Juggling, levitation, sleight of hand – Bermuda Magic has mastered them all over the last decade, but their greatest trick has been conjuring up a new generation of local magicians.

Bermuda Magic, a magic entertainment production company, first started by O'Brien Roberts in 2000, will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with 'Magic Fest '10'. The show kicks off this Friday at the City Hall Theatre in Hamilton.

"This year is special because it is ten years," said Mr. Roberts. "We have been able to entertain a whole lot of people in the community.

"It is now part of the spring calendar and everyone looks forward to the show and we look forward to preparing it."

Through their youth programme they have helped to introduce more than 100 local children to showbiz magic and many of them will be appearing in this year's show.

"We have been quite successful in attracting young local talent to the show," said Mr. Roberts.

Regina Daniels, in charge of youth development and coaching at Bermuda Magic, said this has been one of the main goals of Bermuda Magic.

"Mr. Roberts and I wanted to develop the local talent," she said. "One year we had as many as 15 kids, but on average I have six to eight kids on an annual basis."

She said several of those children have stayed with Bermuda Magic for the long haul. "Astoria Smith, for example, has been with us for about nine years," said Mrs. Daniels. "She was about seven-and-a-half when she started with us. With the exception of one year she has been with us every year. She is going off to university next year."

Mrs. Daniels said Miss Smith was quite shy when she started the programme, but learning to perform on stage infused her with self-confidence. "I have just seen her blossom," said Mrs. Daniels. "She took part in the 2008 Miss Teen Bermuda Contest and won Miss Talented Bermuda 2008. She did magic as her talent." She said Mr. Roberts' own daughter Kourtney, 13, was also very talented.

One of their old students, Roger Moniz, has just finished university, and is now back in Bermuda coaching younger magicians.

"He is one of our top magicians," said Mr. Roberts. "He is coaching the new group we have this year like he never left."

Other long time students in the show include Kylisha Julio and Jaryd LaPointe, among others. Mr. LaPointe has been asked to perform alongside one of the professional American magicians in the show, comedy juggler Will Roya.

"That is a real feather in anyone's cap," said Mr. Roberts. "Not too many times does the star of the show invite a young person to be on stage with him."

Mr. Roya regularly performs in Las Vegas, and was in the very first Bermuda Magic show. He frequently helps teach Bermuda Magic workshops. He also has a series of instructional DVDs.

Other professional American magicians will be comedian magician Chris Capehart and 'Puck' known as 'The Fantastic'.

"Chris Capehart is world famous," said Mr. Roberts.

"He honed his skills on the streets of New York and Philadelphia. He was a street magician. On a promotional basis, we might start doing that in Hamilton also."

Puck, the stage name for Malcolm Puckering is known for his magic work with animals.

"He use to have a cockatiel in his act," said Mr. Roberts. "Because of transportation issues, and concerns about birds carrying viruses and diseases, transporting animals isn't welcome anymore. So he will training a local rabbit.

"He can do it in less than an hour. It doesn't hurt the rabbit at all."

Bermuda Magic also provides a support base and performance opportunities to adult locals interested in magic. One of these adults is Llewellyn Simons.

"He saw the first show we did and the magic bug bit him," said Mr. Roberts.

"He approached me and I introduced him to Regina and since then he has been involved with magic."

Other local performers in the show include Mr. Slick (Andre Joseph), Gary Robinson, Alize Bailey, Amun-Ra Earls and Rhia Simons.

"It takes a lot to put a magic show on," said Mrs. Daniels. "It takes countless hours to pull together these shows.

"The biggest challenge is bringing in entertainers from overseas. Along with that comes making sure their equipment gets here, and making sure they have accommodations. There are a lot of logistics involved. There is a lot of time taken getting the airline tickets set up."

But she said unlike a lot of similar shows they were reasonably priced.

"It is a family show," she said. "And there is a complete variety. To have been around and been hanging in there diligently to keep magic alive within the community, Mr. Roberts has done an excellent job.

"To keep it going for ten years, I take my hat off to him. The things that Mr. Roberts does in the community are very commendable. I am proud and happy to have been a part of this for ten years."

The show is at City Hall on March 26 at 8 p.m., and on March 27 and 28 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Ticket are $25 for students under 18 years old, and $35 for adults. They are available from www.bdatix.bm or walk-in from the Istore, 46 Reid Street, Hamilton or Fabulous Fashions, Heron Bay Plaza. Help line is 232-8499.