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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child trailer

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Explore the Eighth Story

From page to stage

Cursed Child Collection

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Albus & Scorpius in Cursed Child. By Matthew Murphy

See Cursed Child for yourself!

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Cursed Child celebrates 7 year anniversary: your latest updates on all territories 

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Pictured (L–R): Benjamin Papac as Albus Potter and Jon Steiger as Scorpius Malfoy in the San Francisco production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Photo credit: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

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As *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* enjoys its latest worldwide anniversary, you can watch the various actors who play Harry Potter across the world get ready for their shows in this new montage. Take a look at all the current Harrys, as seen in London, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne, Hamburg, Toronto and Tokyo right here. 

Seven Harrys | Cursed Child 2022 Anniversary

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This weekend marks seven years since the award-winning production first opened in London’s West End, and since then, *Cursed Child* has been making waves across the globe, including new shows opening in Japan and Canada this year.

Alas, as some doors open, some must close, as it was revealed this week that the production of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* in San Francisco is set to close 11th September, marking the show as the longest-running play in the history of the city. 

‘We are extremely proud of our San Francisco production,’ said producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender. ‘To be the longest running play in the city is an amazing achievement. We would like to thank all our cast, company and creative team for getting us to this incredible milestone. There is a rich culture of arts and theatre here, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to San Francisco audiences for embracing our play.’

To commemorate the closure, the San Francisco production will be putting on extra performances of the show, so fans who haven’t had a chance to see it yet can snap up tickets. [You can learn more about that from the official website.](https://sf.harrypottertheplay.com/)

Elsewhere, productions of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* continue to cast their spell globally, currently playing to sold-out audiences at the Palace Theatre, London, UK; at the Lyric Theatre, New York, US; at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, Canada; and at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theatre, Tokyo, Japan. The play has also broken records as the longest running play in Australia and Hamburg at the Princess theatre, Melbourne, Australia; and at the Mehr! Theater, Hamburg, Germany respectively. 

In fact, *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* has now been seen by over 5 million people worldwide. Have you immersed yourself in the eighth story yet? 

You can learn more about the play, including character guides, quizzes and behind-the-scenes videos at our [Cursed Child hub.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/cursed-child-collection)

Cursed Child officially opens in San Francisco after stunning premiere 

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Watch back on this emotional montage of Cursed Child’s opening night in San Francisco, where cast, crew and fans came together for a very magical event. 

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Before the show, San Francisco’s City Hall was proudly lit up in Hogwarts house colours, with Mayor London Breed (who got sorted into Gryffindor during the festivities) making an apearance.

San Francisco's production of Cursed Child has been boldly restaged as one singular performance by the award-winning creative team, with the entire venue transformed to immerse visitors into the wizarding world. 

The San Francisco cast includes John Skelley as Harry Potter, Angela Reed as Ginny Potter, alongside Benjamin Papac as their son Albus Potter; Steve O’Connell as Ron Weasley, Lily Mojekwu as Hermione Granger, and Folami Williams as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley; and Lucas Hall as Draco Malfoy, and Jon Steiger as his son Scorpius Malfoy.

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For details on how Cursed Child's performances in San Francisco, visit their [official website in this territory.](https://sf.harrypottertheplay.com/) Tickets ($59–$199) are currently on-sale through Sunday, September 4, 2022. 

And be sure to [keep visiting our Cursed Chid hub for all the latest news on the eighth story.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/cursed-child-collection)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child reveals Japanese cast for the first time 

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The three actors portraying Harry Potter in the Japanese production of Cursed Child.

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As the eighth Harry Potter story prepares to open at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater this summer, a fresh cast has been assembled to join the Wizarding World family. And in the starring role as Harry Potter, three actors will be on hand to play the titular wizard

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Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kanji Ishimaru and Osamu Mukai will all be on hand to play the leading role of Harry, with each actor taking the role in turn. 

For Hermione, actors Aoi Nakabeppu and Sagiri Seina will portray her, while Masahiro Ehara and Hayata Tateyama will play Ron, respectively. 

[For the full cast, simply visit the official website to learn all about them.](https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/jp/)

Much like Broadway, Tokyo will be presenting the reimagined version of the play, which runs across one day for three and a half hours, including intermission. You can learn more about the reimagined version of *Cursed Child* [here.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/cursed-child-returns-reimagined-to-broadway-and-opens-in-hamburg)

*Cursed Child*’s latest home, TBS Akasaka ACT Theater, is currently undergoing renovations, and will be ready to unveil its new look in time for the first preview performance in June. The play’s official opening night in Tokyo takes place 8th July. 

Tickets for previews will go on sale for two days only, from Wednesday 23rd – Thursday 24th February – and you will be able to register and purchase through either TBS Tickets or Horipro Stage. 

