Matilda Magic Cup

The Magic Cup

This cup has been, by far, my favorite prop to design and build. Combining my passion for 3D printing and custom design, I created the entire concept from scratch to bring one of the show's most iconic special effects to life.

• The Illusion: During the famous classroom scene, Matilda appears to make the cup spin, dance, and ultimately dive right off the desk using her telekinetic powers. In reality, the trick is seamlessly controlled off-stage by a stagehand using a miniature remote-controlled chassis hidden inside a custom cavity within the cup.

• The Engineering: While originally printed in rigid plastic, the cup is now 3D printed using a specialized TPU rubber. This flexible, high-durability material ensures the cup can easily take a hit and survive the impact when it is intentionally driven completely off the desk night after night.

• Global Reach: A true testament to its success, this custom-engineered prop has now been featured in over 100 productions both nationally and internationally!