The Lewis Davenport Act

The story behind the re-creation of my great grand-father's magic act.

From humble beginnings in the 1890s, my great grand-father, Lewis Davenport, built up a career as a magician, from working in the clubs of London's East End to performing in Europe's "number one" theatres such as the London Coliseum and the Berlin Wintergardens in the 1920s and '30s. Eventually the act built to a five-hander, with the whole family involved.

Lewis Davenport's forté was a branch of magic called "manipulation" or stage sleight of hand. From the age of twelve I also developed a particular interest in manipulation.

We now go to 1995 when I was asked to perform some of Lewis's tricks at the International Brotherhood of Magicians - British Ring convention in Eastbourne.

The accompanist was able to use photocopies of Lewis's original sheet music and I put in a couple of touches for which Lewis was well known. When the curtain went up a real shiver went up my spine and the performance turned out to be a bit more than a collection of tricks.

Having put this little act together my interest was sparked.
Shortly after the convention I had a three-month engagement on a ship. This gave me the chance to make the colour-changing waistcoat. This is perhaps the trick that brought Lewis most fame. He had 13 waistcoat changes in the act at his peak; I decided to start out with a more modest 3.

In 1999 I appeared in "Seaside Special" at the Pavillion Theatre, Cromer and I was able to develop the act further.
Although Lewis was never filmed performing the act, John and Anne Davenport have extensive records of his performances. We also have some of his original props, costumes and sheet music. As so many of the family were involved in the act a good deal of his secrets, that were never written down, have been passed down through the generations.
At Cromer my fiancé, Anne (now my wife), joined in the act and so we were able to introduce a few dress changes as well.

I think that Roy Davenport, fourth generation of an amazing family is possibly one of the most courageous and visionary people in British magic today.....I cannot but admire the sheer passion and commitment that this magician pours into the art and if he continues in this way, he will undoubtedly become one of the magic names of the 21st century.

Quote from a review on MagicWeek.co.uk
to read the full review click here.

In 2004 I produced my own 'Davenport's Christmas Wonder Show' at the Auden Theatre in Holt, Norfolk. This was the first attempt at a full re-creation of Lewis Davenport's act as seen in the late 1920's.
The Chappell concert grand piano which accompanied Lewis at Maskelyne and Devant's "St. Georges Hall" is part of the Davenport collection and was transported from London, where it took its place in the six-piece band. After a lot of blood, sweat and tears the full act, including 14 dresses and waistcoats and the DeKolta "Expanding Die", was performed for the first time in 72 years.

Since then I have carried on performing the solo version although occasionally an opportunity to show the two-hander occurs.

One such highlight was recently being asked to perform in a Music Hall and Variety show at the London Coliseum, one of Lewis's favourite stages to perform on.

One day I hope to present the full act again, if my two children are willing to join in.