On Sunday 9th July, the winners of the 21st South Bank Sky Arts Awards were revealed at The Savoy Hotel, the only awards to focus on the arts in their entirety and celebrate the best of culture in the UK across ten categories. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was thrilled to be announced as the winner of the Theatre Award.
Congratulations to the entire company and creative team.
With our new cast beginning performances at London’s Palace Theatre on Wednesday 24th May, we reveal a first look at the new cast in character with a set of portraits by Charlie Gray.
The Potters
Jamie Glover as Harry Potter, Emma Lowndes as his wife Ginny Potter and Theo Ancient as their son Albus Potter.
The Granger-Weasleys
Thomas Aldridge as Ron Weasley, Rakie Ayola as Hermione Granger and Helen Aluko as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley.
The Malfoys
James Howard as Draco Malfoy and Samuel Blenkin as Scorpius Malfoy.
See the full set of portraits on the Gallery Page.
Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, have today confirmed that the production will have its Broadway premiere in the Spring of 2018 at the newly renovated Lyric Theatre in New York. As previously announced, the Lyric Theatre is currently undergoing a complete redesign and transformation in preparation for the North American premiere of the production.
The official opening will be on Sunday, April 22, 2018. Preview performances, casting and all further details will be announced in the coming months.
Tickets will go on sale in the Fall of this year via the official website only, and details of how and when tickets can be purchased will be released soon. Visit www.HarryPotterThePlay.com to sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news and updates.
Last month, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child became the most awarded production in the history of Britain’s Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking nine awards including Best New Play and Best Director. The production has won 22 major theatre awards in the UK since opening last July in London, including the Evening Standard Best Play Award.
Photographer: Manuel Harlan
Back Row (left to right) James Howard (Draco Malfoy), Emma Lowndes (Ginny Potter), Jamie Glover (Harry Potter)
Front Row (left to right) Thomas Aldridge (Ron Weasley), Rakie Ayola (Hermione Granger), Helen Aluko (Rose Granger-Weasley), Theo Ancient (Albus Potter), Samuel Blenkin (Scorpius Malfoy)
Rehearsals began this week for the new West End cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child who will start their performances at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End on 24 May 2017 following the final performance from the current cast on 21 May 2017. Jamie Glover will play Harry Potter with Emma Lowndes as his wife Ginny Potter and Theo Ancient as their son Albus Potter. Thomas Aldridge will play Ron Weasley with Rakie Ayola as Hermione Granger and Helen Aluko as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley. Playing Draco Malfoy will be James Howard with Samuel Blenkin as his son Scorpius Malfoy.
Photographer: Manuel Harlan
Row 5 Back Row (left to right) Joshua Wyatt, Ruthxjiah Bellenea, Jordan Paris, Elizabeth Hill, Mark Theodore, James Phoon, Henry Rundle, Leah Haile, Tom Mackley
Row 4 (left to right) Rupert Henderson, James McGregor, Nuno Silva, Gideon Turner, Ged Simmons, Danny Dalton, Ed White, Martin Johnston
Row 3 (left to right) Lowri James, Morag Cross, Nicola Alexis, Rosemary Annabella, Sarah Miele
Row 2 (left to right) David Annen, Annabel Baldwin, James Howard, Rakie Ayola, Jamie Glover, Thomas Aldridge, Emma Lowndes, Barry McCarthy, Sandy McDade
Row 1 Front Row (left to right) April Hughes, Samuel Blenkin, Jabez Cheeseman, Phoebe Austen, Alfred Jones, Esme Grace, Harrison Noble, Hope Sizer, Ben Roberts, Theo Ancient, Helen Aluko
They are joined by new cast members David Annen, Ruthxjiah Bellenea, Danny Dalton, Leah Haile, Rupert Henderson, Elizabeth Hill, April Hughes, James McGregor, Sarah Miele, Jordan Paris, James Phoon, Henry Rundle, Ged Simmons, Mark Theodore, Gideon Turner and Ed White. Original cast members Nicola Alexis, Rosemary Annabella, Phoebe Austen, Annabel Baldwin, Jabez Cheeseman, Morag Cross, Esme Grace, Lowri James, Martin Johnston, Alfred Jones, Barry McCarthy, Sandy McDade, Tom Mackley, Harrison Noble, Ben Roberts, Nuno Silva, Hope Sizer and Joshua Wyatt complete the 42-strong company playing a variety of characters, including seven children who will alternate two roles.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently booking to 29 April 2018. The next advance ticket release will take place on 25 April 2017. Tickets are priced from £15 per part and for every performance there are over 300 tickets at £20 or less per part. Further ticket releases will be announced throughout the year, details of which will published via the official Harry Potter and the Cursed Child website, social media channels and the official newsletter.
