Biography | Glendini - Escape Artist and Magician

Glenn McMeeking a.k.a. "Glendini" Escape Artist

Glenn McMeeking has been a collector of handcuffs for many years. His fascination for escapes began when childhood games of cops and robbers involved him being tied up by his friends. Glenn escaped with ease and only later on in life did he realize that he had a passion for Escapology.

Glenn's first pair of shackles was purchased from Davenports Magic Shop in Charing Cross London. Since then, he has studied the secrets of the escape trade with the aid of books, DVD's and the internet. His escapes now include: Ropes, Chains, Handcuffs, Straight Jackets, Wine Barrels, Mailbags and Trunks.

When starting out, Glenn performed mainly for friends, family and some private work functions, but in January 2007 he was approached by a leading bank and was asked to perform some escapes as icebreakers at a marketing seminar (its theme was "It's a Kind of Magic"). The audience and event organizers enjoyed the escape acts and this became the start of Glenn's escape career.

Later that year on 15 December 2007 Alexander May, a friend and local magician, performed his own magic show at the “Milnerton Playhouse Theatre” and Glenn was offered a 15 minute slot which then became his first official stage performance. The show, “Magic: One”, was a success and his escape act went down well with the audience.

In June 2008 Glenn was interviewed by Robyn Daly, Editor to the "Get It" magazine and did a photo-shoot for the magazine. The result was a double page feature in their July 2008 issue.
Just two days after the July issue of "Get It" was released, Glenn got a call from officials at "Pollsmoor Correctional Prison" and was invited to perform for the staff.

He visited the prison in the early hours of the morning just as the shifts were being changed and, as part of his act, challenged the prison staff to secure him in regulation handcuffs. He then asked the warders to place stickers over the handcuff keyholes to prevent him using a "hidden key". His escape time was under 60 seconds and the prison warders were left in disbelief. The performance went off well and Glenn was given the applause he deserved.

Since then it has been all systems go.

Previous Performances:

February 2011 - Magic Show : Nedbank CBD Awards Evening

February 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Noah's Ark Daycare

February 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Holmes Family

February 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Plastow Family

February 2011 - Kid's Magic Show: Cathy & Peter Wilson

February 2011 - Kid's Magic Show: Moluh Family

January 2011 - Kid´s Magic Show: De Sousa Family

January 2011 - Kids Magic Show: Cornelius Family

January 2011 - Children´s Magic Party : De Swardt Family

December 2010 - Children´s Magic Party : Beckley Family

December 2010 - Meadowridge Bowling Club Xmas Party: Childrens Magic Show

December 2010 - A.V.A.F. Year End Office Party

November 2010 - Kid´s Magic Show - Wilson Family

November 2010 - The Assembly: Night Club - Cape Town - Escape Act

October 2010 - Holy Cross Childrens Home - Kids Magic Show

October 2010 - SA´s Got Talent - 3rd Round Ranking - 123 out of 6000

September 2010 - SA´s Got Talent - Contestant - 2nd Round Qualifier

August 2010 - SA´s Got Talent - Contestant - 1st Round Qualifier

September 2010 - Absa Bank Seniors Event - Wynberg Military base

AUGUST 2010 - Kids Magic Party: Rensburg Family

May 2010 - Holy Cross Childrens Home - Escape & Magic Show

December 2009 - Meadowridge Bowls Club Xmas Party - Childrens Magic Show

March 2009 - St Francis Orphanage : Kids Magic Show

November 2009 - Islamic Resource Foundation of SA : Kids Magic Show

October 2009 - Ocean Basket - Celebration party for franchise owners, shareholders and guests

October 2009 - C.P.U.T. Graduation Ball - Ritz Hotel Sea Point - Escape Acts

July 2009 - Absa Seniors Event - Wynberg Military Base - Magic Show with Escapes.

July 2009 - Absa Bank - Bring a child to work day - Kids Magic Show.

July 2009 - Nedbank Awards Evening, Claremont Civic Centre - Escape & magic Act.

June 2009 - Maximum Magic (Milnerton Playhouse Theatre)

June 2009 - Milnerton High School - Escape Show & Magic acts

June 2009 - Radio Interview with Jean Badenhorst from Fine Music Radio

March 2009 - Maynardville Community Carnival - Stage Escape Show

October 2008 - Meadowridge Bowling Club - Halloween - Escape Show

July 2008 - Huis Luckhoff Retirement Home - Escape Show & Magic Act

June 2008 - Pollsmoor Correctional Prison - Escape Show

December 2007 - MAGIC ONE: Stage show at Milnerton Playhouse Theatre with Alexander May

September 2007 - Bergvliet Scouts - Escape Show

October 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Loy Family

October 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Bowman Family

October 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Leybourne Family

September 2011 - Childrens magic Show : Wagenaar Family

September 2011 - Children's Magic Party : Scholtz Family

September 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Ancketill Family

August 2011 - Absa Woman's Forum: Magic Show

August 2011 - Children's Magic Show: Engel Family

August 2011 - Escape Show: Silvermine Retirement Village

February 2012 - Children's Magic Show : Van Rensburg Family

October 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Viranyi Family

November 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Freeman Family

January 2012 - Children's magic Show : Gain Family

December 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Zehnder Family

December 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Essack Family

December 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Titus Family

December 2011 - Meadowridge Bowling Club Xmas Party : Children's Magic Show

November 2011 - Absa Somerset West: Office Party: Escape Show

November 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Chetty Family

November 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Visagie Family

November 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Beder Family

August 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Jordan Family

August 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Hopkins Family

August 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Smith Family

May 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Haddon-Schmid Family

April 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Benson-Martin Family

April 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Petersen Family

April 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Price Family

April 2011 - Kid's Magic Party : Modack Wedding Reception : Hellenic Community Centre Mouille Point

April 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Milkwood Pre-Primary - Fish Hoek

April 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Sarah Fox Children's Hospital

April 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Kapery Family

March 2011 - Children's Magic Party: Thornton Family

May 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Hoare Family

May 2011 - Kid's Magic Show : Fritz Family

August 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Bower Family

July 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Van Wyk Family

July 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Freeman Family

July 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Benn Family

July 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Manuel Family

July 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Hayes Family

July 2011 - Children's Magic Party : Isaacs Family

June 2011 - MAXIMUM MAGIC 2011 - Stage Show - Glendini & Alexander May

June 2011 - Children's Magic Show : Trott Family

September 2007 - Absa Bank & C. P. U. T. - Escape Show

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