, with participants being invited on stage after catching various Frisbee’s thrown into the audience.

Shrieks and gasps were common among audience members, stunned by Brown’s ability to act as a ringleader to the packed audience with a unique ability to switch instantly between being the ultimate showman to an empathetic and warm character.

Perhaps the only downside of the show would be that if you have been lucky enough to have seen Derren Browns shows in the past you perhaps will have already seen a number of the tricks throughout the show. However the use of different participants and the fact that the show is of such a high standard counteracts this greatly.

As fans left the theatre you could hear many discussing the various ways in which the tricks on show could have been reached, however perhaps it’s all the more entertaining and exciting to not over think these facts and admire the skill and craft taken in achieving them.