I.B.M. Member Profile

Nik Taylor

Magician and Researcher. Analogue and Digital Gamer. Druid.

About Nik Taylor

I’m mostly an Academic, Paranormalist, Bizarrist, FortuneTeller, Hypnotist, Mindreader & Magician. Analogue and Digital Gamer.

I work as Subject Leader in the Division of Drama at The University of Huddersfield where I research and lecture on Performance Magic, immersive, interactive and ludic theatre, and creative technical theatre.

My current research focus is; Performing Real Magic(K): The Conjurer and Audience in Bizarre Magic.

Here’s an edited list of highlights so far;

    • (2016) (performer) Halloween Happening, Laurence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield.
    • (2016) (performer) The Cabinet of Caligari, Heritage Quay, Huddersfield.
    • (2016) (writer) 'Strange Ceremonies: Creating Imaginative Spaces in Bizarre Magick in The Luminary, Issue 7, pp. 54-63 ISSN 2056-9238
    • (2016) (performer) 'Mr Punch's Cabinet of Curiosities' In: Horror Con, Sheffield.
    • (2016) (performer) 'Vortex' Vibe, Vortex Gallery, Huddersfield.
    • (2016) (presenter) 'A Cabinet of Curiosities' Doomsday VII, Whitby.
    • (2015) (performer) 'Christmas Ghost Stories: An Evening Of Stories And Séance Magic' Tolson Museum, Huddersfield.
    • (2015) (interviewee) 'Seance and Spookshow Podcast' Episode 12.
    • (2015) (performer) 'Mr Punch's Cabinet of Curiosities' Laurence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield.
    • (2015) (advisor) Nosferatu, Proper Job Theatre Company.
    • (2015) (performer) 'Mr Punch's Cabinet of Curiosities' In: Horror Con, Sheffield.
    • (2015) (writer) 'Strange Ceremonies:  The Laboratory, Library, and the Living Room; Creating Imaginative Spaces in Bizarre Magick.' In: Locating Fantastika, Lancaster University.
    • (2015) (writer) Impersonating Spirits: The Paranormal Entertainer and the Dramaturgy of the Gothic Séance. In: New Directions in 21st-Century Gothic: The Gothic Compass. Routledge, pp. 163-174. ISBN 1138810614
    • (2015) (writer (with Stuart Nolan)) Performing Fabulous Monsters: Re-inventing the Gothic Personae in Bizarre Magic. In: Monstrous media/spectral subjects: Imaging Gothic from the nineteenth century to the present. Manchester University Press, pp. 128-142. ISBN 978-0-7190-8977-0
    • (2015) (writer) ‘The Fairy Goblet of Eden Hall to Hunting Mammoths in the Rain - experiencing the paraxial through performance magic and mystery entertainment.’. In: Tales Beyond Borders, The University of Leeds
    • 2014 (presenter) Performing Seance: Four Steps to Collective Delusion.  Milton Theatre.
    • 2014 (magician, oracle, performer) YMEDACA Yorkshire Sculpture Park
    • 2014 (writer) Can We Perform Real Magic? (a provocation). In Paul Voodini, Aye Demon! Reader of Minds Press.
    • 2014 (writer)  Out of Tricks. In: Todd Landman (ed.) The Magiculum. EyeCorner Press.
    • 2014 (director) Vampire Survivors. Milton Theatre
    • 2013 (writer) The Bizarnival of the Strange. Mystic Menagerie, 1 (13), pp.10-12
    • 2013 (actor) Mr Shiraz: No Prophecy AshTV
    • 2013 (Panel Member) Bizarre Magick Roundtable Doomsday '13
    • 2013 (advisor) Magic of Medicine The Thackray Medical Museum
    • 2013 (director) Dr, Svengali's Travelling Winter Show. Milton Theatre
    • 2012 - present (co-editor) The Journal of Performance Magic
    • 2012 - present (co-ordinator) Magic Research Group
    • 2012 (contributor) Liber Mentis Psycrets
    • 2012 (director) Bizarnival of the Strange, Milton Theatre
    • 2011 (performer) How Psychic are you? – the sequel, Laurence Batley Theatre
    • 2011 (writer) Collective Delusion and the Madness of Crowds. In: Occult Magic 2: Into The Darkness. London, Valentine Entertainments.
    • 2011 (writer) Introduction. In: Scripting & Storytelling for Paranormal Entertainers. Lowestoft, Aken Productions.
    • 2011 (m.c.) Scrambling Your Minds Psycrets, Milton Theatre
    • 2011 (lecturer) Tabula Mentis IX
    • 2010 (writer) Throw Six to Start. Mystic Menagerie, 1 (3), pp.21-24
    • 2010 (director) South lake medical – a horror attraction, Milton Theatre
    • 2010 (performer) How Psychic Are You? Laurence Batley Theatre
    • 2009 (performer) Bizarre Magick [Performance] The Ninth Biannual Conference of the International Gothic Association, 21-24 July 2009, Lancaster University
    • 2009.(writer (with Stuart Nolan))  Nolan, S. Performing Fabulous Monsters. The Ninth Biannual Conference of the International Gothic Association, 21-24 July 2009, Lancaster University
    • 2009 (performer) Many Magics – an informance - Milton Theatre
    • 2007 (director) England's Home of Mystery
    • 2005 (producer / actor) Spoken by Crowds, Roro Films
    • 2004 (actor) Vendetta, Roro films 2004
    • 2002 (director) Headsmen’s holiday & Hugo Carp, Festival of Contemporary European Plays
    • 2000 (actor) Howard Barker's The Europeans, Festival of Contemporary European Plays
    • 1999 (director / actor) Pheadra’s Love, Corridor Theatre Company
    • 1998 (actor) The Treatment, Corridor Theatre Company
    • 1997 (artist/performer) Four Lands (The Journey Project)
    • 1996 – 1997 (editor) Mythos Magazine
    • 1996 (director)  Greek, Corridor Theatre Company
    • 1996 (performer/writer/director) Abductions Mythos Theatre Company @ Discurs’96, Giessen, Germany.
    • 1996 (actor) Howard Barker’s Ego In Arcadia, University of Huddersfield  production and UK premiere
    • 1995 (writer / director) Witch-house The Dreams of Walter Gilman - Laurence Batley Theatre
    • 1994 (actor) Mates, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
    • 1993 (actor) Plastic People, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
    • 1993 (actor) Angels Still Falling, Dulouz Theatre Company

Before all of that I studied at The University of Huddersfield

Before that I took a working class gap year, where I didn’t stray too far from the flatlands of East Anglia, but I did mange to operate spotlights for professional wrestling and circus, toured with a variety show, performed as a dancing penguin and lived the Norfolk-based rock and roll dream with two bands; The Psycho Druids and The Bedroom Disciples.

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