The Harry Potter Compendium
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Template:Theatre Performance Infobox

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[1], and eventually revealed that Cursed Child would be the eighth story, following Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As such, she considers the story of the play to be part of the official Harry Potter canon.[2][3]

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 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the eighth Harry Potter story of the series.[4]

On 10 February 2016, it was announced that the script would be published in book form on 31 July 2016.[5]

On 4 May 2017, Pottermore announced that the play would be opening on Broadway on 22 April 2018 at the Lyric Theatre.[6]

Productions[]

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.[4] It premiered on 30 July 2016.[7] The play was shown in two parts.[8]

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.[9][10]

Creative team[]

  • J. K. Rowling: Original Story[11]
  • 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[]

Supporting cast[]

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.[17] 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."[18] 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.[19]

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[20] and the fact that the play is clearly described as taking place 19 years after the events of the final novel.[21]
  • 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.[22]

External links[]

Notes and references[]

  1. J.K. Rowling's Twitter
  2. The story of #CursedChild should be considered canon, though. @jackthorne, John Tiffany (the director) and I developed it together. by J.K. Rowling on Twitter
  3. Time - "J.K. Rowling Confirms Harry Potter Play Will Be Considered 'Canon'"
  4. 4.0 4.1 New details on Cursed Child, the ‘eighth Harry Potter story' by the Pottermore Team
  5. Harry Potter play script to be published by Little, Brown, February 10, 2016 by Charlotte Eyre at The Bookseller
  6. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Broadway
  7. Harry Potter stage play is sequel about Harry’s son, ‘eighth story in the series’ at Entertainment Weekly
  8. Wiz, bang! It's a double helping of Harry Potter | Daily Mail Online
  9. 9.0 9.1 Pottermore - New cast announced for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Radio Times - First look at the new cast for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  11. Harry Potter And The Cursed Child official website
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Still magic in middle age... It's Harry Potter and a new-look Hermione: Cast set to star in highly-anticipated stage play is revealed
  13. 13.0 13.1 ARTICLE - Add to Template:PM at Pottermore
  14. ARTICLE - Add to Template:PM at Pottermore
  15. 15.0 15.1 ARTICLE - Add to Template:PM at Pottermore
  16. 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 Cast list from the programme from the original West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
  17. Gardner, Elysa (July 25, 2016). "Review: 'Cursed Child' has that Harry Potter magic", USA Today. Retrieved on July 26, 2016. 
  18. Hibberd, James (July 25, 2016). "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: First review - Effects-stuffed stage sequel explores the past and future of The Boy Who Lived", Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on July 26, 2016. 
  19. Denham, Jess (July 26, 2016). "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child reviews roundup: Theatre critics spellbound by new JK Rowling play", Independent. Retrieved on July 26, 2016. 
  20. Deadline - "JK Rowling rules on five-year-old Potter bet made in Florida"
  21. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script on Amazon
  22. JK Rowling's website - Cursed Child film rumours
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