Reviews
“I first saw Andrew Newton at the Manchester Apollo when I was a student. I was so impressed I insisted all my friends come to see him the following week. Nearly forty years later, I was amazed to see he’s still going, working a delighted audience at the world-famous Leeds City Varieties.
Newton doesn’t believe ‘the tired old line that the subjects are the stars of the show – they’re not’ he says. He knows he’s the real star and he uses his talent and lightning wit to make sure the audience knows it too.
Andrew Newton’s comedic antics are not just funny, they are inventive and clever, definitely not your run-of-the-mill stage hypnosis fodder. He’s still got the energy, he’s just as sarcastic, and his obvious skill makes the audience laugh hysterically while he tiptoes along a very narrow line, but it’s very subtle and underplayed. Heart-in-your-mouth laughter is hard to generate, but Newton manages it with a rare skill – it’s obvious he’s been doing this for a long time and his professionalism and experience give him the edge.
I had a chance to catch up with him afterward. ‘What makes a good hypnotist?’ I asked. His answer? ‘Somehow, you just have to deliver the best show you’ve ever done in your life, and still get to the last eatery in town before it closes.’
He is still the best, something I suspect he’s aware of, but politely doesn’t mention.”
Review by Frank Stevens, Yorkshire Evening Post, March 2017
Hypnotic Show Hilarious!
“I CAN see why he keeps coming back. The audience loves the show and with good reason. Newton plays the audience so masterfully there’s no knowing what’s coming. And he has complete control. He is able to stop a subject a second before things go too far.
The 11 volunteers did everything from barking like a sea lion to squeezing Newton’s cheeks. I’d seen hypnotism shows on television and thought they were funny. But I thought the people couldn’t really be totally unaware they were doing the things they were made to do… Well, they are! And their antics are 100 times more hilarious and amazing live. The highlight came when Newton had one subject – the man he singled out for the most fun throughout the show – ‘dance the Lambada with a beautiful woman he’d recognize by the rose between her teeth’. When Newton pulled out a red plastic rose and started eyeing the audience, I knew I was not the only person who was a little apprehensive. But when he put the flower between his own teeth, it took everybody by surprise. Though not as much as the ensuing dance!
“When the show’s next in town I highly recommend it to everybody. It’s pure entertainment, and you’ll be sure to laugh until it hurts.”
The Andrew Newton Hypnotic Laughter Show at the Palmerston North Convention Centre, The Standard, New Zealand, 2008.
NEW Show, NEW routines, Funnier than Ever!
“Newton has ramped up his act and opted for a more robust manifesto. His mischievous performance has moved perceptibly closer to the line – to the obvious delight of the audience. Getting a hypnotised volunteer to phone his mother was a masterpiece of wind-up comedy. He kept us screeching with laughter right to the end. What lifted the proceedings even more was Newton’s skill as an entertainer, something that raises him far above all others of his ilk.”
Sydney Morning Herald, 2013
“For nearly 40 years, Andrew Newton has thrilled audiences around the world, in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and of course the UK. He is light years ahead of any other stage hypnotist on the circuit. See him live and you’ll understand why…”
UK SUNDAY MIRROR 1989
“The best thing about the Andrew Newton Show is Newton himself…”
New Zealand Herald, 1995
“If you think it’s all about getting people to run round like chickens, think again! Newton offers fascinating insights into the mind, punctuated by spells of side-splitting laughter…”
The Independent, 1987
“Andrew Newton has a love of the absurd – his mischievous performance makes this a show not to be missed.”
Yorkshire Evening Post, March, 2016
“Andrew Newton kept last night’s City Varieties audience laughing from start to finish…What lifted the proceedings was Newton’s own personality and approach… slick, highly polished… Newton would have been funny no matter what his act.”
