Magical Bones
{{Short description|British magician}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Magical Bones
| image =
| birth_name = Richard Essien
| birth_date =
| occupation = Magician
| website = http://www.magicalbones.com
}}
Richard Essien, known professionally as Magical Bones, is a UK-based magician, illusionist and b-boy.
Career
He started his career as a dancer with Madonna, The Black Eyed Peas,{{cite web |title=CELEBRITY MAGICIAN MAGICAL BONES EXPLAINS HOW HE MET POP QUEEN MADONNA |url=https://fubarradio.com/showbiz/celebrity-magician-magical-bones-explained-how-he-met-pop-queen-madonna/ |website=Fubar Radio}} Alicia Keys, and Plan B,{{cite web |url=https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/whats-on/prepare-to-be-amazed-as-bgts-magical-bones-comes-to-south-m-9250101/|title =Britain's Got Talent finalist Magical Bones bringing mesmerising magic show to South Mill Arts |work =Bishops Stortford Independent}} and starred in the music video for Mint Royale's "Singin' in the Rain".{{cite web |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1xoa8|title = Daily Motion}} He also performed around the world including for Madonna's son's 10th birthday party.{{Cite news |title= Richard Essien: The man making breakdance magic |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-48623648 |access-date=}}
=TV appearances=
In 2015, he starred in Sky's Around the World in 80 Tricks,{{Cite web|url=https://watch.insight.tv/around-the-world-in-80-tricks|title=Around the World in 80 Tricks|date=1 September 2015|via=Insight TV}} and appeared twice on This Morning.{{cite web |url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/magical-bones-holly-willoughby-bgt-britains-got-talent/ |title =Watch BGT magician Magical Bones freak out Holly Willoughby years BEFORE his Britain's Got Talent audition |work=Entertainment Daily}} He was a finalist in series 14 of Britain's Got Talent in 2020,{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/talent-shows/britains-got-talent-2020-finalists/|title = Which acts are through to the Britain's Got Talent 2020 finals? - Full list of finalists so far|work=Radio Times}} where related the story of Henry Box Brown.{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bgt-magician-exposes-trick-stage-22710327|title = BGT magician exposes his own trick on stage - but stuns with emotional twist|work=The Mirror}} He featured alongside Penn & Teller in their show Penn & Teller:Fool Us,{{cite web |url=https://www.voot.com/shows/penn-and-teller-fool-us/7/1128319/the-magic-r-app/1129082 |title =The Magic R App |work=Voot}} as well as Pure Magic{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qtk4|title =Pure Magic |work=BBC}} and Crackerjack{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dw3l|title =Crackerjack |work=BBC}} on the BBC. He appeared on Sky's, Unmuted.{{cite web |url=https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/cdcbe39b-b3a0-49a7-96ac-dbbbdbda70b7/unmuted/episodes/season-1/episode-3|title =Unmuted |work=Sky}} and was the runner up for the ITV Christmas Special BGT: Ultimate Magician in December 2022{{cite web |url=|title =BGT: Ultimate Magician |work=Evening Standard}}
=Theatre=
Bones was cast{{cite web |date=14 July 2016 |title=Video: Impossible's Magical Bones |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/video-impossibles-magical-bones-369242/ |website=Official London Theatre}} as one of the six magicians to feature in the West End magic show Impossible, which debuted at the Noel Coward Theatre and then went on to tour{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/palace-theatre-magic-manchester-impossible-10754440.amp|title =Stuntman puts a live scorpion in his mouth in thrilling magic show |work=Manchester Evening News}} around the U.K and globally in Dubai, Lebanon, and the Philippines{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}.
Bones’ debut solo show Black Magic{{cite web |url=https://broadwaybaby.com/shows/magical-bones-black-magic/741559 |title = Broadway Baby}} sold out residencies at London's Southbank Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and went on to play around the UK.{{cite web |url=https://thebirminghampress.com/2022/04/magical-bones/|title =Britain's Got Talent finalist's tour reaches Solihull. |work=Birmingham Press}}
His second show Soulful Magic{{cite web |url=https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/magical-bones-soulful-magic |title = Assembly Festival}} premiered in 2022 at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and was set for a nationwide tour in the spring of 2023. His sister, comedian Eme Essien, was also proforming at the Edinburgh Fringe at the same time.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/aug/12/sibling-revelry-magical-bones-eme-essien|title = Sibling revelry: the brother and sister hitting Edinburgh fringe with magic and comedy|work=The Guardian}}