Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is an original Harry Potter franchise play, authored by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne.

Despite much assumption to the contrary, J. K. Rowling had insisted that the story of the play was not a prequel to the story of Harry Potter, and eventually revealed that Cursed Child would be the eighth story, following. As such, she considers the story of the play to be part of the official Harry Potter canon.

Official summary
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.''

History
On 23 October 2015, it was revealed that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child would be the official sequel to as the eighth Harry Potter story of the series.

On 10 February 2016, it was announced that the script would be published in book form on 31 July 2016.

On 4 May 2017, Pottermore announced that the play would be opening on Broadway on 22 April 2018 at the Lyric Theatre.

Original West End production
The original West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play performance based on the script, and portrayed the eighth Harry Potter story in the series. It premiered on 30 July 2016. The play was shown in two parts.

On 30 March 2017, Pottermore announced that the cast would be changing on 24 May 2017. The original cast performed for the final time on 21 May 2017.

Creative team

 * J. K. Rowling: Original Story
 * Jack Thorne: Original Story and Playwright
 * John Tiffany: Original Story and Director
 * Steven Hoggett: Movement Director
 * Christine Jones: Set Designer
 * Katrina Lindsay: Costume Designer
 * Imogen Heap: Composer
 * Neil Austin: Lighting Designer
 * Gareth Fry: Sound Designer
 * Jeremy Chernick: Special Effects
 * Jamie Harrison: Illusions
 * Martin Lowe: Music Supervisor
 * Julia Horan: CDG Casting
 * Sonia Friedman: Productions Producer
 * Colin Callender: Producer

Cast
For full information on cast of all productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, see here.

Main cast

 * Jamie Parker and Jamie Glover as Harry Potter
 * Paul Thornley and Thomas Aldridge as Ronald Weasley
 * Noma Dumezweni and Rakie Ayola as Hermione Granger
 * Sam Clemmett and Theo Ancient as Albus Potter
 * Poppy Miller and Emma Lowndes as Ginevra Potter
 * Cherrelle Skeete and Helen Aluko as Rose Granger-Weasley
 * Alex Price and James Howard as Draco Malfoy
 * Anthony Boyle and Samuel Blenkin as Scorpius Malfoy

Supporting cast

 * Jeremy Ang Jones as Craig Bowker Jr
 * Annabel Baldwin as Moaning Myrtle and Lily J. Potter
 * Paul Bentall as Vernon Dursley, Severus Snape and Lord Voldemort
 * Claudia Grant as Polly Chapman
 * Chris Jarman as the Sorting Hat and Rubeus Hagrid
 * James Le Lacheur as Yann Fredericks
 * Helen Lymbrey as Petunia Dursley, Rolanda Hooch and Dolores Umbridge
 * Barry McCarthy as Amos Diggory and Albus Dumbledore
 * Sandy McDade as the Trolley Witch and Minerva McGonagall
 * Adam McNamara as the Train Guard
 * Tom Milligan as James Potter Jr, James Potter Snr and Cedric Diggory
 * Jack North as Dudley Dursley, Karl Jenkins and Viktor Krum
 * Nuno Silva as Bane and Professor Mazoni
 * Esther Smith as Delphi Diggory
 * Rudi Goodman, Alfred Jones, Bili Keough, Nathaniel Smith and Dylan Standen as Young Harry Potter
 * Zoe Brough, Cristina Fray, Christiana Hutchings as Lily Jr

Reception
An early review for the play from USA Today reviewer Elysa Gardner was glowingly positive, giving the play 3 1/2 out of 4 stars. Gardner stated that the "smashing storytelling and layered but accessible emotional life that always fueled Harry's saga" has remained. Entertainment Weekly also gave the play a strong review, with an overall grade of A-, stating the play is one that "doesn’t play it safe with the Potter canon and will change how fans see certain favourite characters forever." Reviews across the board have generally been very favourable, though most reviews have been kept largely spoiler-free, as attendees are handed badges reading "Keep the Secrets" upon exiting the theatre.

Behind the scenes

 * Following the announcement of the publication of the play in script form, headlines from many sources proclaimed the title as the "eighth Harry Potter novel" by Rowling, despite the fact that official sources have been clear that the new book is simply a complete copy of the play's script, which was not authored by her. Various sources have also described the play incorrectly as a "prequel," despite Rowling's statements to the contrary and the fact that the play is clearly described as taking place 19 years after the events of the final novel.
 * In January 2017, Rowling set the record straight about rumours that the play would be made into a film, or a series of films. She stated that the play was only ever meant to be on stage, and that she and the writers never intended for it to be anything else, and that it would stay that way. She also stated that it will not only never be a film, but joked that it will never be a novel, puppet show, cartoon and comic book series either.