Bournemouth
Bournemouth (the BIC) is a huge conference centre, as opposed to theatre, so the stage had to be built from scratch in a massive empty barn of a room. It seats over 4000; the rows stretching back and back, making me a tiny pink featureless dot for those lucky ladies and gentlemen in the back reaches. Work started at six am, and I spent the afternoon in town writing a foreword for a book on Houdini which is on its way out soon. (Amazon makes it sound like i have written the book with Harry himself: not quite, it’s just a foreword).
The first night in Bournemouth was great: such a huge crowd, all of whom sprung to their feet the moment the show finished. Andy, our sound chap, did an excellent job of making sure everyone could hear me clearly in that big old space, and Tim and Other Andy did a sterling job on lighting. (Both aside from Other Other Andy who directs.)
After the show, we arrived at the Captain’s Club Hotel, a beautiful retreat by the marina, and have been looked after astonishingly well by Cheryl, who has just brought me an excellent Eggs Benedict. (This is the touring brekkie of choice, and so far I haven’t found one on a menu). We’ve never received such extraordinary service from a hotel: Cheryl even came to pick me up last night after the second Bournemouth show. They went to amazing lengths to make sure we were looked after, and we’ve all had the most wonderful and refreshing stay. Thank you Cheryl, Tim, Rob, Luke, Marcus and Bagel and everyone else.
That night after the show, we had a visit from a chap called Phil who had taken part in the Heist – he was one of the guys who refused to continue with the Milgram, to his credit. He now works for a private wine company called Romanet, and he arrived at the hotel to give us all a delightful post-show wine-tasting. Just lovely. Thank you again Phil! A great end to a night. Our production manager spilt ketchup over the carpet: that’s about as rock ‘n’ roll as I get.
The next day Coops and I went to Monkeyworld and looked at monkeys. Here’s a picture of one I looked at:
And another, more aggressive one:
The second night was ok, but felt just a bit flat in comparison to the previous nights: the audience were still lovely but it was the first show without a standing ovation. Whaddya gonna do. Back to the Captains Club for some excellent seafood after the show.
Bye-bye Bournemouth, it’s been much fun. Long drive now… to Nottingham. Hoot if you pass us.
xx
Wow Derren can fly…is this a preview to the next show 😛
Derren, we came ot the second night in Bournemouth. I’m sorry you felt it was “a bit flat” – we didn’t. We were amazed and frustrated in equal measure and have been talking about the end of your show since we left the BIC. Astounding performance – Thanks for a great night!
“Here’s a picture of one I took:” – where did you take it?
Wow – Derren can fly.
I used to be an atheist, then I realised Derren is God.
I’m glad I went on the Friday! The show was superb – great ending. Next time I’ll have to go to a smaller venue to increase my chances of catching a frisbee.
Any chance of Derren making an appearance at TAM London?
Me and my gang were at the first night in Bournemouth – great crowd, and a stunning show. The venue *is* a difficult one, but the layout made it work. Anyone planning to see the show in the coming weeks, you’re in for a treat, anyone not – get yourself a ticket!
And no, Derren hasn’t paid me (yet) :0)
My friends and I went to the first Bournemouth show and we thought it was absolutely fantastic, you were on top form and the show was, in our opinion the best one yet so it was a real pleasure to watch.
Thanks to Derren and all the crew for a very entertaining night.
Was at the second night and have to say. didn’t seem flat to me at all. Lack of standing ovation may be due to audience being completely stunned – lots of positive reaction from the crowd when we were leaving. BTW, thanks for delaying your seafood feast and meeting the faithful at the stage door in freezing conditions. You were as charming, hospitable, patient and witty as always.
We’ve never actually visited Bournemouth. The theatre sounds huge. Standing ovations seem to be the order of the day with this tour Derren….. It’s truly deserved actually.
We think Coops looks adorable in that picture by the way lol
Wow, hahaa…three lovely monkeys!…though the middle one is the most natural and @ least not dressed up!
😉
Love itt…
I went to the BIC on the 2nd night – “flat” ???? Were you at the same show????? It was AMAZING!!!! As Mr Tribeca says, it was probably just due to the audience being totally stunned – the language of the lady sat next to me would bear that out! She was certainly bewildered!
I wanted to leap to my feet but being a shy, retiring Brit, I didn’t want to be the first…..
It won’t stop me next year, when I’ll be taking my whole family to see the show.
Well done, Derren, it was brilliant! I haven’t told a soul what happened, but my family are now convinced I’m clinically insane because I was chuckling to myself in the car all the way home.
Thanks for a great night out.
“No, not Rosemary” – Jen
I loved the show last night, unfortunately Barry, at the beginning, was a little muddled and I don’t think that helped set a good tone. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. Have made superlative recommendations to friends.
Could someone tell a bit more about the Book on Houdini?
i didn´t know it was about to be released?!
