Unmasked – The Magic of Angus Baskerville. - EDINBURGH FRINGE 2026
There are plenty of magic shows competing for attention at the Edinburgh Fringe, but Unmasked – The Magic of Angus Baskerville manages to offer something a little different. Yes, the magic is impressive, but it is the person behind it that makes this such a brilliant hour.
Returning to the Fringe for his third consecutive year, Angus Baskerville combines magic, mentalism and storytelling in a show built around the idea of masking and the pressure we can put on ourselves to hide parts of who we really are. Drawing on his own experiences of growing up with autism and ADHD, Baskerville gives the show a genuinely personal heart without ever allowing it to become overly serious.
From the moment he takes to the stage, Baskerville is immediately likeable. There is no huge theatrical persona or attempt to make himself seem mysterious. Instead, he is warm, funny and completely at ease with the audience, which makes the whole performance feel incredibly relaxed.
And then, of course, there is the magic.
Some of the tricks in Unmasked are genuinely baffling. Baskerville moves between traditional magic and mind-reading with an ease that makes everything look deceptively simple. Just when you think you might have worked out where something is going, he manages to pull the rug from underneath you.
There is something hugely entertaining about watching an audience collectively try to work out how something could possibly have happened and getting absolutely nowhere.
Audience participation plays a big part in the show too, but importantly, nobody is ever made to feel uncomfortable or like they are simply there to become the punchline.
What really elevates Unmasked, however, is the storytelling running alongside the tricks.
The idea of masking gives the show a much more personal foundation than simply moving from one illusion to another. Baskerville talks openly about his own experiences and uses the magic to explore the ways people alter or hide parts of themselves in order to fit in. It gives the show something meaningful to say without ever feeling as though a message has been awkwardly forced into a magic act.
That balance is handled incredibly well. One minute you are laughing, the next you are desperately trying to work out how on earth he has just done something, and occasionally you find yourself thinking about the person behind the performance too.
At around 50 minutes, the show absolutely flies by. There is very little wasted time and Baskerville packs an impressive amount into the Fringe slot without it ever feeling rushed.
An incredibly entertaining, clever and surprisingly heartfelt hour of magic from a performer who is an absolute joy to watch.
Unmasked – The Magic of Angus Baskerville plays at TheSpace on the Mile until 28th August so only ONE CHANCE LEFT!
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SHOW INFORMATION
Show: Unmasked – The Magic of Angus Baskerville.
Performer: Angus Baskerville
Venue: TheSpace on the Mile
Rating: ★★★★★
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