Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender have announced the new cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as the multi-award-winning theatrical event enters its second year at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre.
A gala performance will be held on Sunday 1 March, 2020 to celebrate the first birthday. By that date, it is expected that a record-breaking 326,500 people will have passed through the doors, well surpassing any previous record set by a stage play in Australian theatre history.
Now in rehearsals, six new adult cast members have joined the production, with two current cast members stepping into new roles. They begin performances next Wednesday 26 February.
Joining the production are Michael Whalley as Ron Weasley and Nyx Calder as Scorpius Malfoy. Lucy Ansell, Hannah Fredericksen, Helen Howard and Naomi Rukavina also join the company of 42, with current cast members Gillian Cosgriff and Jessica Vickers graduating into the roles of Delphi Diggory and Moaning Myrtle respectively.
Continuing in their roles are Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy, Sean Rees-Wemyss as Albus Potter and Manali Datar as Rose Granger-Weasley.
The cast is completed by Alexander Artemov, Iopu Auva’a, Damien Avery, Jai Bacak, Bonnie Barlow, Mike Bishop, Simon Chandler, Clare Chihambakwe, Louis Corbett, Mark Dickinson, Lyndall Grant, George Henare, Soren Jensen, Hamish Johnston, Amanda LaBonté, Debra Lawrance, Monet Lewis, Kuda Mapeza, James O’Connell, David Ross Paterson, John Shearman, David Simes, Liam Smith, Hayden Spencer, Slone Sudiro, Connor Sweeney, Archie Thomson and Mackenzie Vokes.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has established itself as the premier attraction for visitors to Melbourne. 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.
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.
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 (CSA) and Australian casting by Janine Snape (CGA). Executive Producer of the Australian production is Michael Cassel.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. For more information and bookings, visit: www.harrypottertheplay.com for details.
Image: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Australian Cast Year 2 – Michael Whalley as Ron Weasley, Manali Datar as Rose Granger-Weasley, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Sean Rees Wemyss as Albus Potter, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Nyx Calder as Scorpius Malfoy and Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy – photo by Damian Bennett