We’re so excited to see how *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* plays out in its first Asian home. Stay tuned for more details as we get them. 

Cursed Child returns reimagined to Broadway and opens in Hamburg

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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*Headline image featuring: Lauren Nicole Cipoletti, Brady Dalton Richards and James Romney | Photographer: Matt Murphy*

Following the successful re-openings of Melbourne and London, *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* has returned triumphant to the Lyric theatre New York in its new reimagined format, while in Hamburg, Harry Potter und das verwunschene Kind celebrated its German-language two-part premiere last Sunday. 

The Broadway production, which has been boldly reimagined for its big comeback, opened to great critical acclaim, with the [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/theater/harry-potter-cursed-child-broadway-review.html) proclaiming it ‘Streamlined and still magical…this new version remains ravishingly entertaining’ and [Broadway News](https://broadwaynews.com/2021/12/07/review-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-retains-its-magic-and-its-heart/) calling it ‘A theatrical accomplishment of a very rare order.’  [Theatremania](https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/reviews/review-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-broadway_93096.html) wrote of the newly-staged, singular performance: ‘The show delivers spectacularly. Jamie Harrison's illusions regularly receive showstopping applause, the kind which might make the actors jealous were it not for the fact that their performances are integral to making the magic seem real. If you suspend your disbelief just a little bit (it's not hard considering the level of artistry at work) you'll feel like a kid again, witnessing incredible wonders onstage.’

Potter fans also welcomed the one-part version, with Leaky Cauldron declaring: ‘the joy and inspiration hold true.…the *Cursed Child* team (cast, creative, and crew) has completely given their hearts to re-mounting something still bewitching to behold. The magic feels as fresh as it did on its original opening day, April 22, 2018, and the play itself commands both stunned awe and breathless reverence from an audience of 1500+ theatergoers.’

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Meanwhile in Germany, the long-awaited opening of the original version at the newly refurbished Mehr! Theatre am Großmarkt in Hamburg -  the first non-English language production of the eighth story in the world – received an equally rapturous reception. [Broadway World](https://www.broadwayworld.com/germany/article/BWW-Review-HARRY-POTTER-AND-THE-CURSED-CHILD-at-Mehr-Theater-Am-Gromarkt-20211206)  declared:‘*HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD* is a modern theatrical masterpiece. The art of making theatre reinvented. It gives you shivers down your spine, laughter, and also some tears.’  

The two-part original will also be reimagined as a singular performance for theatres in San Francisco, Toronto and Tokyo in 2022, with Melbourne adopting this version in May 2022. 

*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* is now playing in London, New York, Melbourne and Hamburg.  For further details about all productions and all the latest news go to the website [here](https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/).

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West Coast performances of Cursed Child begin at San Francisco's Curran Theater

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*Photo credit: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade*

The West Coast engagement of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* triumphantly returned to San Francisco this week, after its performances were put on hold in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020. 

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*Pictured (L–R): John Skelley as Harry Potter, Lily Mojekwu as Hermione Granger, and Steve O’Connell as Ron Weasley in the San Francisco production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo credit: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade*

Now, [the one-part reimagining of the play](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/cursed-child-returns-reimagined-to-broadway-and-opens-in-hamburg), which also runs in New York, enchanted audiences with a celebratory comeback. 

Press night for the show is set for the 9th February, and you can visit the play's [official website for more details. ](https://sf.harrypottertheplay.com/)

A huge welcome back to this branch of the Cursed Child family! 

__Remember, you can visit [our Cursed Child hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/cursed-child-collection) for quizzes, behind-the-scene videos and features on the hit play whenever you like.__

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to host special house pride performances in London

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Allow the Cursed Child London cast to explain how it works! 


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Hogwarts House themed performances 

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The first 50 audience members who arrive early on each Wednesday will receive early access to the theatre at 12.15pm, special access to the theatre bars and gift shop, and the opportunity to participate in Harry Potter trivia featuring *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* cast appearances.

All audience members will receive a house-themed souvenir pin and have the opportunity to enter the house pride costume contest.

__Wednesday 19 January 2022__: *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* will celebrate Hufflepuffs – just, loyal and unafraid of toil. <br>

__Wednesday 26 January 2022:__ *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* will celebrate Ravenclaws – wise, creative and brimming with wit. <br> 

__Wednesday 2 February 2022__: *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* will celebrate Gryffindors – daring, chivalrous and brave at heart. <br> 

__Wednesday 9 February 2022:__ *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* will celebrate Slytherins – cunning, determined and ambitious. <br> 

***

So, there you have it. And if you have yet to discover your Hogwarts house... it’s never too late. [Register with us](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register/age-gate) and find out where you truly belong.