I went to the Bournemouth show last night (2nd night) and I was amazed and delighted! It was exceptionally brilliant.
It was my first Derren show and I’m going to try to get tickets to see it again, it was that good.
I’m sorry that Derren felt it was a little ‘flat’ but that may have been due to most people being gobsmacked! I know there was lots of discussion and excitedness during the interval and after the show.
I was a little disappointed in some of the audience, at the end, to be honest. But hey ho.
I stood up and whooped and clapped with delight at the end of the show, severely embarassing my mother and others (strangers) sitting near me. Hahaha.
I can’t praise the show (and Derren, obviously) enough. I fear I may now be spending all my available money on tickets!
Thank you Derren and co 🙂
I went to the first Bournemouth show. It was phenomenal! I honestly did not want the show to end. It was probably the best decision of my life to go to see the show! I’m still on a high! It was truly amazing!
oooh everyone’s being really well behaved and not spilling the beans. I’m off to see the show tonight. I wish I’d bought tickts for both nights. I hope Derren’s visited The Trip to Jerusalem Pub and avoided Nottingham Castle and The Major Oak….
Amazingly rock and roll, ketchup on the floor AND monkey world? I understand some people like to have a rest between shows but you guys just live on the edge 😛
Glad you’re having such a great time! (Still frustrated with the end of the show ! It now hurts when I think 🙁 )
x
I was there both nights and both nights were equally amazing.
It was as always a pleasure to meet Derren later on after both nights and he was a sweetheart of course. Hopefully he still has teeth after the Jelly Babies 😉
Stroll on London 🙂
Hi Derren
I’m looking forward to giving you a standing ovation tonight. Have been stunned and entertained by the last two tours and seem to have had the Enigma show tickets for an age. The feedback seems excellent so far.
I hope Nottingham looks after you all.
😉
Hi Derren,
I’m shocked and surprised that the 2nd night in Bournemouth didn’t give you a standing ovation! I went to the 1st night in Bournemouth and I was one of the first people standing up cheering and whooping just before the end and continued to clap right until the very end! I thought the show was absolutely fantastic and whilst I did get a little frustrated towards the end, I soon realised that was the whole point and it made it all the more amazing!!
I have absolutely no idea how you do what you do but credit to you and your team, you always keep us guessing! I’m glad that you enjoyed the show too; it must be extremely nerve-wracking, particularly so early on in the tour but you all did fantastically well!
I can’t wait to get a copy of your portraits book and look forward to any up-and-coming shows for C4? The Event??
Take care on the tour and enjoy yourselves, all of you 😡
Oh and yeah, Monkeyworld is one of my favourite places ever, I’m glad you took the time to go there 😀
xx
PS: The DB smiley’s are ace!! Hehehe 😀 🙂 😛 xx
Monkey World? Kick ass!
Friday night at the BIC was incredible, I’m still confused as ever.. xxxx
A great show as always (went first night), sat on upper balcony and thought may miss out.. but could hear and see everything. Well done everyone (backstage & tech crew) for making it an excellent night.
zomg levitation wtf 😮
Slowly climbing your way towards Glasgow, bwhahaha can’t wait ^-^
It is teasingly fun to read how y’all blog readers liked the show! I’m gonna treat my little sister (who haven’t the faintest idea what “derren brown” is) to a night she’ll remember.
If they were all standing up cheering every night I guess even that would get tiresome eventually.
It seems to be a big hit so far.
I expect a lot of icy cold reading, confusing jokes, swift slight of hand, the occasional possible stooge and the enthusiastic DB we’ve all come to love. 😛
xx
I have to say, Friday was amazing! I went with my mum, who has never seen anything of Derren’s before. As we were in the car she was saying its going to be like Marmite, she is going to love it or hate it. I think she loved it as she hasn’t stopped talking about it! Derren you are a very clever man and I cannot wait to come and see you again!
Thank you
OOo, am getting excited now reading how everyone loves it and seeing friends pictures. Am wishing that I could of gone to both the nights now (damn work!).
Coops – *lol*
xx
I went to the first night in Bournemouth and you’re right it was excellent. Thank you so much.
The Captain’s Club hey, very swish.
X
Sounds great, really like the photos, particularly the real monkey. This blog is great, makes me laugh.
We saw Derren on his first night in Bournemouth, he was great and all I can say is if you haven’t seen him live you haven’t lived. Carry on with all the great work Derren.
If monkey watching is your way to relax on tour then may I recommend a visit to Shaldon Wildlife Trust on your way to or from Plymouth. http://www.shaldonwildlifetrust.org.uk. A small place with tiny monkeys. I went to their open day this morning. They have several varieties of tamarins, various lemurs, meercats with their new triplets and best of all the highly intelligent capucin monkeys. Afterwards you could treat yourself to eggs benedict at Oystercatchers cafe in Teignmouth.
That monkey is nearly as awesome as the squirrel!
