Impossible Occurrences: Melbourne’s Magic Show Worth Booking a Night Around
If you like being fooled properly, this is the show for it. Impossible Occurrences is a close-up magic and mind-reading performance held weekly at the Melbourne Marriott Hotel, with the magician working just inches from your table rather than on a stage far away. It’s the kind of night that pairs neatly with dinner and a room upstairs, so you never have to think about parking twice or a late train home.
Related reading: our Dinner and Show Melbourne guide covers this and several other hotel-based nights out.
About the magic show
Impossible Occurrences is hosted by Melbourne magician Luke Hocking, a Grand Finalist on Australia’s Got Talent who has also performed at the Sydney Opera House. The show has been running at the Marriott since 2015, which makes it one of the longer-running fixtures on Melbourne’s entertainment calendar, and it’s currently rated the top show and concert experience in Melbourne on TripAdvisor. It’s picked up a string of press notices over the years too, including “Mindblowing” from the Herald Sun and “Awe inspiring” from Buzz Cuts Media.
Performances are general admission, held in an intimate room seating up to around 65 guests, with the third and fourth rows tiered for a better view. Expect sleight of hand, mentalism and a fair bit of audience participation, all delivered with humour rather than showmanship for its own sake.
A bit about Luke Hocking
Luke Hocking grew up in Bairnsdale in regional Victoria, and his interest in magic reportedly started with a magic kit given to him as a young child. He performed his first professional show at 16, and went on to write, co-produce and star in sold-out seasons at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne Magic Festival before launching Impossible Occurrences at the Marriott.
His profile grew further when he became a Grand Finalist on Australia’s Got Talent in 2016, and he’s since performed to sold-out crowds at the Sydney Opera House alongside his regular Melbourne season. For readers who remember magic mostly from television specials or stage illusionists working at a distance, it’s worth knowing his style leans the other way: close, conversational and built around getting a genuine reaction out of the person sitting a few feet in front of him.
Kerrie’s review
Have seen Luke’s show before and can say it’s well worth seeing! An intimate venue at the hotel, and a small group which is more special. Be prepared for some audience participation… but that’s what is fun about a show of magic.
What to know before you book
- Timing: Shows run most Friday nights at 7.30pm and 9.30pm, with select Saturday shows added in November and December. Check current dates when booking, as these shift seasonally.
- Length: The show runs for around 80 minutes.
- Tickets: Show-only tickets are $39.95 for adults, $35.00 for seniors (60 and over) and $35.00 for children (10 to 17). A dinner and show package is also offered, from $83 per adult, with a two-course meal served beforehand at Essence restaurant in the hotel. Book online here.
- Dress: Guests are encouraged to dress smart. It’s not black tie, but it’s not jeans-and-trainers casual either.
- Age: The show suits ages 10 and up. If you’re planning to bring a grandchild along, keep that in mind.
- Booking: Seating is limited each week, so book ahead rather than turning up on spec, particularly for the dinner and show package.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible throughout, and the hotel itself has accessible rooms and facilities available on request. If you have specific access needs, seating requirements or a companion card, it’s worth calling ahead on 0407 514 551 to confirm arrangements before the night, since general admission seating means it helps the venue to know in advance.
The hotel itself
The Melbourne Marriott Hotel was built in 1982 and renovated in 2011, and sits right in what’s often called Melbourne’s Theatre District. The Regent Theatre, Princess Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre are all within a few minutes’ walk, so if you fancy making an afternoon of it, this is an easy base for a matinee beforehand or a browse through the State Library of Victoria, which is close by too. Chinatown is also only a short stroll away if you’d rather eat there instead of at the hotel’s own Essence restaurant.
Getting there
- Public transport: Parliament Station is the closest train stop, around a 500 metre walk. Several tram routes also stop nearby on Lonsdale and Exhibition Streets, but route numbers change from time to time, so I’d suggest checking PTV’s journey planner for the current options on the day rather than relying on an old number.
- Driving: The Marriott offers on-site valet and self-parking, at around $60 a day at time of writing. Worth confirming current rates when you book, as CBD parking prices move.
- Drop-off: The hotel entrance on the corner of Lonsdale and Exhibition Streets is straightforward for a taxi or rideshare drop-off, right at the door.
Make it a night away
Because the show is held inside the hotel, it’s an easy one to turn into an overnight stay. Book a Friday night at the Melbourne Marriott Hotel, enjoy dinner beforehand if you’re going for the package, see the show, then head straight up to your room afterwards. A relaxed breakfast the next morning rounds off the evening nicely, particularly if you’re travelling in from outside the city.
Impossible Occurrences Melbourne Marriott Hotel, Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 For bookings and enquiries, please contact Impossible Occurrences on 0407 514 551.
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