Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play)
Official poster of the 2016 West End production
Written by	Jack Thorne, J. K. Rowling (story) andJohn Tiffany
Characters	Albus Potter Scorpius Malfoy Delphie Diggory Harry Potter Draco Malfoy Ron Weasley Hermione Weasley Rose Weasley Ginny Potter Severus Snape
Original language	English
Series	Harry Potter
Subject	Harry Potter and his son Albus Severus Potter
Genre	Fantasy Drama Adventure
Setting	Wizarding world

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a two-part West End stage play written by Jack Thorne based on an original new story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany. The play began previews at the Palace Theatre, London on 7 June 2016 and was scheduled to officially premiere on 30 July 2016. The rehearsal script, not a novelization of the play,is scheduled to be released on 31 July 2016 and become the eighth story set in the Harry Potter universe. The story is set nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and follows Harry Potter, now a Ministry of Magic employee, and his younger son Albus Severus Potter.

Contents

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• 1Premise
• 2Background
• 3Production
• 4Original cast and principal roles
• 5Script publication
• 6Critical reception
• 7References
• 8External links

Premise

The play's official synopsis was released by the publisher (Pottermore) on 23 October 2015:^[5]

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.

Background

In December 2013, it was revealed that a stage play based on Harry Potter had been in development for around a year, with the view to bringing it to the stage sometime in 2016. Created by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter series spans seven novels, selling more than 450 million copies, and was turned into an eight-part film series, which grossed more than £4.4 billion around the world. In addition, theme park attractions such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and studio tours of the sets used in the films have opened based around the series. At the time of the announcement, Rowling revealed that the play would "explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast". The following May, Rowling began establishing the creative team for the project.

On 26 June 2015, the project was officially confirmed under the title of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and it was revealed it would receive its world premiere in mid-2016 at London's Palace Theatre. The announcement marked the eighteenth anniversary of the publication of the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published on 26 June 1997.

On announcing plans for the project, Rowling stated that the play would not be a prequel. In response to queries regarding the choice of a play rather than a new novel, Rowling has stated that she "is confident that when audiences see the play they will agree that it is the only proper medium for the story". Rowling has also assured audiences that the play will contain an entirely new story and will not be a rehashing of previously explored content.  On 24 September 2015, Rowling announced that the play had been split into two parts. The parts are designed to be viewed on the same day or consecutively over two evenings.

On 23 October, it was confirmed the plays were set nineteen years after the conclusion of the final novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and would open at London's Palace Theatre in July 2016.^[24] The plays principally follow Harry, now a Ministry of Magic employee, and his younger son Albus Severus Potter. As of 22 July, little more had been revealed about the plot even by those who had attended the previews since 7 June.

Production

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two part play, was written by British playwright Jack Thorne based on an original story by Thorne, John Tiffany and J.K. Rowling. Some Web sites were listing all three as authors of the script but by 26 July 2016, the official web site for the play and many others (including the BBC) were listing Thorne as the sole script writer.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is directed by John Tiffany with choreography by Steven Hoggett, set design by Christine Jones, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Neil Austin, music by Imogen Heap, and sound design by Gareth Fry. In addition, special effects were created by Jeremy Chernick, with illusions by Jamie Harrison, and musical supervision by Martin Lowe. 

Previews at the West End Palace Theatre, London began on 7 June 2016 at the West End Palace Theatre, London on 7 June 2016, with the official opening night for both parts on 30 July,  and originally booking until 18 September 2016. Tickets went on sale to pre-registered priority bookers on 28 October 2015, with a public sale scheduled to commence on 30 October. In just under 8 hours of priority booking 175,000 tickets were sold for the world premiere production, with the play's booking period extended to January 2017. On commencement of the public sale booking was extended until 30 April 2017,with a further extension issued the same day to 27 May 2017.At opening tickets were priced from £30 up to £130 for a ticket for both parts, although ticket resale agencies were selling seats for up to £3,000. Ticket resale has been banned by the producers, with tickets no longer valid if sold on.In mid July 2016, the theatre began holding a ticket lottery at 1pm each Friday, releasing 40 for sale on their Web site. For example, the "Friday Forty" tickets sold on 29 July 2016 were for performances on 3, 5, 6 and 7 August.

The plays are recommended for ages 12 and up. On 20 December 2015, initial casting was announced with Jamie Parker playing Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni playingHermione Granger and Paul Thornley playing Ron Weasley. Some fans were surprised that a dark-skinned, Swaziland-born Noma Dumezweni was cast as Hermione, sparking fervent online discussion. In response, Rowling said that Hermione's skin was never specified as having been white.Further notable casting includes Poppy Milleras Ginny Potter and Sam Clemmett as Albus Severus Potter.The production features an overall cast of 42.

The New York Post reported on 22 July 2016 that Broadway insiders say that negotiations are underway for the plays to appear at New York's Shubert Theatre, possibly in 2017, perhaps with a run in Toronto first.

Original cast and principal roles

• Jamie Parker as Harry Potter
• Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley
• Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger
• Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter
• Alex Price as Draco Malfoy
• Anthony Boyle as Scorpius Malfoy
• Sam Clemmett as Albus Severus Potter
• Cherrelle Skeete as Rose Granger-Weasley

Script publication

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Special Rehearsal Edition cover
Author	Jack Thorne & John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling (story)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Harry Potter
Release number	8th in series
Genre	Fantasy, Drama
Published	31 July 2016 (Special Rehearsal Edition)
Publisher	Little, Brown and Company (UK) Arthur A. Levine/ Scholastic (US)
Publication date	31 July 2016
Pages	320 (Special Rehearsal Edition)
ISBN	978-1338099133
Preceded by	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

On 10 February 2016, it was announced that both parts of the stage play's script would be released in print and digital formats asHarry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II published by Pottermore.

The first edition, entitled "Special Rehearsal Edition", corresponded to the script used in the preview shows and was scheduled to be published on 31 July 2016, the date of Harry's birthday in the series and Rowling's birthday, as well.^[63] Since revisions to the script continued after the book was printed, an edited version will be released in 2017 as the "Definitive Collector's Edition".According to CNN this was the most preordered book of 2016.

Critical reception

Initial reviews of the original production were published on July 26, 2016 and were highly positive, as confirmed by the BBC's article entitled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child gets five star reviews. Publications awarding five star ratings included The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Stage and WhatsOnStage.com. The Telegraph also gave five, although "there are some quibbles," while The Guardian's Michael Billington (with guidance from his grandson) awarded four stars.

Anthony Boyle's performance as Scorpius Malfoy garnered particular acclaim. WhatsOnStage wrote that "Boyle gives a career-making performance," while the Wall Street Journal described him as "the break-out performance." Variety's critic, Matt Trueman, agreed, writing, "it's Boyle who really stands out" and both Trueman and Henry Hitchings, in the Evening Standard, noted that his performance was sure to be a fan favourite.