Aaron Matthews jokes that he was “raised by the circus.”
The son of veteran entertainer Jim Matthews, known to generations of Canadian families as Bunky the Clown, Matthews spent much of his childhood travelling to fairs, exhibitions and resorts, learning magic tricks and opening shows alongside his younger brother, Brandon.
“I was raised by the circus,” he said.
Travelling with his father to Caribbean resorts, Matthews gave his first performances.
“I would do a trick on stage, and my brother would sprint out, grab the trick and bring me the next one,” Matthews recalled with a laugh. “A lot of the time he had no idea how the tricks were done, so he’d just stand there and watch.”
What began as childhood fun eventually became a career. Today, Matthews tours North America as a magician, illusionist and entertainer. On July 10, he will bring Dogs Do Magic to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. The production combines magic, comedy, audience participation and about 25 canine performers.
For Matthews, the show is about more than magic tricks.
“We wanted to take all the things that make live theatre really fun and put them together into one show,” he said. “We wanted the audience to feel like they’re part of the experience.”
The production traces its roots to the pandemic, when live entertainment disappeared almost overnight. Matthews teamed up with a friend who operated a dog training, boarding and care facility in Bowmanville, Ont. Together, they created a drive-in show that brought performers back to work while giving families a safe entertainment option.
Cars lined a field outside the facility as entertainers experimented with combining magic, dogs and live performance.
“We had so much fun doing that,” Matthews said.
When live audiences returned, the group brought its act to Canada’s Got Talent. The experience helped transform a collection of performers into a close-knit team.
“It really made us start to feel like a family,” Matthews said. “No matter the struggles, the challenges or the self-doubts you might have, if you find a great group of people that support you, you’ve found family.”
Despite his traditional magic background, Matthews wanted to create something audiences had never seen before.
“There are tons of magic shows,” he said. “What we wanted to do is figure out ways to get dogs to do the magic as well.”
The result is a show where card tricks, mind-reading routines, large-scale illusions and comedy often unfold through the paws of the canine stars.
The dogs themselves are at the heart of the production.
Unlike many animal-based shows, the dogs do not belong to the production. Each dog is owned by a trainer or performer travelling with the tour.
“Every single dog in the show is a family pet,” Matthews said.
Many are also rescue dogs or animals that have been rehomed.
One of those dogs is Orca. The foster dog arrived fearful of people, uncomfortable around other animals and uninterested in toys. Months later, Matthews said, Orca was confidently performing Frisbee routines and travelling with the show.
Stories like Orca’s have become an important part of the production.
“We really try to inspire people to rescue, foster and rehome dogs,” Matthews said. “But we also encourage people to spend more time with their dogs.”
The touring production operates more like an ensemble than a traditional dog show. Multiple dogs can perform many of the same routines, allowing them to rotate throughout performances.
“If a dog ever looks tired or uninterested, we never have to let the dog come out,” Matthews said.
That approach reflects the show’s philosophy. The dogs are not forced into performing. Instead, Matthews said they spend much of their time doing what they enjoy most — travelling with their owners, exploring new places and playing.
For the dogs, life on tour includes more than stage time.
“The most fun for the dogs is the meet-and-greets after the shows,” Matthews said. “They also enjoy the hikes and swims we do while on the road.”
Audience members regularly become part of the action, whether helping with illusions or competing against the dogs in various challenges.
“Every show really is not always the same,” Matthews said.
Although designed for families, the production often receives some of its strongest reactions from adults.
“I constantly get adults, people on dates, and parents coming up to me after the show. They tell me they never expected to cry so much,” he said.
He attributes those emotional reactions to the personal stories behind the dogs and the bonds audiences witness on stage.
“A lot of our cast members found that soulmate in their dog,” Matthews said. “Love and happiness is something that’s very hard to fake.”
Matthews believes that sense of connection is what audiences respond to most. Whether it’s a rescue dog finding confidence, a performer finding purpose or someone in the audience being reminded of a beloved pet waiting at home, he said the show is ultimately about relationships.
That belief in connection and community can be traced back to lessons learned from his father.
While travelling as a child, Matthews said the family often made a point of visiting hospitals, shelters and orphanages.
“What we really tried doing is bringing light, bringing magic and giving gifts,” he said. “The things that you love can make the world a brighter place.”
Matthews said those experiences helped shape his view of entertainment today.
More than simply performing tricks, he learned that entertainment could be a way to connect with people, lift spirits and create lasting memories.
Matthews hopes audiences leave with memories of the illusions and laughter, but also a renewed appreciation for the animals waiting for them at home.
“For us, our dogs are a small part of our life,” he said. “But for our dogs, we’re their entire life.”
Audience members will have opportunities to meet the canine performers before the show, during intermission and following the performance.
Dogs Do Magic takes the stage at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on July 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the Auditorium box office and online at tbca.com.
