Troy: former CTK student’s magical 2014
Forget David Blaine and Dynamo… the hottest name in magic right now is Troy, thanks to some astounding tricks, an exciting show on E4, and plenty of swagger.
This South London musician – and former Christ The King Sixth Form College student – has had a huge year so far. His E4 show, Troy, was a blend of close-up illusions, showmanship and hidden camera techniques that put a fresh spin on magic.
Series 1 of his show may have come to an end but Troy shows no signs of slowing down as he tours the world, amazing and downright scaring people wherever he goes.
It’s been a fantastic year for Troy, but his success hasn’t happened overnight. It’s been the result of years of practising, performing and persevering.
Born Johannes Troy Von Scheibner, Troy grew up in Brockley with his German father, an archaeologist, psychologist and actor. He first discovered magic when he was just six-years-old, but it wasn’t until he saw David Blaine on TV that he really caught the magic bug.
“That was it. I’d never seen a magician like him – with my complexion,” he told the Jewish Chronicle.
“I thought if he can do it, so can I. I saw that magic can be cool.”
From then on magic took over Troy’s life; he was constantly refining his skills – often to the detriment of his school work – and went on to win Young Close Up Magician of the Year.
Yet he still did well at school, going to university after Christ the King and getting a degree in Creative Advertising Studies.
It was during his time at university that Troy’s skills really took off and he started performing at weddings, Mitzvahs and in local restaurants. Yet, as any would-be entertainer will tell you, the start of a performer’s career is not without its struggle; Troy had to work in retail while gigging, as he waited for his big break.
Of course, his unique skills didn’t go unnoticed for long and a run-of-the-mill gig in a restaurant in Potters Bar proved to be the turning point. At the gig was the chief executive of ZigZag Productions, who loved Troy’s act and immediately booked him for private gigs before eventually arranging a meeting with Channel 4.
Out of that meeting came Troy, the hit E4 show, and the man himself was able to quit his retail job and has never looked back. Things are going from strength to strength for one of CTK’s most famous alumni, and we wish him all the best!