Like many children, Stéfane Laurens received the perfect magician’s little case as a Christmas gift, which is where his passion was born. “And later, my French teacher at college would do a little magic trick for us at the end of each lesson. Needless to say, I was delighted to attend! » He became interested in cinema and joined a school with this option, influenced by the career of Georges Méliès, film director and illusionist. Moreover, Stéfane Laurens will move towards video special effects. But, quickly becoming “allergic to screens” and deploring a lack of human contact, it was in December 1998 that he began to take the stage and perform some magic tricks.
“It was really very classic at the start. Tricks seen on TV, with ropes and scarves, that Gérard Majax and Garcimore did, with whom I will collaborate once,” remembers Stéfane Laurens. Then he discovered magic books, old grimoires and shops specializing in this field. “You should know that the best tricks are old, more than 500 years old! » He finally finds his style: humorous magic, a little offbeat and very interactive.
From campsites to magic shows
As Las Vegas does not contact him, as he says himself, he needs to ensure his notoriety and it is quite naturally in the campsites in his region, notably in Bénodet and Fouesnant, that he will perform for a few seasons. “I was more of an entertainer than a magician in the holiday villages. Many started this way. » Stéfane Laurens learned to put on shows and launched himself, in 2008, with a major show of magic and illusions which he presented at the Cornouaille theater in Quimper then at the Artémis in Briec, in front of hundreds of people. He then joined the Breton troupe of the Le Breizh Paradise cabaret and then toured the Ivory Coast and Morocco.
Stéfane Laurens even wrote a book on the representation of magicians in art which allowed him to travel all over the world for conferences and shows. Unfortunately, the pandemic abruptly brought the magician’s career to a halt.
Virtual shows with Anne Roumanoff
Far from giving up, he decided to offer interactive magic. “These were virtual evenings with prestigious guests to whom I performed magic via the Internet. It was broadcast live on the Facebook of the L’Athéna performance hall in Ergué-Gabéric. I had Anne Roumanoff, Alexandre Pesle, Gil Alma, Willy Rovelly. It worked very well. »
Post-Covid is difficult for artists but Stéfane Laurens has the chance to join a professional entertainment and event company, Breizh Event, allowing him to continue to perform in France. At the same time, he created a show for children, “Magic Skol” and restarted “close up” (magic which takes place very close to the spectators). “I also created Team Building which is aimed at businesses. No magic tricks but mentalism activities, daily tips, to strengthen cohesion between teams. Lie detection was very successful! »
2025 will be a year full of events for the magician as he is preparing to perform his new mentalism show in Morocco next February. He will also launch the 2nd edition of the magic festival created in Quimper last year. “And then, as I love children, one of the best audiences, I will have show dates for them during the year. »
