SOS: Adam Dadswell

This week Adam Dadswell returns to rebuild his list years after his first visit to the island. Some picks stay because they still hit hard in real shows, others get replaced by newer pieces that fit the way Adam performs now, with clearer premises, cleaner handling, and bigger moments for spectators.

We dig into what actually makes a trick worth keeping for life: the satisfaction of a sneaky method, the freedom to go hands-off, and a premise that sparks real conversation instead of a “look how clever I am” vibe. Adam talks through switching Sneak Thief for Sentinel, his drawing duplication approach that uses a childhood imagination hook and a table display that creates instant intrigue. He also trades Big Kick for InstaCaan, a card at any number routine that escalates into a blank-deck shocker, and updates the Diabolical Principle with Loki for that unforgettable key reveal.

Then we go past the trick list into the culture of magic. Adam banishes magician-wins routines that make audience members feel small, shares a wedding performance horror story and how he recovered, picks Theodore Annemann as his dream island guest, and chooses Darren Brown’s Enigma as the show he’d replay forever. We’re thrilled to meet with Adam once again! 

Adam's Desert Island Substitutions: 

1. Sneak Thief for Sentinel 

2. Big Kick for InstaCAAN

3. Diabolical for Loki

Banishment. Magician Winning Routines 

Guest. Theodore Annemann 

Memory. Go back to the first time he saw magic live 

Horror. Built up a reveal and didn’t quite go to plan 

Show. Enigma 

Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk