Speakng after a screening of The Great Art Robbery last week, Brown said public perception of pensioners was not something that’s going to change overnight but “it’s nice to do something that might help other people”. He said he had originally planned to carry out the heist – which is based on the theft of the Mona Lisa – but became interested in stereotypes of pensioners after realising his parents were getting older and chatting to a neighbour about the adventures he had had in his life.
What has Derren Brown been up to? He’s been training senior citizens to become a team of high end art thieves, of course. Yes, you read that right. His new special, Derren Brown’s The Great Art Robbery, is scheduled to air on England’s Channel 4 in December. He told the Daily Express that this has been a particularly anxious project because for the first time it is entirely in the hands of others. If you happen to catch a story about a gang of retirees getting nabbed with a Dante Gabriel Rossetti or John Everett Millais* tucked under a trench coat, you can assume that the new special will be delayed!
* We have no special knowledge of the piece that Brown’s band of merry men will target; we just see him as the kind of guy who would be a Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood fan.
Saturday night’s performance of the Derren Brown stage show Infamous was interrupted when a man fell from the balcony. Brown, who had returned to the stage Friday after throat problems, Tweeted that the man was fine after hanging from the upper circle of the theater, about 45 feet above the main floor. Apparently the man’s wife gave him a shove as a joke that nearly turned into a very serious fall. He reportedly fell several feet before grabbing a piece of lighting equipment and being pulled to safety. You can follow Brown @DerrenBrown.
Derren Brown’s blog announced the cancellation of shows at London’s Palace Theatre on July 31st and August 1st due to an ongoing issue with his voice. At time of writing, his Friday performance has not been cancelled. A quick check of the online ticket agency for the Palace Theatre at the time of writing showed that limited tickets are still available. Assuming no other health issues affect him, Derren Brown’s Infamous is scheduled to play the Palace every day except Mondays through August 17th. After the Palace dates are completed it looks as though Derren will take a break from the live show until February, 2014.
TIckets for Infamous at the Palace Theatre are available here.
“This big hidden camera stunt on one person that doesn’t know their taking part, I’ve probably taken that as far as I can go. Whatever happens after that will be very different. But it’s just about what feels worthwhile at the time.
“Apocalypse had a dramatic hook to it but its message was about valuing what you have in life and taking a stoic idea of valuing the things you have and at least mentally rehearse them being taken away. It came from a place that I thought was worthwhile.”
The Heist and Hero at 30,000 Feet are two previous specials that used the same format. Would this mean a return to more traditional magic specials? Or maybe more of the straight documentary work?
Derren Brown is very strict about his live shows. He implores his audience not to chatter about it. He requests reviewers not reveal details. The result is that until they are produced as television specials (which most of them are), Americans like me know very little about them.
Starting with the master of mystery sitting alone on a wooden chair, in front of a gothic, brick wall, there’s immediately a sense of unease. But then Derren puts you back at ease by telling the audience some personal details about himself – how he came out as gay – and how we should all be more open with each other because, afterall, we’re not that different.
Derren has been very open about his sexuality to the press in the past but this the first time we’ve heard it as a centerpiece in his theatrical work. We look forward to seeing it.
Saturday night’s performance of the Derren Brown stage show Infamous was interrupted when a man fell from the balcony. Brown, who had returned to the stage Friday after throat problems, Tweeted that the man was fine after hanging from the upper circle of the theater, about 45 feet above the main floor. Apparently the man’s wife gave him a shove as a joke that nearly turned into a very serious fall. He reportedly fell several feet before grabbing a piece of lighting equipment and being pulled to safety. You can follow Brown 