Jamie Glover (Harry Potter) was last on stage in What’s in a Name? for Birmingham Repertory Theatre. His other theatre credits include The Rehearsal, An Ideal Husband and If Only all for Chichester Festival Theatre, Donkeys’ Years at the Rose Theatre Kingston, Noises Off at the Old Vic and Novello Theatre in the West End, The Chalk Garden for the Donmar Warehouse, The Shawl and The Man Who Had All the Luck both for Sheffield Crucible, The Novice for the Almeida Theatre and The Invention of Love for the Theatre Royal Haymarket. For the Royal Shakespeare Company his credits include All’s Well That Ends Well, The Roman Actor and Edward III. On film his credits include These Foolish Things, Sacred Life and Age of Treason. He is best known on television for playing Andrew Treneman in Waterloo Road and James Lacey in Agatha Raisin, and has also been seen in Endeavour and Doctor Who: An Adventure in Space and Time.
Emma Lowndes’ (Ginny Potter) many television credits include Bella Gregson in Cranford, Mary Rivers in Jane Eyre and Margie Drewe in Downton Abbey. She can soon be seen as Carla Davis in Channel 4’s The Trial. Her theatre credits include The Herbal Bed at the Royal and Derngate Theatre Northampton, Children of the Sun and Thérèse Raquin for the National Theatre, The Accrington Pals, Port, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and The Seagull for the Royal Exchange Theatre and Whose Life is it Anyway? at the Comedy Theatre. On film her credits include Mother’s Milk and All or Nothing.
Theo Ancient (Albus Potter) trained at RADA and will make his professional stage debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Thomas Aldridge (Ron Weasley) is currently appearing in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre. His previous theatre credits include The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe for Birmingham Rep, Made in Dagenham at the Adelphi Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew for the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, The Secret Garden and Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure for West Yorkshire Playhouse and Birmingham Rep, His Dark Materials on UK tour, Only the Brave for Soho Theatre, and High Society at the Shaftesbury Theatre. His television credits include Undercover, Titanic, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness, Hope and Glory and The Support Group. His film credits include Flea and Blasted.
Rakie Ayola (Hermione Granger) was last on stage in The Rest of Your Life at the Bush Theatre. Her previous theatre credits include King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre where she played Goneril, Crave/4.48 Psychosis for Sheffield Crucible, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Apollo Theatre, Dido Queen of Carthage for the Globe Theatre, The Winter’s Tale for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Welcome to Thebes for the National Theatre. Her television credits include No Offence, Vera, Under Milk Wood, Black Mirror, Doctor Who, Silent Witness and Holby City. Her film credits include Been So Long, Dredd, Now is Good and Sahara.
Helen Aluko (Rose Granger-Weasley) is an original member of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child company. Her previous theatre credits include Doctor Faustus for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Once Language, Many Voices for TNT, The Price for Walking Forward, The Wind in the Willows for Sixteen Feet Productions and Beauty and the Beast at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Her television credits include The Driver.
James Howard (Draco Malfoy) is an original member of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child company. His previous theatre credits include Brave New World for Northampton Theatre Royal, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Mojo, King Lear and Morte D’Arthur for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Twelfth Night and Ivanov for Donmar Warehouse and The Duchess of Malfi for the National Theatre. His television credits include Black Mirror, Dark Matters, Skins, Spooks, Inspector Lynley Mysteries and Dream Team. On film his credits include Survivor, The Theory of Everything, The Oxford Murders and Penelope.
Samuel Blenkin (Scorpius Malfoy) trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and also makes his professional stage debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has received a record number of nominations for a play, for the prestigious Olivier Awards, announced on Monday 6th March. The nominations were for the following categories:
- Best New Play
- Best Director – John Tiffany
- Best Actor – Jamie Parker
- Best Actress in Supporting Role – Noma Dumezweni
- Best Actor in Supporting Role – Anthony Boyle
- Best Set Design – Christine Jones
- Best Costume Design – Katrina Lindsay
- Best Sound Design – Gareth Fry
- Best Lighting Design – Neil Austin
- Best Theatre Choreographer – Steven Hoggett
- Outstanding Achievement in Music – Imogen Heap
The Olivier Awards are now in their 41st year and celebrate the brightest stars from across the theatre industry. The winners will be announced at a star-studded ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 9th April.
