In 2011 behind a very regular, crimson red door, I found myself at a bustling and unsuspecting private member’s club in a side street of an upmarket London borough. It was a frosty Friday evening late in November and I had tagged along with some colleagues for drinks after work. I found myself somewhat unable to concentrate on the usual gossip and mingling as I became fixated on a sharply dressed gentleman who appeared to be pouring whatever the imaginations of those gathered closely around him could conjure up, from what appeared to be a vintage tea kettle. Wine. Which year? Coffee. Milk and sugar? G&T. Tanqueray or Hendricks? The magic poured on and on, and those watching became evermore loudly appreciative with their shrieks and spontaneous applause.

The audience of what was then known as ‘The Cabinet of Curiosity’ (those who know, know) were completely awestruck by Jez Rose, known as ‘The Unusualist’, and his impressive magic talents. His easy, natural ability to captivate and entertain the wide mix of awestruck onlookers was world class, and his performance that night brought the house down. Indeed, it could well have been responsible for many participants waking up needing paracetamol and an elephant-sized serving of strong, black coffee the following morning. They’d have had to pour it themselves though.

Rose was on a business trip when we met - finally- almost ten years later in a quaint but somewhat upscale coffee house about half an hour from Zurich airport. As I arrived, thirty minutes before our scheduled meeting, I am surprised to find that Rose was already seated, tucked away in a lamp-lit corner, stirring milk into his tea and reading what seemed to be the country’s largest newspaper through his unusual, bold, green spectacles. I am again taken aback by how Rose presents himself. It is almost like stepping back in time, I think to myself. Every minor detail appears to have been scrutinised and refined, from the tailoring of his trousers to the tips of his perfectly waxed, upturned moustache. Admittedly it was with some childlike excitement that I sat at the leather-clad table across from ‘The Unusualist’ to discuss his upcoming and long-awaited public cabaret show, with a perhaps somewhat obviously unusual slant: ‘The Box’. 

Rose reminisced about his performance days back in 2014 where I had originally spotted him, and was enthusiastic about his new show and how it had been curated over time. When I asked how he had come up with the new concept his reply was short, yet profound in its simplicity. “Play. I’ve played and I’ve played. I value play now more than I ever did, and it’s through play that wonder, and magical outcomes are born”. I was intrigued to discover where his method of creating sell-out shows had come from and it wasn’t long before I found out more. Rose recounts a story to me of his early childhood where his Grampy, that is his father’s father, took him on a drive through the Buckinghamshire town of High Wycombe, and asked whether he would like to see some magic. Of course, the five-year-old Rose could not resist, but did he know any magic words, his Grampy asked? As the pair turned a corner, as if by magic, a funfair had materialised. ‘Abracadabra’ suddenly jumped out from the bedtime stories and into reality; Rose couldn’t believe what had happened. “It was through my Grampy’s playfulness, that I felt my heart burst into fits of excitement. I didn’t want to know how because I had enjoyed the wonder so much. I didn’t want to let that feeling end - and so I didn’t.”  

The Unusualist went on to spark this child-like imagination and wonder in thousands around the world throughout his early adult life, performing his cabaret show at private events and in exclusive hotels and clubs. He’s built a glowing reputation, influenced by the works of performers from Yesteryear (he names the Dutch magician Fred Kapps as one such inspiration who was equally particular about details), and a client list which reads like a Who’s Who of film, television, the Fortune 500 - and even royalty.  

With the scent of freshly ground coffee wafting around our little table, The Unusualist began to open up more about his odd hobby, and the single greatest influence of his award-winning work: specialist puzzles. He smiled wide; it’s a soft, warm, and endearing smile that immediately disarms - a million miles away from the arrogant magicians I’d experienced before. “Puzzles spark our innate interest in knowing how something ends and help nurture our wonder and curiosity.  I collect old and unusual puzzles, and when I’m working on a puzzle, a deep creative flow state kicks in. I can lose hours before I know it. That’s exactly the feeling I want my audiences captivated by. I am the puzzle for the hour or so for them.” From within his antique leather doctors’ bag, picked up at a flea market on a trip to Monaco while performing for an A-list celebrity he won’t name at the Grand Prix, The Unusualist removes a brushed steel ball with a single line running around its centre and gently places it in my hands. It’s incredibly heavy, and before I knew it, I could concentrate only on what was before me; the tangible riddle, enhanced with comedic one-liners, which had me laughing out loud, courtesy of my company. The Unusualist bases his performances on the journey of discovering a puzzle, and the desire to find out its origin. His role as unreliable narrator only adds to the mystery. Is what he is telling me about the family who owned this puzzle accurate? It’s fascinating, and I want to believe it, but I know that at the heart of everything this man is a magician – all-be-it a mighty good one. I can only imagine that, just like a puzzle, his new show will be full of moments which offer twists and turns, causing your imagination to ignite and then linger behind for just a few moments. 

Time had flown by and before I knew it, we were just a few minutes short of our meetings’ punctual end. Rose was going on to catch a flight to the United States where he was invited to perform for a Hollywood favourite that I’ve since been told I mustn’t print the name of. I almost omitted this detail, but it made me smile that his serious discretion to his clients adds to the mystery of Rose’s character, The Unusualist. Although my questions had been answered, I had developed so much intrigue during the time we had spent together. I asked The Unusualist if he had anything else to share with me about himself or his upcoming show, ‘The Box’, which he’s producing as a monthly online experience with a special box posted to your home to join in while you watch from your sofa, but also at carefully selected venues as one-off immersive shows. “I say thank you every morning because gratitude is magic. As a magician I know that magic owns you; the wonder happening in a specific and special moment, so I’ve developed an appreciation for people and the importance of curiosity and wonder. Listen as much as you can - be an observer and understand the importance of silence and pause.” Not an answer I had expected, but a fitting end to a curious and magical man.

I’m excited to find out what’s in ‘The Box’ and you can, too. More details including how to book limited tickets can be found here.