Thirty years after expelling Sophie Lloyd for disguising herself as a man to join the then all-male Magic Circle, the renowned London-based society for magicians has sought her out to restore her membership. The Magic Circle, which counts about 1,700 members globally, including King Charles, expelled Lloyd in 1991 after uncovering her elaborate ruse. For several months, Lloyd, aided by a close friend, assumed the identity of “Raymond,” a man with a conveniently bad throat that limited his speaking. She used a specially crafted wig and a facial brace designed to give her a stronger jawline, resembling the hairstyle of actor Hugh Grant at the time.
When Lloyd eventually revealed the truth, the club reacted by expelling her, even though it had simultaneously begun allowing women to join for the first time. For much of its history, the Magic Circle justified its ban on women by claiming they could not be trusted to keep the secrets of magic. Its strict adherence to secrecy even led to the expulsion of its first president in 1910 for revealing magic tricks.
Now, decades later, the society’s approach has shifted dramatically. Under the leadership of Laura London, the first woman to chair the Magic Circle, efforts were made to find Lloyd and correct the injustice. London, upon learning about Lloyd’s story, felt compelled to reach out, describing the tale as one that had captivated not just magicians but the public at large.
Initially reluctant to come forward, Lloyd, now in her sixties and living in Spain, eventually agreed, though the moment was bittersweet. Her friend who had helped orchestrate the original deception had since passed away, making Lloyd’s return to the Circle all the more emotional. Reflecting on the changes within the organization, Lloyd noted the stark difference between the old and new generations of magicians.
Where once members were formally dressed in suits and polished shoes, today’s Magic Circle boasts a much more relaxed and diverse image, with tattoos, hoodies, trainers, and piercings now commonplace. For Lloyd, the return symbolizes not just personal redemption but also the broader transformation of an institution that once turned her away for daring to defy the norms.
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