Deception, disguise, and ultimately, disappearance – this story sounds like the plot of a magic trick, yet it’s the tale of a woman who infiltrated an all-male, world-renowned magic society, only to be expelled once her true identity was revealed. Now, the Magic Circle wants her back.
Sophie Lloyd, an actress, was convinced by her friend, magician Jenny Winstanley, in the late 1980s to apply to the Magic Circle. Disguising herself as “Raymond Lloyd,” Sophie trained for 18 months to perfect the art of magic and male impersonation. After passing the entrance exam in 1990, she became a full member in 1991. However, after the society finally admitted women later that year, Sophie revealed her true identity, believing it would be received humorously. Instead, she was expelled.
Lloyd went on to use magic to educate young people about bullying, but she has since been hard to locate. Magic Circle Chairwoman Laura London expressed a desire to reconnect, believing Lloyd may have been hurt by the expulsion. London hopes to invite her back and offer an apology.
