Do You Believe in Theatrical Readings?

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"I'm honest about my dishonesty, but I try and create something where I'm leaving people going," he says. "The trouble with debunking is that historically it's just not that interesting to go... The moment it's just that, then you can go, oh, well, but the psychic eyes, she didn't just do that." He adds: "Self deception is a lot of, a part of it ... Even while admitting, like Geller would always say, yes, I have to cheat sometimes".

In this remote Science Salon, Michael Shermer talks with Derren Brown, a British magician and writer.

His TV show Derren Brown: Mind Control received immediate success after airing in 2000. His specials include Russian Roulette, Seance, The Heist, Hero at 30,000 Feet, How to Predict the Lottery, and Apocalypse. His live shows Something Wicked This Way Comes and Svengali have won him two Olivier Awards. He garnered the 2012 BAFTA for Best Entertainment for Derren Brown: The Experiments. He has also penned the books Tricks of the Mind and Confessions of a Conjuror, which have sold over 700,000 copies worldwide.

His latest book is Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine. Derren is currently in the US for his off-Broadway show Secret (April 21st – June 25th, 2017), which has already sold out and has been extended with additional dates.

Derren Brown makes his American theatrical debut in this world premiere production at Atlantic Theater Company. New York audiences can experience Derren’s unique blend of mind-reading, suggestion and psychological illusion in a brand new theatrical experience.