The Cursed Child, an adaptation of the popular Harry Potter book series, brings its timeless storytelling and magic to the stage in a novel yet exciting manner.
This play is the result of collaboration between JK Rowling and Jack Thorne, with direction by Olivier and Tony Award-winner John Tiffany.
How Long Is The Play?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is an exciting play based on the series, yet not necessary to enjoy. Set 19 years after its main events and as a sequel to Book 7 (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), its story takes place 19 years after.
The play follows Albus Severus, Harry and Ginny Potter’s son who is about to attend Hogwarts for the first time, along with Ron and Hermione’s daughter Rose, Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpius, as they embark upon their train journey towards Hogwarts for the first time. But as their journey begins they soon face unexpected family legacy issues as well as dark forces which threaten their friendships.
In this spectacular production, Hogwarts comes alive before your very eyes with stunning illusions that retell Harry Potter’s tale from an unconventional angle.
Reimagined from its original Broadway run, this production presents audiences with all the adventure Harry, Hermione and Ron’s journey entails in one magical afternoon or evening.
After selling out immediately at London’s Palace Theatre, this nine-time Olivier Award-winning production made its Broadway debut and won six Tonys including Best Play. As the first officially licensed production from Harry Potter to grace a stage production, it continues to delight audiences worldwide.
With a cast that includes original actors such as David Warner and Tom Felton, The Cursed Child is an absolute must-see for fans of the series. The plot is straightforward while its production offers amazing costumes, lighting and magic!
If you love Harry Potter and want to experience this production on Broadway at Lyric Theatre, tickets may sell out quickly so reserve your seats asap! It will run for a limited time period so book today.
How Long Is Each Performance Of The Cursed Child?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a two-part play that opened on Broadway in 2018 as part of an extended version of Harry’s story with his friends as adults. Written and adapted by Jack Thorne and J.K. Rowling, this production should not be missed by fans of this beloved franchise.
Based on the Harry Potter novels and film series, but told through a lens of fantasy. You’ll feel its magic every step of the way as magical creatures appear before your very eyes!
Deathly Hallows picks up where its epilogue left off, 19 years after Harry and Ginny Potter introduced Albus Potter to Hogwarts for the first time. Along the way they meet Rose from Ron and Hermione’s daughter Ronin who are also on their way, as well as Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpius Malfoy en route.
At Hogwarts, both characters initially feel isolated and outcast from society; but soon find strength through friendship with Harry who assists in protecting against horcruxes.
This fantastical story has been expertly brought to the stage, directed by John Tiffany with a cast of professional actors led by Noma Dumezweni who plays Hermione Granger.
As the play progresses, it becomes evident that Harry and Ginny have grown old, while Albus has had an extremely difficult upbringing. Their struggles become visible as Albus must deal with both his parent’s past errors as well as those caused by himself and others.
Geoffrey Wade as Severus Snape and Logan James Hall as Sorting Hat both do a phenomenal job of embodying their characters without simply copying what appeared in the films.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child brings back many beloved original characters while also adding unexpected twists and turns. Watching it is truly captivating – you will feel as though you have entered Hogwarts!
How Long Does The Play Take To Read?
As anyone who has read any Harry Potter book knows, its stories can be lengthy – indeed the novels are almost twice as thick. When “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was adapted into two parts for cinematic adaptation it clocked in at over four and a half hours! Later that same year at Broadway’s Lyric Theatre it opened as two parts, clocking five hours each time!
This play follows Harry’s youngest son, Albus Severus Potter, as he prepares to enter Hogwart and confronts his anxieties of being Sorted into Slytherin and disappointing his family. Father and son struggle under the weight of legacy and obligation while frightening ghosts from their past emerge to threaten Albus Severus Potter and cast their spell upon his future.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been an extraordinary success since its first London performances began in June 2016, winning multiple awards including Best New Play at the 2017 Olivier Awards. Since then it has remained popular with audiences and critics worldwide.
Not intended for novice fans of Harry Potter – some familiarity with the series is required in order to follow along – but you will find all the actors extremely competent and ready to guide your journey from start to finish. They have all become experts at portraying characters to their fullest extent.
Children attending this workshop gained an opportunity to view and understand the Harry Potter universe from a new angle, empathizing with characters as real individuals rather than simply fictional figures from a book.
Young participants learned the four pillars of Harry Potter – Friendship, Love, Kindness and Bravery. Furthermore, workshops provided characterisation tips as well as scene analysis and acting techniques.
While some of these tips are easily applicable if you have read your books beforehand, others may prove more challenging and it is essential that you understand all aspects of each text before attending a workshop.
How Long Does The Play Take To Watch On Stage?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child initially delighted audiences in two parts, but now its story has been boldly recast as one monumental event. Enjoy all that magic has to offer in just one afternoon or evening with this unforgettable production!
Beginning nineteen years after the events of J.K. Rowling’s final book, this new tale follows Albus Potter as he prepares for his inaugural year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We meet his classmates as he is assigned his house, as well as any magical characters that make up his Hogwarts family tree.
As the stage gradually comes alive, Christine Jones’s exquisite set designs are brought to life by Jack Thorne’s comic script that cleverly interweaves Rowling’s genius with contemporary themes such as bullying and righting wrongs. Additionally, Christine Jones features her iconic fantastical beings such as wizards, muggles (ordinary people) and dark Dementors in this production.
Jamie Harrison has created some stunning special effects, which transport viewers into an unforgettable magical realm. These special effects combine with Neil Austin’s lighting effects and music to produce an atmosphere of wonder that is both exciting and unforgettable.
Sam Crane, Frances Grey and Thomas Grant return as Harry, Ginny and Albus respectively; along with several newcomers who take on Hermione and Ron roles.
With all this in mind, it’s no wonder why fans continue to line up for the production. It is currently playing at various theaters worldwide with San Francisco and Toronto being among those offering performances.
Producing such an iconic series on stage can be an enormous task, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is no different. Over 300 people from three continents work tirelessly on every aspect of its production.
Harry Potter world brings unforgettable experiences, but at times things feel too rushed or the play itself doesn’t quite match its legendary status in books and films. While its humor and stagecraft may impress sometimes, overall it may not live up to what was expected.