Originally from Ukraine and now based in London, Yev Moskalov is one of the magicians performing at The Magicians Table. You can read our review here.
Hi Yev. The Magician's Table is all about intimacy, with the magic happening right under the audience's noses. How does performing close-up illusions at a table compare to performing on a traditional stage, and how do you handle the pressure of having the audience so close to your sleight of hand?
I used to work in environments where people were staring at my hands, trying to catch me, the moment they saw playing cards. But I'm hard to catch, because I know my craft, built through years of practice. And I don't actually feel any pressure, because I'm genuinely focusing on the group and trying to build a moment of wonder together.
So I would say close-up performance is my favourite, and I'm so happy to be at this show, able to showcase my magic
Your magical journey started in Ukraine and brought you to London. How has your background and the different cultures you've performed in shaped your style of magic?
First, let me just say, I could never imagine this when I was younger — that one day I would be performing in London and taking part in some of the best shows and venues.
I still can't quite believe it.
I have a background as a construction engineer, but I always kept magic as a hobby on the side. And after hundreds of people telling me I should do magic full-time, I changed direction. The cultural difference is quite big. In Ukraine, people don't often get to see magic in person, and public interest in magic is quite low. People have a sceptical mindset, and after they see magic, they often try to “solve the puzzle,” instead of just enjoying the moment. That pushed me to get more creative — to build magic that doesn't just surprise people, but pulls them into the moment before they even start thinking about how it's done
During the show, you balance moments of comedy with those breath-taking, 'ohhhhh!' moments of genuine surprise. How important is humour in breaking the ice with a new table, and how do you read a table's energy so quickly?
I think humour is generally important, in conversation and in performing on stage. When people laugh, their brains relax, and they become more open in that moment. If you're a funny performer, people stop focusing on the method, even if they were trying to, and it can actually be a great misdirection technique. I'm very aware of this, and I always make sure I have a few jokes in my bag. But sometimes, when I go off script, I say something that sounds completely normal to me, and the audience is dying with laughter — I guess I'm naturally funny sometimes.
Years of performing also made me understand people a bit better. Working in restaurants and hotels in London for the last three years, I've met a huge range of different people. I can feel the energy of the group, and I can always see who is more open and who is more sceptical. My act involves everyone in the group, which helps me build the right interaction with each person. I think I can find the right approach for almost anyone, but the most important thing is to be yourself — a kind person — and treat everyone with respect.
Because The Magician's Table features a rotating cast, the energy in the room must be constantly evolving. How do you all coordinate or play off each other's styles to make sure every table gets a unique but equally mind-blowing experience?
I'm so honoured to be surrounded by such talented magicians at The Magicians Table. Every performer is a true professional and brings their best. We always communicate before the show, during the show, and we do our homework after the show to improve things. If needed, we help each other during the show too, guiding one another based on what worked well before. We also each bring a different style — some lean into sleight of hand, some into mentalism, some do crazy stunts — so the variety itself is part of the plan. Because of this, the experience naturally builds round after round — every table gets its own unique flow, but the quality stays consistently high.
Tickets for the show: here.