A workshop focused on engineered objects and practical effects.

Stagecraft Works began as a small workshop building magic, illusions and practical effects for live performers. Early projects focused on creating dependable methods, hand-built mechanisms and concealed systems that had to work flawlessly under the unpredictable conditions of a stage show.

Working closely with magicians, theatre makers and touring performers quickly established a simple rule:

If something fails in performance, the method doesn’t matter - the engineering wasn’t good enough.

Magic demands an unusually high standard of reliability. Effects must survive handling, misdirection, timing pressure and live audiences, often with no opportunity for reset or failure. Solving those problems required careful engineering, redundancy and silent operation, alongside a deep understanding of how objects are actually used in performance, not just how they look on paper, but how they are perceived by an audience.

Over time, that approach began to attract attention beyond magic. Theatre productions, television teams, immersive experiences and event designers recognised that the same techniques used to make illusions convincing could be applied to enhance storytelling, interaction and spectacle in other environments. Hidden mechanisms, audience-safe deception, discreet electronics and performer-friendly design proved just as valuable outside traditional magic.

As a result, the workshop evolved naturally, applying illusion-led thinking to a broader range of creative and technical challenges. The mindset stayed the same, but the contexts grew larger, more complex and more demanding.

That philosophy remains the foundation of Stagecraft Works today.

That mindset became the foundation of the workshop as it expanded into larger and more technically demanding environments.

Today, Stagecraft Works builds hero objects, practical effects, engineered mechanisms and interactive installations for:

• Theatre and touring productions
• TV and streaming shows
• Film units and studio builds
• Museums, exhibitions and attractions
• Escape rooms and immersive experiences
• Themed and corporate events

Our work also appears in immersive dining experiences worldwide, where props and interactive set pieces must withstand nightly use, close audience interaction and fast resets. These projects often combine scenic fabrication, discreet electronics and performer-friendly mechanisms designed to support the story without revealing their method.

Along the way, our work has appeared everywhere from intimate black-box shows to productions at the Sydney Opera House, as well as across television, film and streaming productions. We have contributed to teams behind an Emmy award-winning show, and our work has appeared on numerous occasions throughout West End and Broadway Productions. These experiences shaped our expectation that every build must withstand professional scrutiny, repeated handling and real-world performance demands.

Through all of this, our focus has stayed the same: engineered objects and practical effects that perform reliably, clearly and safely.

Our work sits between fabrication, engineering and storytelling. We create:

• Camera-safe hero objects for close-up and studio lighting
• Mechanical and electronic practical effects
• Interactive pieces for museums, escape rooms and themed events
• Scenic elements with integrated lighting, sensing or control systems
• Tour-ready rebuilds of existing props and mechanisms
• Embedded electronics and wireless triggers integrated into scenic or handheld objects
• Specialised rigs for specific shots where standard equipment won’t work

Each project begins with understanding the effect: what the audience should see and believe. We design mechanisms, electronics and structures that support the moment, then build and test prototypes to ensure reliability, silent operation and safe handling.

Throughout the process, we consider how the piece will be rehearsed, cued, transported and maintained. Failure modes are designed out early, and where that is not possible, they are made predictable and recoverable. Every build is tested in conditions that reflect real use, not just workshop assumptions.

We provide clear reset paths, maintenance notes and handover documentation so performers and technicians can operate the piece confidently. We remain available for updates, duplicates and long-term support.