Yorkshire Evening Post, November, 1986
“Newton’s comic timing makes him tower above all others of his genre…”
Sydney Morning Herald, 1997
“Newton is not just a hypnotist but a talented all-round entertainer in the best traditions…”
Manchester Evening News, 1989
“Fantastic family entertainment”
Las Vegas Review-Journal (at the Riviera Hotel, 1988)
“Funny and Immensely popular…”
The Independent, UK 1987
“Helpless with laughter…”
The People, UK 1987
“Horribly funny!”
The Times, UK 1987
“You’ve seen Paul McKenna on the Telly… Andrew Newton is far better, believe me.”
Daily Star, UK 1987
“Mr. Newton is a stage hypnotist with the manner of a TV compere. He gets a great crowd on stage. They strain to be put to sleep. When the best of them fall, they fall like ripe fruit. He looks at the ripe fruit on the stage and picks out the juiciest examples.
After this, it is extremely entertaining for the rest of us. We congratulate ourselves on not having fallen for this guy’s charm. Mr. Newton makes it clear that hypnotism is an art with the maximum possibility for abuse – but he will take it so far and no further. He will make his subjects perform like schoolchildren. He will make one of them perform a striptease act – but without taking off more than one garment. He plays on that profound fear that the hypnotist may be both therapist and villain. He does not mind amusing us by pretending to be the latter”.
James Fenton, SUNDAY TIMES, Edinburgh Festival, 1982
“If you think it’s all about getting people to run round like chickens… it isn’t! Newton offers fascinating insights into the mind, punctuated by spells of side-splitting laughter…”
Yorkshire Evening Post, UK, March 2018
“Andrew Newton has a love of the absurd which borders on the mischievous… his surreal sense of humour keeps the show bouncing along – always something new, always something surprising and delightful.”
New Zealand Herald, February 2018
“For 40 years, Andrew Newton has thrilled audiences in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Las Vegas, and the UK. Newton is light years ahead of any other stage hypnotist on the circuit. See him live and you’ll see why…”
Sydney Morning Herald 2014
Newtons talent lies not in the traditional bump ‘n grind school of stage hypnosis, but in his ability to communicate with his audience… and turn his volunteers into brilliant and imaginative comedians. He has a rare talent… able to magic up the absurdly funny from the minds of ordinary people. He has lots of fans… Last nights’ audience rewarded him with non-stop laughter from beginning to end.”
Sydney Morning Herald 2018
“Newton’s respect for his volunteers shines through as he guides them through their own surreal unreality… They entertain us against a background of non-stop laughter and absurd stand-up comedy, improvised by people who probably didn’t even know they could be funny! This is the acceptable face of stage hypnosis and it’s worth seeing!”
Yorkshire Post 2023
Audience comments:
from a show at the world-famous Leeds City Varieties, Wednesday 3rd November 2021:
Simon Smart:
“Brilliant show. Third time I’ve seen you in Leeds. Loved the new material”
Gill Knights:
“Brilliant show not laughed like that for ages!”
Leanne Hodgson:
“Funniest 2 hours I think I’ve ever experienced!!!”
Emma Fiedor:
“Absolutely brilliant show, loved it cant wait to see you again”
Joanne Barker:
“a fantastic show well worth going haven’t laughed so much for a long time x”
Sharon Bamford:
“Absolutely brilliant show!”
Jane Ramsey:
“Fantastic show, absolutely hilarious, loved it. Will be back for your next show XX”
Eileen Dalingwater:
“Always THE best show x”
Beth Jones:
“Fantastic show! Definitely be back!!”
Chris Micklefield:
“Absolutely brilliant night – best laugh I’ve had in ages!!”
Andrew Barker:
“So funny and I haven’t laughed so much in a long time”
Dale Pickburn:
“First time I’ve been really funny show well done and we will see you in November!”
Steve Costello:
“Brilliant show. Thank you for the laughs”
Colin Plummer:
“Another fantastic night with Andrew Newton”
Tracey Joyce:
“It was brill, so funny x”
Debbie Earl:
“Brilliant night as usual. Will be back in November”