Saw your show in Bournemouth last night – was very very good indeed. Sorry for not standing and clapping!
The ending completely threw me and capped of an excellent night.
Hey Derren, love the update, and lucky old you going to monkey world!
Glad to hear things are going well -knew it would do, but beware of some standing ovations, you may find that they are the fangirls who will begin to throw their underwear at you, and you dont want that.
Hey sue! Welcome back to the fandom chick! 😉
Derren,
I would like to say that I saw your show on the second night at Bournemouth and i was absolutely blown away. It can honestly say it was the most amazing thing i have EVER seen and the ending was totally unexpected and incredible!
I would love to see another show so please, please keep up the amazing work!
Sarah
Nottingham served up a standing ovation as expected. As I feared (and hoped) yet again I failed to spot when the end really was and stood up a little prematurely…again.
Great show Derren. Thank you.
lovely photo Derren (of you I mean of course) 😀 glad to hear you’re having a wonderful time on tour that’s so wonderful to hear!!!
Oh 3 andy’s well they do say many Andy’s make light work *neooowwmmm* that one should go over the head eh babes 😛
what no standing o on the 2nd night gah I’ll have to hunt down these people & give em what for on your behalf eh lmao 😛 that’s absolutely terrible darling utterly terrible 😀
well when i see you (on both nights) even if no one else gives you a standing O i’ll give you one darling 😉
hope the next show goes just as well shame i don’t live in Lincoln anymore as nottingham wouldn’t be too far for me to go
ah well never mind shall see you In Grimsby just means I have longer to wait to see you that’s all
todle pip safe travels & all that hun
((big hugs)))
chantelle 😀
hang on a sec – was that coops in the last picture? he’shad a hair cut and no glasses? Wow – if it is then he looks really different .
I was at the second night in Bournemouth and actually you did get a bit of an ovation from one deep dark corner of the upper balcony. Just too far away for you to see it, I suspect. (Opera glasses needed for both audience and performer next time!) Thanks for the meet-and-greet afterwards – it’s bizarre to find I was standing there along with several other blog fans! 🙂
OK, I’m ashamed to admit I was too skint to buy the tickets when they first went on sale and now I have enough saved to buy one, they’re all sold out.
Can you please let us know any additional dates first, as I’ve discovered some internal organs I don’t need. If anyone wants an appendix transplant call me!
Aw, poor Flapjack. Just wait until he breaks into Canada. Sure, you’ll have to pay for a flight, but seeing as the exchange rate is something like $102920980 per Pound Sterling you’ll have an easy time buying a ticket. Far fewer monkeys, though.
We went to the 2nd Show in bournemouth and we thought it was amazing. Not flat at all! Worth every penny. Im sooooo Disappointed that i didnt see you at the end, Would have loved to have met you. I think you’re a genius and if you ever get tired of being an incredible illusionist, then you could take up stand up comedy as you had me in stitches the whole evening. Dont beat yourself up about the standing ovation, You deserved it but everyone was simply Speechless! Congratulations on a FAB Tour. See you at the next one!
Much Love xx
We went to see Derren on the first night in Bournemouth with my sister and her husband
Nearly got jumped before the show when my sister asked if Derren was like Paul McKenna – we could feel the temperature drop around us – my wife and I asked for our seats to be moved 🙂 but since the house was full, we stayed and educated her into the wonders of what a Derren Brown show would hold and explained that he selects people from the audiance to work his wonders on – to which she replied that if that happened to her, she would hide under the seat..
They both loved it, as did we – and my brother in law described Derren as a “wizard”. Well worth the cost of the ticket.
Hey. You forgot to mention the amazing customer service you received in the Monkey World Gift Shop… Oh…. so dissapionted… glad you enjoyed the day. Bring the children next time…Good luck for the rest of the tour. P.s Sorry about my colleague, Shirely Temple, and her hiddious giggling fit when she recognised you.. So not cool… Good times…. x
That pose… On your back…
& i will do the rest lol
Damn your a sexy man beast :p
Sigh… yes bored mother of 1
I got to have my fantasies 😉
Glad your doing well n keeping busy
Happy days xXx 😀
My girlfriend is a vet student at Edinburgh and is extremely jealous that you got to go to Monkey World (she wants to work with primates).
Btw, is that Naboo the Enigma from the Mighty Boosh in pic 3? Lol
Mike x
Hi Derren,
I went to the 2nd night in Bournemouth as a Birthday treat. I have always watched you on TV and was so excited to see you live.
YOU WERE AMAZING!!!
Sorry we didn’t give a standing ovation but it still felt like a great atmosphere to be in.
I have been talking about it for ages, can’t stop.
Anyway am definatly coming to another show. Would buys tickets for every single one if i had the money. Can’t wait, keep doing them.
Jo
xXx
Wow.. coops has the same colour eyes as that money..
xx
*Monkey* lol.. sorry typo