Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | First Birthday & Season Extension
Multi-award-winning theatrical event Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will mark its first birthday with a special gala performance at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre today. Six new adult cast members will take to the stage for their first official performance, with fresh production images of the new-look company released.
Due to continuing demand, the sensational record-breaking season has been extended for a seventh time, with new tickets made available for performances up until and including Sunday 13 September, 2020. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 11.00am on Tuesday 3 March via the official website HarryPotterThePlay.com.
Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp will unveil a plaque at the Princess Theatre today, honouring Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and further cementing its status as the premier attraction for visitors to Melbourne.
The Lord Mayor said: “We’re thrilled and proud that Australian audiences have embraced Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This record-breaking performance has brought a new vibrancy to the East End Theatre District and helped to generate restaurant and hotel bookings across Melbourne. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is only showing in Melbourne so it’s a fantastic drawcard for our city.”
In the past year an estimated 326,500 people have seen the show, well surpassing any previous record set by a stage play in the history of Australian theatre. Fifty percent of those have travelled from overseas, interstate or regional Victoria and more than half are first time theatregoers. Visitors have been welcomed from 42 different countries around the globe.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child enters its second year led by Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Sean Rees-Wemyss as Albus Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Michael Whalley as Ron Weasley, Manali Datar as Rose Granger-Weasley, Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy, and Nyx Calder as Scorpius Malfoy.
The company of 42 performers is completed by Lucy Ansell, Alexander Artemov, Iopu Auva’a, Damien Avery, Jai Bacak, Bonnie Barlow, Mike Bishop, Simon Chandler, Clare Chihambakwe, Louis Corbett, Gillian Cosgriff, Mark Dickinson, Hannah Fredericksen, Helen Howard, Lyndall Grant, George Henare, Soren Jensen, Hamish Johnston, Amanda LaBonte, Debra Lawrance, Monet Lewis, Kuda Mapeza, James O’Connell, David Ross Paterson, Naomi Rukavina, John Shearman, David Simes, Liam Smith, Hayden Spencer, Slone Sudiro, Connor Sweeney, Archie Thomson, Jessica Vickers and Mackenzie Vokes.
The Australian production officially opened with a magical 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.
“HARRY POTTER FANS, IT’S TIME TO APPARATE YOURSELVES TO MELBOURNE”
NEWS.COM
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.
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.
“A MAGICAL PIECE OF STORYTELLING THAT HOLDS YOU SPELLBOUND FROM START TO FINISH”
LIMELIGHT
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 is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.
About the Author
Andrew Bistak When he's not trying to save the world, Andrew enjoys travel (although loathes turbulence), going to the movies, reading and being a dad to his two dogs (and now twins) with his wife.
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