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Magic, illusion, sleight of hand, escape artistry and apparently teleportation, too — that’s Now You See Me Live in a nutshell. Derived from the characters in the Lions Gate films, it weaves all of it into an entertaining 2-hour show at the Sands Theatre in Marina Bay Sands.
Fortunately, you do not have to have watched the films to be thoroughly entertained here. I was curious, though, about whether they would be able to recreate movie magic on a live stage without the benefit of CGI and clever camera cuts. Turns out, CGI and clever camera cuts are part of the show…
Now You See Me Live is living its best life at Sands Theatre until 8 Mar 2026 and here’s what we think.
Performance
Now You See Me Live isn’t just a magic show but an immersive experience based on the blockbuster franchise. The premise is the same: a group of world-class illusionists, known as the Horsemen, perform illusions right under the noses of the audience. The 4 Horsemen of the Singapore shows are:
- Andrew Basso – Known for his death-defying acts, Basso is the first and youngest Italian to win the World Escape Championship
- Gabriella Lester – Now 22, Lester is the youngest and only female Horseman, known for mastering Houdini’s upside-down straight-jacket escape at just 14
- Matthew Pomeray – Using technology and sleight of hand, Pomeray is the epitome of the modern-day magician
- Pablo Cánovas – Cánovas has earned himself the titles of “Golden Magician”, “Magician D’Or” and “Heir of Illusion”
My usual sceptic self in my front row seat was thrilled at the proximity — I was sure I would see right through their supposed magic. Except, I didn’t, in spectacular fashion. Firstly, a full-blown helicopter appeared on stage, just metres away from where I sat. Later, at the same distance from my very-peeled eyes, a mini crowd of people climbed out of an impossibly small box. I was stumped… and that was the most enjoyable part.
We loved Basso’s escape artistry. Regardless of the ‘magic’ involved, holding your breath while suspended upside-down in a claustrophobic water tank is a remarkable feat.
The performance also incorporates more digital screens and effects than any other magic show I’ve seen. Fortunately, these visual effects don’t detract from the pure spectacle of a trick well done — nothing beats the thrill of seeing someone disappear in front of your very eyes. Both Lester and Cánovas adopted ‘teleportation’ in parts of their showcase.
One complaint: Now You See Me Live is relatively heavy on the audience participation element. At certain points, it only serves as theatrics and I wish there would just have been more magic instead.
Final thoughts
Professional magic shows are always a thrill — I cannot help but try to ‘catch’ the trick behind every illusion, despite my lack of success in that regard. The little one with me was thoroughly entertained during the show and told me no less than 10 times on the way home that it was “so good”. If you are taking the kids, this show is a no-brainer.
The only element that fell short for me was part of the closing, when all 4 performers are reunited on stage. Now You See Me Live attempts to create a poignant story around the audience experience and the backgrounds of the 4 Horsemen. I understand the intent to evoke emotions, but the choice also introduces some incongruency with the theme that pervades the rest of the show; perhaps it could have been skipped for consistency. Of course, if you’re there for the magic, you likely won’t notice.
Now You See Me Live is a 120-minute show (including a 20-minute intermission) and you can catch it till 8 Mar 2026.
Get your tickets from S$62 on Klook
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