Lecture Review: Mandy Muden (Thursday 5 March)

Written By Jack Bedell-Pearce

Last Thursday at the Surrey Society of Magicians, we were delighted to welcome Mandy Muden, who many will know from Britain’s Got Talent in 2018 and, more recently, America’s Got Talent in 2023.

Mandy began by showing us her first-round Britain’s Got Talent audition. To the casual viewer, it looks like a big success from start to finish - but what made the evening so interesting was her willingness to talk honestly about everything going on behind the scenes. She gave us a real sense of the pressure leading up to the performance, the challenge of building an act for television, and just how unforgiving that environment can be when you are trying to make both comedy and magic land in a very tight window.

What also came through very clearly was her professionalism when things do not go to plan. Mandy spoke openly about technical issues during the performance and, rather than allowing them to throw her off course, she adapted in the moment and kept the routine moving. It was a very good reminder that real performance experience is often about how you respond under pressure, not just how well something goes when everything is working perfectly.

She then moved on to America’s Got Talent, talking us through key moments from her semi-final appearance and giving us a rare insight into how televised entertainment really works. It was, in many ways, a masterclass in adaptability. Her years in comedy, improv and theatre were clearly evident in the way she described making quick decisions under pressure and staying in control when circumstances change.

In the second half, Mandy shifted into her writing process and how she builds material - which many of us found just as valuable as the performance side. She was incredibly generous throughout, answering questions openly and sharing practical approaches that felt immediately useful. On a personal note, she even helped this reviewer with a stand-up piece I’m currently writing for my dad’s 80th birthday. We mind-mapped a few ideas together and, within a matter of minutes, uncovered several genuinely funny angles that I’ll now be developing - and very likely using - in the final version.

Mandy finished by recommending four books that she feels aspiring comedy magicians should read:

All in all, it was an enjoyable and genuinely useful evening - part behind-the-scenes look at high-pressure television magic, part comedy writing workshop, and delivered throughout with warmth, honesty and generosity. Huge thanks to Mandy for such an excellent lecture, and to everyone who came along and helped make it such a lively and engaged night.

Jack Bedell-Pearce
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