Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will mark its Australian premiere with a red carpet gala opening at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre this afternoon Saturday 23 February 2019.
Exclusive to Melbourne, production images of the multi-award-winning theatrical event have been released – the first official look at the play in its new Australian home. Melbourne is only the third city worldwide to welcome Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany. It is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. Both parts of the play are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings.
The Australian cast features Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Lucy Goleby as his wife Ginny Potter and Sean Rees-Wemyss as their son Albus Potter; Gyton Grantley as Ron Weasley, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger and Manali Datar as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley; Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy and William McKenna as his son Scorpius Malfoy.
The company of 42 performers also includes Iopu Auva’a, Damien Avery, Mike Bishop, Simon Chandler, Clare Chihambakwe, Sienna Conti, Louis Corbett, Gillian Cosgriff, Mark Dickinson, Lyndall Grant, Ruby Hall, George Henare, Alfie Hughes, Soren Jensen, Hamish Johnston, Madeleine Jones, Ezra Justin, Amanda LaBonté, Debra Lawrance, Kuda Mapeza, Kirsty Marillier, Cle Morgan, James O’Connell, David Ross Paterson, Archie Pitcher, Zakaria Rahhali, John Shearman, David Simes, Hayden Spencer, Slone Sudiro, Connor Sweeney, Sasha Turinui, Jessica Vickers and Hannah Waterman.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison and music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe. International Casting Consultant is Jim Carnahan and Australian casting by Janine Snape. Executive Producer of the Australian production is Michael Cassel.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the most awarded play in theatre history. It has won 24 major theatre awards in the UK and 25 in the US. It opened in London in July 2016 winning a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards including Best New Play and Best Director and made its Broadway premiere in April 2018 winning six Tony Awards including Best Play and Best Director of a Play.
The Australian production began preview performances at the Princess Theatre on Friday 18 January 2019. Due to overwhelming demand the current booking period will be extended and a new block of tickets will go on sale to the general public at 11.00am on Tuesday 26 February for performances up until and including Sunday 2 February 2020.
Those wishing to purchase tickets are encouraged to visit the website and join the ‘Virtual Waiting Room’ at any time between 10:00am and 11:00am AEDT on 26 February When tickets are released at 11:00am AEDT, everyone in the ‘Virtual Waiting Room’ will be randomly assigned a place in the queue for the opportunity to purchase tickets.
The randomisation of the queue allows the purchase of tickets to be as fair as possible and provides protection against bots. These tickets will not require an Access Code to purchase. For more information, visit: www.harrypottertheplay.com for details.
Images: The Australian Company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – photos by Matt Murphy