Break-dancing illusionist Magical Bones and comedian Eme Essien are at the festival with new shows. He teaches her one of his tricks – and gets an acting masterclass in return
One is a rising comedy star and actor whose solo hour Flat Shoes in the Club is a whirlwind account of getting ready for a Saturday night out. The other is a dynamic magician who mixes illusions and sleight of hand with lightning break-dancing. Both shows are fun, personal and high energy so perhaps it’s no surprise that Eme Essien and Magical Bones are siblings.
It’s just a shame, says Essien, that they’re not able to see each other’s fringe shows every day. She ends her set at Bristo Square’s Underbelly just as her older brother takes the stage a stone’s throw away at Assembly Checkpoint. Despite this unfortunate timing, they’re “rooting for each other” she says and they had already planned to see each other’s show in dress rehearsals anyway. Happily, their bond is strong enough to survive any constructive criticism that one might have for the other. “People have actually said that we tend to act more like twins,” says Essien. “Even as kids, we were really close,” adds Bones, whose real name is Richard (he got his nickname from his body-popping dance style). “We’re both really good at seeing each other’s work critically,” adds his sister. “I trust my brother’s opinion more than most because I know that he won’t just be kind.”
