From royal palaces to refugee camps, Magic Phil has performed for children across the region, spreading laughter, joy, and boundless imagination
“Real magic isn’t about tricks — it’s about giving a child a moment of joy and escapism”
He’s one of the UAE’s most beloved children’s entertainers, an author, and proudly the silliest dad in Dubai. With his signature mix of high-energy comedy, physical theatre, and mischief, Magic Phil has spent the past decade delighting young audiences.
His shows are filled with laughter, but they also celebrate the power of creativity and childhood wonder.
Magic Phil is quick to downplay the title of “magician.”
“I’ve never really thought of myself as a magician,” he says. “I’m more of a children’s comedian. There are a few tricks, sure — but for me, it’s all about the excitement and the laughter. That’s what I thrive on.”
Laughter, he believes, is a universal language. His performances are highly animated and physical — shows that cross language barriers and cultural borders. “It’s like Mr Bean for kids,” he says. “You don’t need to understand every word to get the joke.”
One of his most compelling memories came during a visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.
“I was worried they wouldn’t understand me. But I threw colourful confetti, and their faces lit up. They were putting it in their pockets like treasure. Real magic isn’t about tricks — it’s about giving a child a moment of joy and escapism.”
Dubai beginnings
Originally from the UK, Phil arrived in Dubai in 2014 with his now-wife, Hannah. What began as a short trip soon became something more. “We never took the return flight,” he smiles. “There was just something in the air here — a buzz, anticipation.”
His first gig came by chance — a last-minute booking at Oasis Mall. With no props, he used whatever he could find and improvised the show.
“I just gave it my all,” he recalls. “Afterwards, people came up and said they’d never seen anything like it.” That spontaneous, high-energy style has since become his trademark.
The power of play
Phil says what sets children apart as an audience is their unfiltered honesty.
“Kids don’t pretend to like something just to be polite. They’ll shout it out if they’re bored! But when they laugh — really laugh — they remember it for weeks.”
Magic Phil taps into what children do best — play, explore, imagine — and channels that energy into every show, story, and silly moment.
Now a dad of two, he draws daily inspiration from his own children. Their curiosity and humour often shape his performances and spark ideas for his books.
“Give a child a cardboard box and they’ll turn it into a spaceship,” he says.
“That’s what we need more of — more free play and creativity. Let children be silly. Let them be curious.”
That spirit of imaginative play isn’t just fun — it’s powerful. Over the years, Phil has witnessed how creativity and storytelling can help children build confidence, try new things, and take pride in themselves.
“I love picking the quiet kids — the ones who are a little hesitant,” he says. “And when they get up on stage and hear everyone laughing with them, something shifts. They stand a little taller.”
He describes the stage as a place of transformation. “The lights are in your eyes, the crowd disappears — and for a few minutes, you get to be someone else, or just more of yourself.”
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How the magic began
Phil’s love of magic began on his seventh birthday, when a magician appeared at his party and pulled money from behind his ear.
“From that moment, I was hooked,” he says. “Not because of the trick itself, but because of how it made me feel. I wanted to make other people feel happy and amazed, too.”
As a child, he dreamed of running away with the circus. “My dad always had tickets ready whenever it was in town. I wanted to be a clown. I was the class clown at school — always performing.”
And while academics weren’t his strong suit, performance gave him purpose.
“My grades weren’t always good. But I had a passion — and I knew what I wanted to do.” He still remembers the teacher who let him perform magic for the class on Friday afternoons.
“You always remember a teacher who believes in you.”
It’s a message he shares often: “Not every child is going to be academic — and that’s okay. If they have a passion, support it. That’s where they’ll flourish.”
Reading that comes to life
Phil’s love of storytelling fuels his work as a children’s author.
His stories are adapted into fully staged productions with music, puppets, and plenty of interactive moments.
“If kids are struggling to get into books, you’ve got to bring the story to life,” he says. “It’s all about imagination.”
His school visits feel more like live shows than readings. “I don’t just sit and read — I act it out. I let them see the story, feel it, sing it, shout it. That’s what makes it stick.”
Phil also regularly performs interactive author readings at Bookworm, the UAE’s only dedicated children’s bookshop.
“Bookworm has a magic of its own,” he says. “It’s one of those great community spaces where inspiration is everywhere — and I’ve always been so grateful for their support.”
His upcoming book explores themes related to childhood emotions and mental wellbeing. “A lot of children feel pressure to be happy all the time,” he says. “I want them to know it’s okay not to feel okay.”
Reading with his own children is another creative spark. “Sometimes we just make up stories — the latest one was about a sausage and a potato! But that’s the magic. You don’t need a script. Just imagination.”
Keeping the wonder alive
In a world of screens and short attention spans, Phil says the secret to holding children’s focus is energy, rhythm, and surprise.
“I don’t drag anything out. It’s fast-paced, upbeat, colourful, and so interactive that kids don’t have time to get bored.
They’ve got to be in the show, not just watching it. Keep the wonder alive.”
Find Magic Phil’s books at the Bookworm and grab tickets now for Magic Phil’s Christmas Cracker
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