Fresh from his own hit Las Vegas show, UK comedian and magician John van der Put, aka Piff the Magic Dragon, will flame Christchurch audiences as part of Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival. He tells Cityscape about his magic life and performing with a diva chihuahua.

What did you do before Piff the Magic Dragon came along? I was a regular human magician doing weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate dinners and getting fired everywhere for being too grumpy.

How much do you know about New Zealand? Never been. My only knowledge comes from those Hobbit movies. On that basis, I’m looking forward to towering over the inhabitants but terrified I’m going to get shot in the face by a dwarf.

What has been the most surreal experience of your career? Penn Jillette (half of the top US magic act Penn & Teller) becoming Pop the Magic Dragon.

How hard is it to stay sane in a place like Las Vegas? For a dragon, it’s pretty easy. There’s a bunch of caves, a tonne of gold and I live in the desert. For a cold-blooded reptile like me, what could be better?

If you weren’t doing what you are now, what would you want to be? A lawyer. All I’m doing right now is watching Better Call Saul and dreaming of a better life.

How cool was it to work with Mumford & Sons? Pretty great. Not many dragons get to appear on a Grammy award-winning album cover.

They say never work with children and animals – does Mr Piffles behave himself? No. He’s a diva. He shits all over my house, demands chicken on a daily basis, and no pillow is safe. On a brighter note, he’s my sole source of income and a silent partner. Which means he can’t ask for a raise. Or even wages.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2019? The show at the Flamingo Las Vegas has just been extended until the end of 2019. Hopefully the Piff TV special will see the light of day, and I’m working on a show with Penn Jillette. I’m also doing our podcast The Piff Pod, working on a big musical Piff show, and a whole bunch of other stuff I can’t talk about. Mr Piffles is currently sleeping 25 hours a day and he plans to keep it that way next year too.

Piff the Magic Dragon (at Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival)
January 11 – 20, Assembly Hall – Christ’s College
breadandcircus.co.nz