SOMETIMES being bored at work can be a good thing.

For Javier Jarquin, it led to a new and pretty unusual career.

The 34-year-old who grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand, fell into a job in software development and had a particular way of keeping himself entertained.

"I would play around with my business cards instead of handing them out," he said.

"I would flick them around the office in my little cubicle and then one day I managed to get a card to come back to me like a boomerang."

By this point Javier was already a part-time performer. He did everything from stand-up comedy and street routines to magic shows and stage acting.

But it was that little trick with his business cards that made him quit his day job in 2006.

Business cards were soon replaced by playing cards as the unique act expanded and became more refined.

Javier added: "I was an average roaming magician but I liked throwing the playing cards so I started devising an act around that and it slowly evolved into the show I have now."

That show, which is coming to the Pyramid on Saturday, involves Javier putting himself through various 'ninja' trials using nothing but cards.

He sets himself card throwing challenges in terms of distance, speed and accuracy and in one trial he even attempts to read an audience member's mind using cards.

It became a word-of-mouth hit at Edinburgh Free Fringe in 2015 and was so well received that the 'Card Ninja' was invited back for four shows at one of the festival's bigger venues, Underbelly, earlier this year.

"You see things that you’d never think you’d be able to do with playing cards," said Javier, who has lived in London for six years.

"If I was going to sum it up like a movie, it’s a sports underdog story about a guy who wants to be a ninja using playing cards as weapons."

But when it comes to his act, Javier tends to avoid the word 'trick' as that implies what he does involves magic or illusion.

"There's no magic in the show," he added.

"People assume that when they see the playing cards. It’s probably the furthest away you can get from the serious magician with dry ice and illusions.

"There are parts that are really explosive and exciting but the show is also a bit chaotic.

"Something always goes wrong. It’s the polar opposite to something like a David Copperfield slick illusion.

"I don’t think I’ve had a show run smoothly yet but it works because when things go wrong people appreciate that there’s no smoke and mirrors. There’s no trapdoors.

"Some of the harder stunts might take me a few goes. It’s like a footballer practicing a free kick. On game day, they might get it, they might not.

"It’s definitely not a show where I want people to sit there silently. Hopefully the audience feels we go on this journey together.

"The best shows are the ones where everyone feels they were part of it."

- The Card Ninja is at the Pyramid on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets are available at pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.

DAVID MORGAN