Robin Sheikh, a magician from Saint John, New Brunswick, is set to appear on Season 11 of the TV show Penn and Teller: Fool Us.
Her balloon act, filmed in Las Vegas, combines creativity, audience participation, and a personal twist. The episode airs Friday at 9 p.m. on the CW Network.
The act begins with balloons being dropped into the audience, where Penn chooses one balloon from the audience, and the assistant on stage selects another.
In a surprising twist, the name inside Penn’s chosen balloon matches the name hidden inside the balloon Sheikh has on stage.
These matching names reveal what Sheikh will name her son’s first pet that’s featured as part of the act.
“The whole premise of the show is how much I love Penn and Teller and how I watched them when I was pregnant,” Sheikh said.
“So they’re going to help me name my son’s first pet, which is a fish.”
Sheikh shared that preparing for the show was full of surprises, including changes to the schedule that tested her nerves.
“They told me I’d be performing in two hours. Then suddenly, they said, ‘You’re up first!’ I had just done my makeup and had no time to process it. It was stressful but exciting,” she said.
Sheikh explained how she and her husband, Tabraze, who is also her creative partner, prepared the balloons for the trick.
“For the balloons, in order to fill them with the pieces of paper, we actually used a goat castrator,” she said.
“And Teller, the one who doesn’t talk during the act, after the show was like, ‘Oh, this is amazing—we need this for our balloon act.’ My husband said, ‘You can have it,’ and Teller replied, ‘Perfect—it will appear on Season 12.’”
Sheikh said she was overwhelmed by the kindness and professionalism of the show’s team, calling the experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“This performance is more than just magic to me. It’s about connecting with people, and that’s what makes it so special,” she said.
Sheikh developed her skills while performing in Saint John, often alongside her husband.
The two have become known for their interactive and creative acts, all while running a small business and raising their young son.
“I always loved performing, even as a child, but I didn’t start pursuing magic until later in life. It became a way to connect with others and bring something positive to their day,” she said.
The support from her community has been a constant source of encouragement.
“The support from Saint John has been incredible. It’s such a small city, but the people here are like family, and it means a lot to represent my community on this stage,” she said.
Looking ahead, Sheikh plans to expand her career, hoping to perform on cruise ships, enter competitions like Canada’s Got Talent, and grow her presence in markets such as Ontario.
She said her ties to Saint John remain strong and will continue to perform locally.
