BWW Reviews: DERREN BROWN - INFAMOUS, Palace Theatre, June 27 2013

Sticking to my word, I am going to keep what happened for three hours on the evening of Thursday 27th June a secret. So if you're looking for spoilers or the revealing of Derren's 'magic' tricks then look elsewhere. I'm not sure whether he is a psychic, magician, illusionist or none of them; but one thing for certain, this man is a genius.

He claims to be a big geek, but after watching 'Infamous' I can't help but find him the coolest man known to Great Britain. Why can't all the famous people we see on TV, magazines, newspapers and reality shows be as charismatic and interesting as Derren Brown?

After his multi-award winning stage shows 'Svengali' (2012) and 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' (2006) Derren Brown is back in London's West End after touring the UK with this new and completely mysterious show. This is his sixth solo show and he returns to the Palace Theatre having debuted at the same incredible venue nine years ago in 2004 in 'Derren Brown Live'. With no leaks at all about the content of the show been given previously, the only thing tipped by Brown was that it would be "something you can't find anywhere else in theatre or entertainment". Being based on audience participation, it certainly is a psychological rollercoaster.

Fear plays a huge part in this show, with an announcement at the beginning along with the usual 'turn your phones off' explaining how 'you may feel faint and light headed' but a big part of the evening is about opening up and embracing the ideas Brown presents to you. Whether picked on or not, you will feel 100 per cent involved.

Brown was quick to thank many people throughout his performance, and so I feel obliged to mention his friend and stage director Andy Nyman. Together they have created popular and fairly crazy British TV programmes including 'Russian Roulette Live', 'The System', 'Heist' and 'The Lottery Prediction'. The team manage to create yet again another laugh-out-loud entertaining and moving show.

This show is reeking with passion; it's a shame that the content isn't really suitable for young children as this would be the exact kind of man I would have loved to grow up knowing about - the guy who wasn't popular in school and was actually a big nerd, but can now say a big f*** you to all those people who hurt him. From the get-go Brown oozed confidence and let the audience feel safe and comfortable. Everything he did felt personal, even though there were 2,000 people in the audience.

Above anything, I think Derren Brown - and this particular live show - is moving and inspirational. Through the mind tricks and confusion he sends out a deep message to anyone growing up with struggles, explaining that the most interesting people and artists are those that have had to work hard to get where they are.

Brown has definitely done just this, resulting in that massive audience leaving the Palace theatre last night in awe of his presence and 'powers'.

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