Hidden away in a secret location a mere fifteen minutes North-East of the Adelaide CBD lies Raymond Crowe’s Wonder Emporium, a small, twenty-seat theatre where you are transported to Raymond’s magical world for an evening of magic, wonder and delight.
Very few entertainers reach the absolute pinnacle of global show business, but Raymond Crowe is one of them. As the most viewed hand shadow artist in history, his iconic, deeply moving performance to What a Wonderful World has been witnessed by billions of people worldwide.
National fame as a grand finalist on Australia’s Got Talent was just the launchpad for a career that eventually took Raymond all the way to New York, headlining the global smash-hit production The Illusionists Live on Broadway at the iconic Neil Simon Theatre. He has been awarded the prestigious Mandrake Award for Excellence in Paris, honored with the Fellowship Award by Hollywood’s famed Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle), and immortalised with a star on the Adelaide Festival Centre Walk of Fame.
Raymond’s Wonder Emporium is once again operating every Saturday night throughout the month of July.
Raymond spoke to Glam Adelaide about the show, audiences reactions and how the idea came about to create his Wonder Emporium.
“The word ‘emporium’ sparks that old-world imagery and mystery and that is kind of what we are about. We are a little mystical in how we work. The Wonder Emporium actually started as my rehearsal studio. Over the years people would come in and suggest I’d turn the space into a little theatre. During COVID I used the space to do virtual shows, as it’s kind of like a little TV studio in a way. From that I thought I would try doing live shows out the Emporium as a micro theatre. I have friends interstate and overseas who have done similar things, so we gave it a go and we are now in the middle of our fourth season.”
After touring the world and performing to large venues, we asked Raymond what it’s like to now perform to a small audience?
“After many years of shows in Europe and on Broadway where you can’t see anyone because of the lights, it’s a real buzz doing these smaller shows. When the curtain dropped on the first show I did in the Wonder Emporium it was so good to be able to see every reaction on the audience’s faces. It’s wonderful how I can play and have the whole audience participate in a way that you can’t do with a 200 seat venue. It becomes such a personal thing for them.”
Raymond explained to Glam Adelaide the benefits of being able to perform in his own venue and how the instant feedback from the audience helps shape the performance.
“I’m much more interested in creating the magical experience than the trick these days. The great thing about only having a single performance once a week means it gives an opportunity to change the program and put in new elements. Last week we put in a puppet that I’ve been wanting to get in the show for years, and then based on last week’s feedback we have changed it and modified it and it’ll go back into the show again this week. It’s a interesting process to have that time in between each show and be in the same venue.”
To add to the magical experience of The Wonder Emporium, the location is kept secret until the day of the performance, when audience members will receive an email from Raymond explaining how to find the Emporium and what to expect.
“People regularly tell us after the show how it made them feel like a young child again. We often set up a little camera where they can leave a comment or something if they wish. I love watching the comments back because we get left some of the most wonderful messages. Julie, who manages all the bookings and publicity also contacts everybody at lunchtime on the day of the performance to make sure they’ve got the email so by the time they get here they feel like they know Julie, and they’ve seen me talking to them and we’ve built the mystique of the night.”
Conjure your tickets and join Raymond in his Wonder Emporium for a hyper-intimate candle-lit live performance blending rare hand shadows, master silhouette cutting, and nostalgic magic.
Be quick, because with only twenty seats per performance they will vanish right in front of your eyes.
Raymond Crowe’s Wonder Emporium
July dates: Saturday 18th and 25th
Gates open at 7.45pm
Performance starts promptly at 8pm
Duration: 70 minutes
Cost: $60 (plus booking fee)
The location of The Wonder Emporium remans secret until the day of your performance, but you are advised the venue is a 15-minute drive North-East of the Adelaide CBD.
https://www.wonderemporium.com.au