On Sunday 19th February, the winners of the 17th annual Whatsonstage Awards were revealed in an Awards Ceremony at the Prince Of Wales Theatre in London. Whatsonstage.com is the UK’s leading theatre news website, and these awards are the only ones nominated and voted for by the theatregoing public.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child won in eight categories, including Best New Play, congratulations to:
Best Actor In A Play – Jamie Parker
Best Supporting Actor In A Play – Anthony Boyle
Best Supporting Actress In A Play – Noma Dumezweni
Best Direction – John Tiffany
Best Set Design – Christine Jones
Best Lighting Design – Neil Austin
Best Video Design – Finn Ross and Ash Woodward
Best New Play
Congratulations to the entire company and creative team.
The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child today announced that a further 75,000 tickets will be released for sale on Monday 23 January 2017, at 11am GMT, for performances from 7 February 2018 – 29 April 2018. Tickets are priced from £15 per part and for every performance there will be over 300 tickets at £20 or less per part. This will be followed by regular ticket releases throughout the year, details of which will be announced via the official Harry Potter and the Cursed Child website, social media channels and the official newsletter.
The regular performance schedule is as follows – Monday – no performance, Tuesday – no performance, Wednesday – 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Thursday – 7.30pm Part One, Friday – 7.30pm Part Two, Saturday – 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Sunday – 1pm Part One & 6.30pm Part Two.
A further set of access performances are also announced – on Wednesday 28 March 2018 both the matinee (Part One) and the evening performance (Part Two) will be captioned and on Wednesday 4 April 2018 the matinee (Part One) and evening performance (Part Two) will be audio described. For patrons with physical access needs call 0330 333 4410 (please note there are no general ticket sales on this number) or email CursedChildAccess@nimaxtheatres.com
TICKETS FROM £15 WITH OVER 300 TICKETS FOR EVERY PERFORMANCE AT £20 OR LESS PER PART
Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, announce today that a further 60,000 tickets will be released for sale on Tuesday, 22 November 2016, at 11am GMT, for performances from 13 December 2017 – 4 February 2018. Tickets are priced from £15 per part and for every performance there will be over 300 tickets at £20 or less per part. This will be followed by regular ticket releases throughout the next year, details of which will be announced via the official Harry Potter and the Cursed Child website, social media channels and the official newsletter.
A further set of access performances are also announced today. On Saturday 13 January 2018 both the matinee (Part One) and evening performance (Part Two) will be audio described and on Saturday 20 January 2018 the matinee (Part One) and evening performance (Part Two) will be captioned. Tickets for these performances will also go on sale on 22 November 2016. For patrons with physical access needs call 0330 333 4410 (please note, there are no general ticket sales on this number) or email CursedChildAccess@nimaxtheatres.com.
The regular performance schedule is as follows – Monday – no performance, Tuesday – no performance, Wednesday – 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Thursday – 7.30pm Part One, Friday – 7.30pm Part Two, Saturday – 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Sunday – 1pm Part One & 6.30pm Part Two. Please see here for Christmas 2017 performance schedule.
Anthony Boyle, who plays Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes us through a two show day at The Palace Theatre.
“About 12:30 I arrive at the theatre”
“We’re backstage at the theatre, about to go into the dressing room and say hello to Sam Clemmett”
“Every show day around 12:45 we do a company warm-up: stretching and breathing exercises”
Part 1
“Before the half hour call I go to the wig department, where the lovely Cassie plays with my hair”
“In our dressing room doing some vocal warm-ups at the half hour call before Part One, Act One.”
“On my way to the stage for Part One, Act One.”
“I’m just excited about getting to show the world Scorpius and tell the story.”
“Stage right is where we keep our wands”
Part 2
“At the half hour call Sam and I will do another vocal warm-up in our dressing room”
“On my way to the stage for Part Two, Act Three”
“I’d see what Pottermore said about Malfoy Manor and wonder what it’d be like growing up there.”
“Scorpius is a joy to play. We’re different, but there’s a lot of him in me, like his want for fun.”
“We’ve just come off stage, shattered but elated”
“Now I’m going to go out and meet fans at the stage door”
On Saturday 30th July, we welcomed many friends and family of the show to the Palace Theatre for our Grand Opening Gala performances of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2. Take a look below at all the action from the day including comments from J.K. Rowling and the show’s producers and creative team.
Fans gathered at the red carpet…
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling arrived, commenting on how proud she is of fans for keeping the secrets. “The reviews have been overwhelming, I’m genuinely shocked, surprised and delighted”.
Producer Sonia Friedman on fans who #KeepTheSecrets “You’ve made this the most wonderful and beautiful time of our lives”
See J.K. Rowling & the creative team behind the Cursed Child on the red carpet at today’s gala performance.
Find out about the next ticket release taking place on 4 August 2016