"Magic Goes Wrong" by Mischief Theatre & Penn and Teller.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

The multi award-winning Mischief Theatre, who previously brought us "The Play That Goes Wrong" and "Peter Pan Goes Wrong", return to the stage with a new show created with magic legends, Penn & Teller.

The show is all about a hapless gang of magicians who are staging an evening of grand illusion to raise cash for charity. But as the magic turns to mayhem, accidents spiral out of control and so does their fundraising target!

There is so much material to take in, including the arch of letters spelling out "Disasters In Magic Charity Fundraiser", which throughout the evening have letters disappearing to spell something completely different!

I've not laughed so much and so heartily at a production than I did tonight. There is a lot of silly comedy, which is genuinely very funny, also extracting comic responses from the audience, all the while previously being drip fed sub-consciously by the actors on stage. And let's not short change this cast, they are actors who have been taught how to pull off the magic tricks while making them look like they have been doing it all their lives, with the smoothness of the professional magician and illusionist.

This is one show where it's impossible to pick one performer over another, due to the speciality of the production.

Daniel Anthony (Mickey) plays the "audience member" who has been picked at random to help The Mind Manager with some of his tricks.

Valerie Cutko (Eugenia) donates £100,000 to the charity that the magicians are raising funds for, but after a slight accident involving a very large circular saw, the totaliser dips into a minus figure, plus Eugenia is revealed to have a connection to one of the magicians in the show, unfortunately though, too late!

Rory Fairbairn (The Mind Mangler) is brilliant with the audience, as you'd expect from a mind reader, and if you've ever been to one of those shows where the magician professes to be able to guess your name, occupation etc. as well as being able to communicate with the deceased, then you will immediately recognise this particular hit and miss strand of mind reading spectacle. Brilliant audience participation and his illusion with the broken bottle was pure class which will have you holding your breath.

Sam Hill (Sophistico) is the main compere for the show, who by the end we start to feel just a little bit sorry for him with his quasi-tragic family history, but pulls off an amazing feat of illusion that I'd seen performed on TV, but when it's done right in front of your eyes, you really appreciate how clever this show is.

Kiefer Moriarty (The Blade) is the rock n roll rebel "dangerous" illusionist. Whether it including mouse traps, guns, knives or being encased in water for longer than a normal person can hold their breath, The Blade is pure edge of the seat comedy magic, the sort you'd give your left arm for, and he really did! This is the act that should come with a "don't try this at home" warning.

Jocelyn Prah (Spitzmaus) and Chloe Tannenbaum (Bar) are the German duo who turn out to be very flexible, in more ways than one as they act as assistants to the other turns, with great hilarity.

The understudies, Ishbel Cumming, Ricky Oakley, CJ Field and Jay Olpin, also take part in various stage operative roles, with equally comic results. For anyone who has seen any of the other Mischief Theatre productions, you'll know how vital these extra bodies to the whole production.

The impressive and showy costume design is by Roberto Surace. Costumes are very important where magic is concerned with plenty of concealed pockets and sleeve space. They also have to look the part with a multitude of feathers, not just from the doves - no doves were harmed in this production, neither was the swan - and gallons of glitter and sequins.

The set is design by Will Bowen, another level of providing some brilliant comedy moments with the lettered archway and sliding scenery which close before the magicians have time to get through the reducing portals.

Duncan McLean's video and projection design is also rather special, especially the shot of Derren Brown in the Old Market Square, who unfortunately comes to a rather sticky end.

There's been a lot of local research done to mention Nottingham landmarks, streets, clubs and hostelries, loads of audience participation and use of the auditorium as well as the stage, making this show seem really personalised. With this attention to detail and talent for ad libbing, every show will be slightly different.

If you want a show that is technically very clever, incredibly entertaining and packed with laughs, not giggles but full-blown belly laughs, then this is the show to see this week. Just make sure you get a ticket before it disappears and takes this incredibly talented cast with it.

I loved it, and I know that you, and your whole family will love it as well.

"Magic Goes Wrong" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 2 April.