A POPULAR performer who has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over 30 years with bubble tricks is set to perform in Basingstoke.

Louis Pearl has been impressing audiences with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. An Edinburgh Fringe favourite, he has sold out there for the last twelve years.

Now, he is set to perform at The Haymarket on Sunday, October 24 in his show The Amazing Bubble Man.

Louis explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerised.

From square bubbles to rocket bubbles, tornado bubbles to flying saucer bubbles, The Amazing Bubble Man aims to conjure shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement from all ages.

Before becoming bubble man Louis studied literature and art at university.

He said: “I thought I would be a writer of some sort. Then I stumbled into making toys as a way to earn a living. I began in 1980 by selling my first toy, the Bubble Trumpet.

“I had to spend hours demonstrating how to make large bubbles. Pretty soon I learned some bubble tricks. Everyone convinced me that I should do stage shows with bubbles. I did my first show in 1983 and haven’t stopped since.”

Louis said he loves bubbles because they “pull everyone” into the moment and are particularly enjoyed by children.

He added: “Children love bubbles because they are magical, and because they get to destroy them.

“How many things are kids allowed to destroy? Bubbles are also like dreams. They take people into a dream world.”

Louis, who is a Bubbleologists said that he has trouble explaining to people what it is he does but to him it is great profession.

He added: “It’s real to me. I started using it in about 1982. How long does a word need to exist before it becomes ‘real’?

“Most people I meet now have no idea what I am talking about. Trying to explain it is impossible.”

During the show Louis will use a wide range of effects to create the bubbles. These will include lighting, lasers, helium, steam, lots of stage fog, and 30 years of wrangling bubbles into every imaginable shape, from square bubbles to huge bubbles, doughnut bubbles, people in bubbles, volcanoes, tornadoes, rocket bubbles, flying saucers, alien creatures and flying foam.

He said that people can expect a lot of laughter when they come to his show.

He added: “Lots of laughter, ooh’s ahh’s cheers, and squeals of joy.” For more information visit www.anvilarts.org.uk.