Country's freshest magic show tours Northland with shows in Kerikeri and Whangārei

Magic Mike Lindsay is touring small towns and cities with his magic show, stopping off in Kerikeri and Whangarei today and tomorrow. Photo / Supplied

The country's freshest magic show is touring Northland with shows in Kerikeri and Whangārei this week.

It's Showtime Magic and Illusion Spectacular is packed with grand illusions, comedy, live animals and audience participation.

Mike Lindsay, who hails from the small Kaipara town of Ruawai, is back home in the North after touring New Zealand in his large scale production of It's Showtime.

Lindsay started out doing magic tricks at children's birthday parties which has developed into a 90-minute stage show.

He "just kind of picked it up as a hobby" when he was 12 and eventually decided to make a career out of it.

He said he wasn't sure if growing up in Ruawai had an impact on his decision to become a magician.

"I think the only thing that had an impact is knowing I didn't want to wake up at 5am to milk cows so I was motivated to find a career path where that wasn't required," he said.

"I do believe the 'rural isolation' gave me more opportunity to be independent and make my own decisions though."

Lindsay did his first gig at age 15 and started promoting himself as a magician at 16.

"I've just turned 23 so it's been a job for nearly seven years now."

He started with a lot of small shows, children's parties, small gatherings and while he still does a few of those most of his shows are larger stage events with big illusions.

"I quite enjoy the production side of putting together a large stage show."

He said his family was curious at first whether he had landed on a suitable career choice but has always been supportive.

It's been providing him with a fulltime living for more than four years so they're pleased to see him doing something he loves, Lindsay said.

Mike Lindsay's Magic and Illusion Spectacular It's Showtime is at Kerikeri's Turner Centre, tonight from 7pm and in Whangārei at Forum North on Saturday with shows at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets are available at www.ItsShowtime.co.nz.