Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

[Duddahs]

Harry Potter, Hermione Weasley and Ron Weasley;

[Duddahs]

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child officially opens at the Palace Theatre London in July 2016, with preview performances from late May 2016.


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.

copied;
Pottermore
from J.K. Rowling

[Duddahs]

JAMIE PARKER, NOMA DUMEZWENI AND PAUL THORNLEY TO LEAD THE CAST AS HARRY, HERMIONE AND RON



Today, Monday 21 December 2015, the Producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are delighted to announce that Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron.

J.K. Rowling said: “I’m so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I can’t wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer.”

Directed by John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will receive its world premiere in London’s West End at the Palace Theatre in the summer of 2016 and is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. Further casting for the Company of over 30 will be announced at a later date.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening), or on two consecutive evenings. Previews begin 7 June 2016 with the Opening performances of Part One and Part Two on Saturday 30 July 2016. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently booking to 27 May 2017.

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.

Jamie Parker is currently playing Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Savoy Theatre, a role he previously performed at Chichester Festival Theatre where he has also been seen in Drama, Holes in the Skin, Seagulls, The Coffee House, The Commuter and The Gondoliers. His other theatre credits include High Society at the Old Vic, Assassins and Proof for the Menier Chocolate Factory, Candida for the Theatre Royal Bath, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Henry V, Henry IV

Parts One and Two, A New World and As You Like It for Shakespeare’s Globe, King James Bible, The Revenger’s Tragedy and The History Boys all for the National Theatre the latter also on Broadway, Racing Demon for Sheffield Crucible, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead for the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Chichester Festival Theatre, My Zinc Bed for the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Singer for the Tricycle Theatre, At the Exit for Chichester Edge, Between the Crosses for the Jermyn Street Theatre and The Sneeze and After the Dance for Oxford Stage Company. His film credits include The Lady in the Van, Le Weekend, Valkyrie, The History Boys and Lawless. His television credits include Count Arthur Strong, Parade’s End, Silk, The Hour, Up, Horne and Corden, Imagine Van Gogh, Silent Witness, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Maxwell, As If, Wire in the Blood and Foyle’s War.

Noma Dumezweni is currently playing the title role in Linda at the Royal Court Theatre for which she received outstanding reviews. Her other theatre credits include A Raisin In The Sun for the Young Vic at the Lyric Hammersmith, for which she was the recipient of the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role, Feast and Belong also for the Royal Court, A Human Being Died That Night at the Hampstead Theatre, The Fugard and The Market theatres in South Africa and Brooklyn Academy of Music, NY, Carmen Disruption for the Almeida Theatre, ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore for Shakespeare’s Globe, Henry V at the Noël Coward Theatre, President of an Empty Room and The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other for the National Theatre, Macbeth, Breakfast With Mugabe, The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Bogus Woman for The Red Room, Traverse and Bush theatres. Her film credits include The Incident, Dirty Pretty Things and Macbeth. Her many television credits include Casualty, Capital, Frankie, Dr Who, Summerhill, EastEnders and Fallout. Dumezweni will make her directing debut at the Royal Court Theatre in February with I See You by Mongiwekhaya.

Paul Thornley played the role of Dodge in London Road at the National Theatre before going on to play the same character in the film version, both directed by Rufus Norris. His other theatre credits include A Chorus of Disapproval at the Harold Pinter Theatre, The Three Musketeers for Kingston Theatre, It’s a Wonderful Life for the Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, The Miracle for the National Theatre, Private Fears in Public Places at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, the Orange Tree in London and the 59E59 Theaters in New York, Noises Off at the National Theatre, Piccadilly and Comedy Theatres, Spend, Spend, Spend for West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Piccadilly Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, All’s Well That Ends Well, The Tempest, Kiss Me Kate all for the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. On television his credits include three series of Life Begins for Granada where he played opposite Caroline Quentin, Father Brown, Doc Martin, Just William, Mutual Friends, Trollied, Big Bad World and Above Suspicion. As well as London Road, Thornley’s film credits include Man Up, Metamorphosis, The Somnambulists, Les Miserables, Camera Trap and, most recently, Grimsby, the new Sacha Baron Cohen film. Thornley is currently filming The Crown for Netflix and will also appear in the as yet untitled forthcoming James Marsh film.

