Magic Consultancy

“The year’s most sensational coup de théâtre”
— The Telegraph (on WILD)

Ben Hart is an internationally recognised consultant, illusion designer, and creative collaborator, offering bespoke magic solutions for theatre, film, television, opera, immersive experiences, and live events.

With over a decade of experience and a reputation for originality, Ben has designed illusions for some of the world’s most prestigious and inventive productions.

Ben specialises in magic that feels truly integrated—supporting character, narrative, and world-building rather than sitting on top of it. His work ranges from delicate sleight-of-hand to large-scale theatrical transformations, kinetic environments, and spectacle-driven effects.

He is also a trusted coach for actors portraying magic and sleight-of-hand on screen. For Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Ben trained Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell, developing authentic physical performance and practical magic techniques. For the forthcoming film Nuremberg, he has worked closely with Rami Malek and Russell Crowe, designing bespoke magical choreography and helping actors deliver illusion with dramatic clarity.

Services include:

  • Custom illusion and special effect design

  • Sleight-of-hand training and performance doubling

  • Actor coaching for film, theatre, and television

  • Secret mechanisms and practical prop design

  • Theatrical direction and dramaturgy for magic-based scenes

  • Script consultation and magical realism integration

  • Large-scale stage effects and kinetic environments

  • Comedy magic and illusion-based physical theatre

  • Live stunt and surprise reveal consultancy

Below is a short, selected resume. For a more detailed biography and further information, feel free to get in touch via the contact page.

  • Nuremberg (Upcoming Movie)

    Written and Directed by James Vanderbilt

    Starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe

    Magic Consultant (covering magic psychology, history and advising the writer, director, props department and cast) and sleight of hand coach.

  • Burlesque (Musical)

    Director: Nick Winston

    Book: Steven Antim

    (Music by Christina Aguilera, Christina Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Todrick Hall, Jess Folley)

    UK Tour

    Magical Effects designer.

  • Mission impossible: Dead Reckoning (Movie)

    Written and Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

    Sleight of hand and pickpocketing advisor and coach to Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell and advisor to writer/director.

  • Mind Mangler: Member of the tragic circle

    (UK Tour and West End)

    Mischief Theatre

    Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer.

    Director: Hannah Sharkey

    Magic Consultant: Ben Hart

    Developed original magic routines, magical jokes, sight gags and special effects. Prop builder and magic coach to the cast.

  • Magic Goes Wrong (UK Tour and West End)

    Written by Mischief Theatre and Penn and Teller

    Director: Adam Meggido and Hannah Sharkey

    Magic Consultant: Ben Hart

    Magic consultant working on the conception and realisation of unique magic, sight gags, special effects and comedic interactions working in collaboration with Penn and Teller.

  • The Mirror and The Light

    The Royal Shakespeare Company

    Adapted by Hilary Mantel and Ben Miles

    Director: Jeremy Herrin

    Magic Consultant. Design and integration into the show of a new beheading effect.

  • The Exorcist (West End and Uk TOUR)

    Director: Sean Mathias

    Magic Consultant: Ben Hart

    Design and construction of original special effect and illusions, including projectile vomit and spinning head…

  • Bagdad Cafe

    The Old Vic

    Director: Emma Rice

    Magic coach to actors, prop builds and magic consultancy for comedic magic moments.

  • A Christmas Carol

    A Christmas Carol

    The Royal Shakespeare Company

    Director: Rachel Kavanagh

    Designer of original illusions, including a new, other worldly, kinetic means of making a person appear and other ghostly effects.

  • Woyzek

    The Old Vic

    Adapted by Jack Thorne

    Starring John Boyega

    Effects design - blood, stage vomit and hallucinatory appearances.

  • Fanny and Alexander

    The Old Vic

    Director: Max Webster

    Magic Consultant

  • WILD

    By Mike Bartlett

    Director: James MacDonald

    Illusion consultant, working to develop illusory effects and technical solutions to a set which rotated 90 degrees and to the actors walking on the walls with no visible support.

  • I and You

    Director: Ed Hall

    Starring Maisie Williams

    Creative Consultant, Illusion designer

  • Ben Earl Trick Artist (Channel 4)

    Magic Consultant

    Developing, designing, writing and building street magic tricks for high budget Channel 4 magic TV show.

  • Not Going Out (Live) BBC

    Created by Lee Mack

    Magic consultant

    2022

  • The Egg Trick (short film)

    Starring Ian McKellen

    Magic Consultant (with James Freedman)

    2013

  • Darker Shores

    Hampstead Theatre

    Magic Consultant (with Darren Lang)

    2009

  • Impossible (West End, Uk and international tour)

    Magic Consultant, Illusion Designer

    2015/16/17

  • Out of my head

    (UK Tour and West End)

    Paul Merton live show

    Magic Consultant

    2013