PAUL Daniels’ thrilling final magic will be unveiled at Winchester’s Discovery Centre tomorrow ( Saturday).

The last ever work by the legendary magician, who passed away in March, will be showcased in an enchanting new children’s

musical adventure ‘Don’t Dribble on the Dragon’

This will be the premiere run of the latest musical production from the award-winning People’s Theatre Company which specialises in fantastical, original drama and music for three to eight year olds - and grown-ups too. The play will then roll out to the whole of the UK from October onwards.

Following an eighteen month creative partnership with Paul Daniels, first struck up when they met on tour (he was in panto in Gravesend), the company is determined the show should be a fitting tribute to the years he spent delighting people of all ages with his astonishing illusions.

This spectacular musical escapade is the feelgood story of Jack and Tom, growing up and the importance of family. It’s a wonderful mix of fun, pathos, instantly singalong songs - and Daniels’ jaw-dropping magic trickery.

Tom is a teething toddler with a cool older brother, a secret dragon… and a dribbling problem that just won’t stop! Tom's endless drooling threatens to tear the brothers' friendship apart, but can their dragon's amazing magic help them put it back together again or only end up making things worse?

Daniels’ technical brilliance conjures up such wonders as the fire-breathing dragon, explosions, lights that appear from thin air, a magical sponge cake and gravity-defying mangos!

‘Don’t Dribble on the Dragon’ is the latest family musical by Steven Lee and is based on his latest book. Steven, 43, is the multi-talented actor and artistic director of The People’s Theatre Company and stars in the show as teenage brother Jack, a role for which he’s had to perfect his skateboarding techniques with gruelling daily training over the last few months! Steven is also the highly acclaimed writer and producer of a string of other five star children’s shows including ‘Bink and The Hairy Fairy’, ‘Santa In Love’ and the long running family pop musical ‘The Witch’s Bogey’. Several of his books have also been adapted for the stage including the best-selling ‘How The Koala Learnt To Hug’.

Steven is joined onstage by James Mitchell, 36, who plays younger brother Tom. James is a hugely accomplished actor with no fewer than five Cbeebies Live UK tours under his belt and as an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle, James is a huge fan of Paul Daniels too.

The scaly heroine, Kate Powell, 28, hails from Caerphilly, but actually turns out to be a Scottish, rather than Welsh dragon, and proudly sports a tartan Tam O’Shanter. A perfect foil for the boys, Kate is a death-defying rollerskater and has expert skills in stage combat. Between shows, she adores knitting, but avoids passing by carpet shops at all costs: she has an unusual, but very real phobia for them. Presumably she won’t be starring in Aladdin any time soon!

Paul Daniels sadly died just before the show was completed, so the final technical advice and finishing touches were added by no less than the president of The Magic Circle himself, Scott Penrose.

At the end of each show Steven and the cast will be available to sign copies of Don’t Dribble on the Dragon, the heartwarming picture book with illustrations by Shalini Vadivelu. They can be bought at the theatre, priced £5.99 or in advance (or afterwards) from Amazon and all good bookshops.

Tour dates & venues

‘Don’t Dribble on the Dragon’ is aimed at adults and cool kids of all ages (but not recommended for the under 2s). Run time is roughly 60 minutes.