REVIEW - MAGIC GARETH: BALLOONATIC | Z-ARTS MANCHESTER | 06/06/2026
- Sarah Monaghan
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Magic Gareth: Balloonatic at Z-arts - Family Magic Show Full of Balloon Fun
We recently headed to Z-arts Manchester as a family to see Balloonatic, the latest family magic show from Magic Gareth, and from the moment we walked into the auditorium, the atmosphere already felt exciting.
The stage setup itself was fairly simple, with colourful props, magic boxes and a large screen displaying playful animated visuals linked to the show. Upbeat music played as the audience took their seats, helping build anticipation before the performance began.
Alice (8) and Leo (7) were instantly intrigued, especially by the huge Balloonatic logo projected across the screen and the silly pre-show graphics teasing some of the fun still to come.
One thing I really enjoyed before the show had even started was how modern and relevant Balloonatic already felt for today’s children. While the audience were taking their seats, the large screen displayed funny graphics, animations, social media references and even a joke about ChatGPT creating Balloonatic action figures, which got plenty of laughs from the adults in the room too.
Then came the wonderfully ridiculous opening voiceover explaining that Gareth became magical after being bitten by a radioactive unicorn many years ago - a silly introduction that immediately set the tone for the fun and unpredictability ahead.
Rather than following a traditional storyline, Balloonatic is a fast-paced mix of balloon tricks, magic, comedy and audience interaction. Gareth keeps the show moving constantly with jokes, visual gags and plenty of audience participation. The children around us were completely locked in from the start, constantly laughing, shouting out and eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
Music played throughout the show, which really helped maintain the pace and atmosphere inside the theatre. One of my favourite moments was Gareth performing the floating table illusion while Defying Gravity from Wicked played - it was such a clever musical choice and made the whole routine feel even more magical.
The audience interaction was one of the strongest parts of the show. Gareth had a brilliant way of making children feel involved without putting pressure on them, and the atmosphere inside the auditorium felt genuinely joyful. Even quieter children sitting around us gradually became more confident about shouting out answers and joining in as the show went on. Gareth also brought some of the adults on stage during the performance, which added to the fun and made the whole show feel genuinely family-focused rather than only aimed at children. There was constant laughter from both children and adults throughout the performance.
Alice and Leo both had completely different favourite moments. Alice absolutely loved the part where Gareth placed the giant green balloon over his head, which had her giggling throughout the routine. Leo’s favourite moment - and mine too - was the floating table illusion, which genuinely looked impossible from where we were sitting. Lawrence’s favourite part was when Gareth swallowed one of the long balloons like a sword swallower, which had the entire audience reacting with a mixture of shock and laughter.
The biggest crowd-pleasing moments came towards the end of the show when enormous balloons were released into the audience. Children and adults alike were batting giant colourful balloons across the auditorium while music blasted through the speakers, and for a few minutes the theatre felt less like a performance and more like one huge family celebration. Watching the audience completely lose themselves in the fun was one of those lovely family theatre moments that’s impossible not to smile at.
What really makes Balloonatic work is Gareth himself. He has such an easy, likeable stage presence and clearly knows exactly how to hold the attention of a family audience. His comedy is silly enough for younger children but still entertaining for adults, and he balances the magic, balloon artistry and crowd work effortlessly.
The show also felt very accessible for younger audiences and those new to live theatre. Because the performance is constantly moving and changing, there’s always something visual happening to keep children engaged. Leo can sometimes struggle to stay focused during slower productions, but Balloonatic kept his attention throughout.
What I particularly liked was that the show never felt like adults were simply there accompanying their children. Parents were laughing just as much, joining in with the giant balloons and reacting to the magic tricks alongside the kids. It genuinely felt like shared family entertainment rather than a children’s show adults simply tolerate.
If you want an hour of loud, silly, high-energy family entertainment packed with magic, balloons and audience participation, Balloonatic delivers exactly that.
Balloonatic is colourful, joyful family fun that fully commits to its wonderfully ridiculous concept - and judging by the laughter echoing around the auditorium, the audience absolutely loved every second of it.
As we left the theatre, Alice and Leo were still excitedly talking about their favourite moments from the show and pretending to recreate some of Gareth’s balloon tricks themselves, which is probably the best review any family performance can hope for.
🎈 Bigger balloons, bigger laughs and brilliantly bonkers family fun - Balloonatic is pure feel-good entertainment from start to finish. 🎈
If you would like more information about Balloonatic and to find out where the show will be visiting on tour, click the button below to visit the show’s official website.
And if you're looking for more fantastic family-friendly events, click the button below to see what's coming up at Z-arts - there's always something fun just around the corner!
Photo Credit - Sarah Monaghan
*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review
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