Producers Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and Michael Cassel are thrilled to announce new cast members joining the multi-award-winning theatrical event Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Joining the company are: Green Room Award-winner Natasha Herbet as Dolores Umbridge, Torres Strait-Islander, former professional rugby league player and Wagadagam man Michael Bani as Bane, NIDA and VCA graduate Aisha Aidara making her professional debut as Rose Granger-Weasely and Melbourne-based actor Ben Walter who will assume the role of Albus Potter.
Also joining the production are Gabriella Barbagallo, Luke Clayson, Axel Duffy, Katie-Jean Harding, Matt Holly, Abdul Muhaimin, Harrison Riley, Tom Russel and David Spencer. New cast members are now in rehearshals, ahead of their first performances with the company on Wednesday 26 May 2021.
Continuing in their roles are Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Michael Whalley as Ron Weasley, Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy, and Nyx Calder as Scorpius Malfoy.
The company of 42 performers is completed by Lucy Ansell, Alexander Artemov, Damien Avery, Jai Bacak, Bonnie Barlow, Mike Bishop, Clare Chihambakwe, Gillian Cosgriff, Hannah Fredericksen, Lyndall Grant, George Henare, Soren Jensen, Debra Lawrance, Monet Lewis, James O’Connell, David Ross Paterson, Naomi Rukavina, John Shearman, Liam Smith, Connor Sweeney, Archie Thomson, Jessica Vickers and Mackenzie Vokes.
The Australian production officially opened with a red carpet performance on Saturday 23 February 2019. Melbourne was the third city worldwide to welcome Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, after London and New York. It will unequivocally not play any other city in Australia.
The production marked its first birthday on Sunday 1 March 2020, with a special gala performance at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. In its first year an estimated 326,500 people saw the show, well surpassing any previous record set by a stage play in the history of Australian theatre.
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.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions. Executive Producer of the Australian production is Michael Cassel.
Both parts of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings. Performances currently available through to 3 October 2021. For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.harrypottertheplay.com for details.
Image: The Australian Company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – photo by Jim Lee