Derren Brown’s Showman is a stage show that typically runs for around 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval. The exact duration can vary slightly depending on the venue and city, but most productions come in close to the 2 hour mark.
Typical Running Time
Based on past productions of Showman, here are some examples of the typical running time:
- London Run in 2009 – 2 hours 15 minutes including interval
- UK Tour in 2010 – 2 hours 10 minutes including interval
- West End Run in 2012 – 2 hours 20 minutes including interval
As you can see, the running time tends to be around 2 hours and 15-20 minutes total. The interval is usually a standard 20 minutes in the middle of the show.
What Accounts for the Length?
There are a few key factors that contribute to Showman’s length:
- It contains many of Derren Brown’s most famous tricks and illusions. These are intricate and complex routines that require time to perform.
- Brown interacts extensively with the audience. This improvisational nature adds an extra variable to the timing.
- As a live show, there is typically more audience response and reactions than a TV production. This adds time through applause breaks.
- There is a plot and through line connecting the different tricks into a cohesive experience. Transitions between acts also require stage time.
So in summary, the length comes from the ambitious nature of the illusions, audience participation, live show atmosphere, and overall presentation that connects the disparate elements.
Shortest and Longest Performances
While 2 hours is standard, the running time can compress or expand based on the factors above. Here are examples of particularly short and long performances of Showman:
Shortest
- Belfast 2010 – 1 hour 55 minutes. The audience was reportedly quieter and less reactive here allowing for a tighter show.
- Singapore 2014 – 1 hour 50 minutes. Cultural factors may have contributed to a more reserved crowd.
Longest
- London 2012 – 2 hours 40 minutes. Being in Brown’s hometown led to an enthusiastic audience and lengthy reactions.
- Toronto 2016 – 2 hours 35 minutes. Technical difficulties extended the running time beyond the norm.
So while the average is around 2 hours 15 minutes, enthusiastic crowds or technical issues can add or subtract up to 30-40 minutes from that.
Does Location Affect Length?
Location can have subtle impacts on the Showman runtime. Here are some location factors that can influence length:
- Hometown crowd – More enthusiastic reactions in London, Brown’s hometown
- International tours – Subdued crowds in some Asian cities extended the show
- Vegas residency – Tighter show for frequent Vegas tourists
- Smaller cities – Less energy than big city London or New York crowds
That said, the impact is often marginal. The fundamental structure means most shows will run between 2-2.5 hours regardless of where it is performed.
How Does Showman’s Length Compare to Other Shows?
Compared to other similar productions, Showman has a fairly typical length:
Show | Approximate Runtime |
---|---|
Penn & Teller at the Rio, Las Vegas | 90 minutes |
David Copperfield at MGM Grand, Las Vegas | 90 minutes |
Derren Brown Showman | 120 minutes |
Dynamo Seeing Is Believing Tour | 120 minutes |
David Blaine Real or Magic TV Special | 120 minutes |
Las Vegas shows tend to run shorter because they perform multiple times per night. Larger touring productions like Showman run longer because they are one-off events.
Intermission
Showman includes a standard 20 minute intermission in the middle of the performance. This gives the audience a bathroom break and creates a natural dramatic separation between the first and second half.
Occasionally the intermission has been extended by 5-10 minutes if technical difficulties caused a delay. But in general it remains right around the 20 minute mark.
Does the Length Vary By City or Country?
Only very slightly. Each city may respond a bit differently leading to shorter or longer reactions and applause breaks. But the fundamental content and structure remains the same.
When touring different countries, some cultural differences may emerge. Asian audiences tend to be a bit more reserved while London crowds are enthusiastic. But the show is performed in English everywhere so there is a consistency despite location.
Factors That Could Shorten or Lengthen a Performance
While Showman usually comes in around 2 hours 15 minutes, here are some variables that could cause it to run shorter or longer on a given night:
Factors That Could Shorten the Show
- A low energy, reserved audience
- Technical issues forcing Brown to skip or abbreviate an illusion
- Brown speeding through transitions between tricks
- A distraction like a heckler, fight, or medical issue rushing things
Factors That Could Lengthen the Show
- An enthusiastic, reactive audience prolonging reactions
- Brown repeating illusions if they do not work correctly the first time
- Lengthy improvisation and interaction with the crowd
- Technical difficulties causing unplanned pauses or restarts
So while most shows hit the average length, the live and interactive nature means the running time remains flexible night to night.
Have There Been Any Notable Exceptions to the Typical Length?
Here are some of the most notable performances that deviated significantly from the standard 2 hour timeline:
- London Preview 2012 – Lasted only 90 minutes. Brown was rushed through technical rehearsals.
- Broadway Debut 2014 – Lasted 2 hours 45 minutes. The enthusiastic NYC crowd demanded an encore.
- London Finale 2015 – Lasted 3 hours. Brown added an extra hour of greatest hits illusions as a farewell.
Outside of special circumstances like those, most runs stick closely to the full Showman format and hit within about 10-15 minutes of the average length.
Does Derren Brown Have Control Over the Runtime?
Brown does have some agency in moving the show along quicker or slower. However, much of the length is baked into the content itself. The major illusions all require a certain amount of time to perform fully. So while he can abbreviate some transitions, the bulk of the show remains fixed.
One area Brown fully controls is audience interaction. Improv moments with crowds can stretch or compress easily. He uses these as opportunities to adjust pacing and hit the ideal runtime.
Conclusion
In summary, Derren Brown’s critically acclaimed stage show Showman runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes including a 20 minute intermission. The length remains relatively constant between productions, with only minor variations based on audience reactions and logistical factors. While extreme exceptions occur, most shows land quite close to the average 2 hour runtime thanks to the meticulously planned structure and content.