Tag Archives: Dan Bastianelli: The Boy Who Drew Doors

EdFringe Talk: Dan Bastianelli: The Boy Who Drew Doors

Posted in *EdFestivals 2026, *Written Interviews by

“While I love regular comedy style magic, I came to learn that I enjoy writing more of the dramatic and theatrical style of thing.”

WHO: Dan Bastianelli

WHAT: “Have you ever wondered where your imagination could take you? A boy draws doors on a blank chalkboard, soon discovering they lead to worlds beyond imagination. Each new adventure sparks wonder, reveals the impossible, and transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Edinburgh magician Dan Bastianelli combines storytelling with masterful sleight of hand to guide audiences on a journey of discovery and astonishment, creating a magical experience that reminds us that anything is possible when we open the door to the unknown. ‘Incredible range of magical talent’ (WorldMagicReview.com). ‘Highly skilled magician’ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com).”

WHERE: Haldane Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (Venue 53) 

WHEN: 17:15 (50 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

This is my sixth show at the Edinburgh Fringe. I started on the PBH Free Fringe when I was 18 years old and continue to love it more and more each year. I am from Edinburgh (well, near it) and so I have always immersed myself as an audience member as well as a performer. I think it is the most amazing month of the year, where people come together and share memories together in an often weird and wonderful environment that is so different from the rest of life.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

This year for me has been a bit of a change in the way I am approaching my shows and writing. While I love regular comedy style magic, I came to learn that I enjoy writing more of the dramatic and theatrical style of thing. I think the best and most natural reaction to seeing something truly magic would be a gasp or even stunned silence, rather than a laugh and a round of applause. So I am trying my best to lean into that as much as possible now.

Tell us about your show.

I wrote this show with a goal in mind – tell the audience a story and the magic will happen as a result of that story. So I have written ‘The Boy Who Drew Doors’ by initially making it a spoken word play, and then added the magic in to suit that, and hopefully in telling the story, strange and interesting things might happen to me and the audience throughout the night… I am super excited to show it to people as it is a real labour of love, and while the magic in it is still very strong, it is so much more than another magic show.

I am premiering the show in Glasgow in July, then doing the Fringe with it and hopefully after that I will be taking it elsewhere around the country.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

I naturally gravitate towards magic shows, because that’s what I know… from those, I would say ‘Elliot Bibby: Adbracadada’ will be really fun, and for a free fringe one ‘Dave Reubens – Magic Survival Guide’. For a non-magic show, I always love sending people to ‘Mythos: Ragnarök’ cause I just love it. Who wouldn’t love Nordic mythology told through the art of professional wrestling?

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