What was the best arts company to visit your school in the past year?

Johnny Hay, the magician.

How did you hear about him?

His manager contacted us.

What did he do?

Everything you’d expect of a magician, from making things disappear to making things appear - every trick in the book.

Did you do any preparation?

No.

Any follow-up work?

He did workshops, letting the children in on some of the tricks of his trade. They were hugely popular.

What did the visit cost?

pound;150, which seemed very reasonable.

Who paid?

The school fund.

What was so good about the visit?

Our children are totally accustomed to watching performances on a screen, rather than in the flesh. This was live.

How relevant was it to the curriculum?

We arranged it more as entertainment, but everything he did related to the performing arts.

Johnny Hay, co Kenneth Vaughan Management, 0161 860 4857