Magic shows and information technology have more things in common than you’d expect. Both are poorly understood by the general public, and both look easy but actually require years of practice and skill to do well. They also share a fascination with the marketing term artificial intelligence, for what it’s worth.

Charlie Caper’s latest production is a traditional family magic show that has dressed up in high-tech clothes for our entertainment. The show opens with some obviously faked footage of famous people telling us how amazing Caper’s magic is going to be, and the show continues in this rather fun trend throughout. Magic is all about expectation and illusion, so a magic show about the artificial intelligence tech trend (which is also mostly smoke and mirrors) really does work.

The show, aptly named The Future, uses modern technology as a prop for more traditional feats of illusion. There’s a pre-programmed robot toy that appears more advanced than it is, and of course, at one point, Charlie’s (very human) assistant is also presented as a super-advanced machine.

Skill, timing and incredible showmanship make this a mesmerising and clever show for all the family. The various robots, from the talking head to the dancing Spot the Dog style robot, all serve as appropriate distractions for genuine feats of legerdemain that are present as simple tricks or super high-tech devices. The technology elements are impressive, but the genuine human performance is better.

The show’s ultimate message seems to be one of hope; that sensible use of technology can lead to a bright future for us all, whilst warning us all that we should always be wary of what we see and hear. The future is bright, provided we actually pay attention and don’t just believe what we want to believe. An amazing family fun show. Truly magical.

You can catch Charlie’s show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe here, and you can find out about future shows here.