And now for their next trick: The Illusionists return

<i>The Illusionists 2.0</i>, an ensemble magic theatre show running at The Civic from September 2-13.

They have names that make them sound like wrestlers, use crossbows, swords and guns to play tricks on audience members and, in press photos, they look like a Doctor Who parody troupe.

Get ready to meet The Master Magician, The Warrior, The Deceptionist, The Manipulator, The Futurist, The Trickster and The Unusualist.

They're the names of the seven magicians performing in Auckland in part of The Illusionists 2.0, an ensemble magic theatre show running at The Civic from September 2-13.

It's the follow-up to the successful Illusionists show that ran in the same venue in May last year, a three-hour event Herald reviewer Janet McAllister said delivered on promises to provide a "big, slick and cheesy" magic show.

She wrote: "The tricks and stunts are classic rather than original but they're still the great puzzlers. And, even at nearly three hours, the show entertains with hype, skill, personality and bombast."

Among the latest ensemble is The Unusualist (Australian Raymond Crowe), who is known for mixing mime, comedy and illusion; The Warrior (Belgium's Aaron Crowe) who doesn't utter a word while using crossbows and paint guns to play tricks on audience members; and The Manipulator (Yu Ho-Jin), a sleight-of-hand artist and illusionist.

Perhaps the most interesting name on the bill is The Futurist (Adam Trent), who has has been described as "Justin Timberlake meets David Copperfield", thanks to a bizarre mix of magic, dancing, comedy and technology.

Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on June 19. A pre-sale begins on June 16 for those who attended the first Illusionists show.