Andrew Van Buren

Venues and projects

Van Buren and his team have performed at the Brit Awards in the London Arena and members of the British Royal family at World Expo in Seville, Spain. He has regularly performed with and made appear, disappear and float in mid-air the cast of Coronation Street, comedian Peter Kay and Lulu. He has worked in British venues including The Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena in London, as well as regularly performing on international cruise ships and presenting shows in the United Arab Emirates. On 8 September 2011 Van Buren presented the opening show of the New Mitchell Arts theatre in his home area of Hanley Stoke-on-Trent - the first theatre he worked on as a solo performer, returning 30 years later to present one of his illusion shows as the launch of the new £4 million refit venue. During 2013 amongst other projects Van Buren worked as Magic consultant and advisor on the show Houdini, which toured theatres in the UK - starring Stuart Brennan, Jamie Nichols and Evanna Lynch.

Magic Illusion Show spectaculars

Andrew Van Buren presented a large-scale magic illusion show called Van Buren's Abracadabra Magic Around The World in Blackpool Tower Circus during the 2007 season supported by a cast of 24 international performers and numerous large-scale illusions themed to a journey around the world. Van Buren and his team have also made regular appearances in the Middle East - UAE, Dubai, Doha, Sharjah, etc. with their themed magic illusions and circus skills mixed into their shows, as well as regular performances on some of the world's largest luxury cruise liners.

In 2013 Van Buren and Gandeys launched The Victorian Wonders Carnival Show - The show description is "a mixture of Victorian Steampunk wonders mixed with elements of a theatrical play, a large-scale magic and illusion show with the showmanship of the fairground". Its first performance was at the Brighton Festival before taking it on an ongoing world tour.

Affiliations

Grand Order of Water Rats - Andrew Van Buren is a long-standing member of the showbusiness charity organisation The Grand Order of Water Rats.

The Magic Circle - Andrew is one of only a few Gold Star members of The Inner Magic Circle - Andrew Van Buren MIMC.

Equity - Also a member of Equity The Actors union.

Association of Independent Showmen - Andrew is also a member of the outdoor events fairground industry body the Association of Independent Showmen.

The Philip Astley Project - Andrew is continuing his families on going quest - which was started in 1981 - to gain the inventor of the modern circus Philip Astley greater recognition. Philip Astley was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme UK, which gives an even greater locational connection for Andrew. In 1992 Andrew commissioned a portable life size statue to be made of Philip Astley. Over the years Andrew has become an expert on the life & legacy of the "original ringmaster" Philip Astley. Now Andrew Van Buren is the driving force & leading light curator of the Philip Astley Project - creating & uniting archives, exhibitions and events all celebrating in 2018 & beyond the 250th anniversary of the first modern circus ring.