Previews begin 7 June 2016 with the Opening performances of Part One and Part Two on Saturday 30 July 2016. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently booking to 27 May 2017.

In addition four special preview performances are planned for the end of May 2016 – details of where and how to obtain these tickets will be announced at a later date. Details of how to purchase late release and lottery tickets for all performances will be announced at another time.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender’s Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett, set designs by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, special effects by Jeremy Chernick, illusions by Jamie Harrison and musical supervision by Martin Lowe.

Running times for Part One and Part Two will be announced at a later date.

[misscharlotte]

Quite interesting. I can see that guy playing an older Harry, but I'm curious as to how they came up with the other two. LOL.

Thanks Duddahs for the update for this play.
I'm anxious to see what the reviews will be like.

[Duddahs]

[misscharlotte]

Apr 30, 2016 13:40:59 GMT -6 Duddahs said:

OH my goodness. I wonder what's going on in this image?

[misscharlotte]

I keep getting emails selling tickets to this. That would be a dream to finally get to go to London. Oh well.

I also wonder if ANY OF YOU are getting to attend? I really hope so, so you can come share with us any and all of your thoughts and experiences. It sounds like fun.

[fangsfan1]

Can't believe it's almost time for the book version to come out-it will be fun posting about it if we all read it.
I had a question though-isn't this going to be the script of the play that they're publishing? The bookstores, here in Maine anyway, are all advertising it as the eighth took. I'm hoping people won't be expecting something else and be disappointed when they get it.
In Book a Million in Portland they are having a midnight release party like they did for DH. Should be fun to hear how that goes.

[fangsfan1]

Has anybody gotten the book yet? Our book store had them in yesterday but it was just too hard for me to get there-had to work and go to the nursing home as well. So I went down today and they were all sold out already! Disappointing but still I'm glad to know it's doing so well. Fangsfansis is going to pick me up one in Book A Million-should have it by this weekend.

[fred_girl]

Pre-ordered it but yet to receive my owl ): I couldn't wait, so I got an e-book for the first time. Half way through it! Still hope I get my hard copy soon though!

[nz101nz]

My copy came this morning. I just finished reading it now and all I can say is that it's fantastic, simply fantastic. JKR really gave her fans a treat with this one. I will refrain from posting anything about it until we have all read it. I am looking forward to the discussions though! They should be good ones!

I also saw on the news that CC (I think we can call it that, just like we call Deathly Hallows DH and all) just became the fasting selling book this decade!

[fangsfan1]

I should get my book tonight and will start reading this weekend. I never thought about getting it by e-book, that's a good idea. I just got a kindle not too long ago but have to get used to using it. Although I think having an actual book in my hand will always be my favorite.
Can't wait for the discussions as well!

[misscharlotte]

Jul 27, 2016 8:14:20 GMT -6 fangsfan1 said:

Can't believe it's almost time for the book version to come out-it will be fun posting about it if we all read it.
I had a question though-isn't this going to be the script of the play that they're publishing? The bookstores, here in Maine anyway, are all advertising it as the eighth took. I'm hoping people won't be expecting something else and be disappointed when they get it.
In Book a Million in Portland they are having a midnight release party like they did for DH. Should be fun to hear how that goes.

I just found out a couple of days ago, that they were making a book version (another email from Pottermore.) I'm so glad to hear it. I mean, I felt like we all were being teased because the whole world could not get plane tickets, yet we were all kept in the know when the tickets to the play in London was on sale etc.

Muggle life is really kicking me in the pants right now, but all is well.

So much to backread.

So much to catch up on here.

So glad for that.

Tips my hat till tomorrow morning.... hopefully.

ps still so glad that this will be made into a book version for all to enjoy. In my mind's eye, I did wonder if it will be a script type read or will it be book-like like the earlier Potter stories. I can't wait to hear what you guys think/say.  

