Meet the magical and mysterious gentlemen who are suiting up to take audiences on a unique and story-filled tour of Granville Island.
Briefly introduce yourself/your company…
Rob Teszka performs charming, irreverent magic and tells unusual stories. His first Fringe show “Magic Dropout” debuted in 2020 and started touring in 2023, and he produces and hosts the Parlour Magic Show in Vancouver. A favourable review once called him “a genuine eccentric”. It’s probably because he knots his own bow ties. Mike Norden holds the most awards for children’s entertainment in Canada (15 of them!), and has been organizing magical events and conventions for over two decades. He lectures across the world to other performers and has two books soon to be published. This is our first collaboration!
What is it that makes your work/company unique?
Rob has toured a few fringe shows and developed a style that combines magic with storytelling. Since he works as a historical walking tour guide by day, developing this magic show was only natural and a lot of fun. Meanwhile, Mike has performed over 6000 magic shows, with a focus on comedy and antics in a lively and engaging manner. The way our performance styles play off of each other will make for a really entertaining show.
What kind of experience do you hope audiences will have during your show?
Our tour not only reveals a bizarre history of Granville island that nobody ever knew—we provide *evidence*. Historic plaques, physical artifacts, and magical, impossible experiences all support the story of a psychic pirate queen, the ruins of a secret distillery, and medicine show hucksters who accidentally discover the truth—literally. We hope people will have an enjoyable walk full of laughs, and also end up questioning reality.
Without spoilers, tell us what you think audiences will remember most about your show…
The story we’ll share sounds completely implausible, but the more our guests think about it the more they’ll realize it has to be true. They’ll probably never look at the waterslide in the Granville Island Waterpark in the same way again; but they’ll *definitely* remember the light bulb moment.
How do you feel about participating in the 40th anniversary of the Vancouver Fringe!?
Rob: It is an absolute honour and privilege! I always appreciated how affordable and weird Fringe was as a UBC student wanting to see theatre. Years later, I premiered my very own show at Vancouver Fringe, and it changed my life. Mike: I have been performing in Vancouver for 25 years—and this is my first Fringe! I am absolutely delighted to be part of this and showcase our combined arts!
Tickets for ‘The Really Definitely True Tour’ are on sale now, beginning at Alder Bay Dock from 5 – 15 Sep. Book your spot today for just $18 per person
