Aspiring magician Lauren Stringwell is set to become the youngest member of Bradford Magic Circle. While many girls dream of wearing glittering costumes and acting as a magician's assistant, the ten-year-old Schoolgirl aims to be waving the wand. Since the age of six, Lauren has been intrigued by magic and is eager to follow in the footsteps of her Idol, Bradford escapologist and illusionist, Shahid Malik, and learn how to keep people spellbound with her tricks "I like it when people go 'ooow and 'ahhh and say 'how did you do that?' You have to attract the audience's attention and make sure they are watching you. I just keep a smile on my face," she said. In her bid to join the magic circle, she has been perfecting a routine which includes transforming white silk scarves into a blaze of coloured cloth, making pictures appear in a book and magicking a coin into a crystal box Houdini-style. Lauren, who has learnt many illusions from her father Eric, president of Bradford Magic Circle feels she is at the right age to become an affiliated member member by keeping the tricks of the trade up her sleeve. "There's no set age, but they have to be nominated as an affiliated member. We just wait until they are old enough to know how to keep the intrigue," said Mr. Stringwell. Lauren, who attends St Josephs Primary School in Pudsey is concerned about the lack of professional female magicians on the live circuit. She is looking forward to meeting up with the Northern Magic Circle's Junior Champion of magic, Hayley-Anna, when the 14-year-old from Blackpool performs in Bingley at the Hey Presto show in March. hard but if you keep practicing you will get there and you can entertain your friends." She can be quite shy at heart but it is surprising how she comes out of her shell when she is performing," he said. "I get great satisfaction out of magic because if you go to a party and somebody asks you what you do and you say you are a magician the conversation stops." | 