[fangsfan1]

Got my book tonight after work, just took a little peek and it looks good. Tomorrow is very busy so probably won't start reading til evening. I've been reading the whole series over and am now on DH-should be very interesting reading the two together.

[fangsfan1]

Started reading this evening. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this-had heard very positive reviews from critics but mixed from fans. But so far I'm liking it very much and pretty sure I will continue to like it. Lots of things I would like to post but don't know how we want to do this to avoid spoilers-should we have a separate thread for the book that says spoilers in the title so anybody who wants to read it will be warned first? I will wait to find out! Anyway, really enjoying this so far.

[misscharlotte]

Aug 6, 2016 21:37:31 GMT -6 fangsfan1 said:

Started reading this evening. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this-had heard very positive reviews from critics but mixed from fans. But so far I'm liking it very much and pretty sure I will continue to like it. Lots of things I would like to post but don't know how we want to do this to avoid spoilers-should we have a separate thread for the book that says spoilers in the title so anybody who wants to read it will be warned first? I will wait to find out! Anyway, really enjoying this so far.

I don't see why we can't do it like spoilers on any other thread. It has been a while since we've had to use this in a post. LOL!

I still have it tucked in with the smiley's.

I do have a couple of questions, if you don't mind.

Is it written in book format or in a script like format?

Is it really an extension of the POTTER story? Or is it more like Fantastic Beasts, being in the Harry Potter world, just in a different era?

I would be so grateful for ANYONE to let me know.

I haven't read any reviews to date. I guess it's obvious from my comments and late on all of the hoopla.

It's good to hear that you are enjoying it so far.  

[misscharlotte]

OK here's what I found out.

This book is NOT a book written by JKR. This makes me a little sad. But that's ok.

It's author is Jack Thorne. I wonder if he's written anything else?

And it is indeed a script, not a chapter by chapter book like I was wondering. Which I'm ok with. A different type of read. 

I'm guessing now, is it a fanfiction that JKR really liked?

Or did she collaborate with the author to write the story?

I can't wait to read it for myself. It's actually a thick book, not something more like the Fantastic Beasts book or Beedle The Bard like I was thinking it would be. Still, it's going to be fun.

[rin68nyr]

Aug 8, 2016 14:38:37 GMT -6 misscharlotte said:

OK here's what I found out.

This book is NOT a book written by JKR. This makes me a little sad. But that's ok.

It's author is Jack Thorne. I wonder if he's written anything else?

And it is indeed a script, not a chapter by chapter book like I was wondering. Which I'm ok with. A different type of read. 

I'm guessing now, is it a fanfiction that JKR really liked?

Or did she collaborate with the author to write the story?

I can't wait to read it for myself. It's actually a thick book, not something more like the Fantastic Beasts book or Beedle The Bard like I was thinking it would be. Still, it's going to be fun.

Hi Miss C! Yes, it was written by someone else, but I do believe JKR had a lot of input. I've seen her name listed as one of the authors. I also think she may have said somewhere that it is canon...but I'll bet there's a lot of debate about that. Anyway, I am going to try to get to the bookstore to buy it this week. Aidan and I went to the countdown to midnight party for the release of it, but at 11:20pm we had done all the activities (fun!) and the lines were forming. We had a colored bracelet to tell us the order we would go in, and the lines were huge. He and I were too tired to wait...it would have been at least 1am before we got it. I just saw the announcement that they are all stocked up again, so I will try to go this week.

Erin

[nz101nz]

Erin is right. The book lists three authors: Jack Thorne, JKR, and John Tiffany. Apparently the three of them created the story, but it was Thorne who adapted it into it's script form. And that's the important thing to remember, it's a script for a play, not a novel (although I found the script form easier to read through).

I'm pretty sure it's considered canon, since JKR was directly involved with it, but I'm not sure if that's how it's decided though.

[rin68nyr]

I got the book today, and have just started act 2. Not sure how to feel about certain things, but we'll see how it turns out in the end. I just had to laugh because...







Possible small spoiler....

...for a moment, Harry was behaving just like Umbridge!!!!

End of act 2, scene 7


Erin