[Visit the Cursed Child website](https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/) for more details on these exciting nights. 

Cursed Child re-openings update: North America to return with reimagined productions and Toronto’s premiere now set for 2022

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Today, we bring exciting news for Harry Potter fans and theatre-goers alike. Across the pond, the magic of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* is set to return to theatres with reopening dates for North America now confirmed! The show will return in New York, San Francisco, and premiere in Toronto as a newly staged, single play experience with more magic per minute. Expect the show to keep all the amazing illusions with some enchanting new staging. Here are the all-important dates you need to know.

New York – Returns to the Lyric Theatre November 16 <br>
San Francisco – Returns to the Curran January 11 <br> 
Toronto – To premiere at the Ed Mirvish Theatre May, 2022 <br> 

Pre-sale tickets for New York will begin rolling out on 7th July for Gold Members, 8th July for Harry Potter Fan Club members, and with public sale soon to follow on the 12th. San Francisco Gold Members will have their chance at a pre-sale on Wednesday 14th July, 15th July for Fan Club members and a public sale date on 21st July. If you’re based in Toronto, ticket dates will be announced at a later date – so keep looking out. 

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When the play returns to the stage across the US and Canada, it will be the same exciting story meticulously restaged by the show’s original creative team during lockdown. So, naturally, audiences will now only need one ticket to see the production in North America, at one performance during an afternoon or evening. And for those wondering – the equally thrilling original two-part production of *Cursed Child* will continue to run in London.

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Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said: “We are delighted to announce that *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*, which since its triumphant opening in New York and San Francisco has seen record breaking numbers of people spellbound by the wizardry on stage, will be returning in North America in a new, re-imagined version that audiences can see in one afternoon or evening.

This is an unprecedented moment in theatre history. After being closed for more than 15 months, almost all of Broadway and theatre across North America will return before the end of the year. Given the challenges of remounting and running a two-part show in the US on the scale of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*, and the commercial challenges faced by the theatre and tourism industries emerging from the global shutdowns, we are excited to be able to move forward with a new version of the play that allows audiences to enjoy the complete *Cursed Child* adventure in one sitting eight times a week.

*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* is already the longest-running two-part play in Broadway history. The new version of the play has the potential to thrill audiences for many years to come.

Though the global shutdowns were awful and devastating on so many levels, they afforded us, as theatre-makers, the rare opportunity to reunite with our award-winning creative team who fully embraced the challenge of creating a new single part version of the play that would be a compelling theatrical experience in its own right and stand shoulder to shoulder with the original two-part version. It’s been the most wonderful process of rediscovery to bring this new spectacle to life while still delivering all the amazing magic, illusions, stagecraft, and storytelling set around the same powerful narrative, that has enthralled audiences and critics alike.

Bringing Harry Potter to the stage to cast its spell on audiences in North America has been an extraordinary journey. We want to thank our creative team, associates, cast, crew, and all those who have tirelessly worked on the production for their unflagging support and commitment as we embark on the next leg of our journey.

*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* is a story about community, family, and the power of friendship, a story that reminds us that together and united we have the strength to overcome all odds. It’s a story of our time and we can’t wait to share this new version of our play with our amazing audiences in North America. We’ve missed you enormously and look forward to welcoming you back to Hogwarts. That’s the magic of the theatre—It’s every bit as alive as the portraits hanging on Hogwarts’ walls. Because for all of us… it’s time to believe in magic again.”

The show’s creators Jack Thorne and John Tiffany reflect: “We are incredibly excited to be returning to the US with this reimagined *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*. We've been working hard on this new version throughout lockdown and it's been a joyous process of rediscovery. It has given us a unique opportunity to look at the play with fresh eyes and we have been inspired by the entire creative team every step of the way.”

J.K. Rowling, who conceived the eighth Harry Potter story with Thorne and Tiffany added:

"Collaborating on *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* has been one of the great joys of my professional life. While no one would wish for what has happened over the last year, it has given Jack, John and the first-class creatives who first breathed life into the production the opportunity to revisit the play, and to find a new way to frame our story — with amazing illusions and some exquisite new staging— all the while keeping our original story intact.  I’m so proud to be associated with this new, reimagined version, and to be able to welcome back audiences to the Lyric, Curran and Ed Mirvish theatres."

Visit the [HarryPotterOnStage.com](https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/) to learn more about its triumphant return to the stage in North America. We can’t wait for those curtains. 

__For more news, features, quizzes and behind-the-scenes videos from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, [why not visit our hub?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/cursed-child-collection)__

The Australian production of Cursed Child reopens in Melbourne 

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__Main image: Evan Zimmerman__

Production had been suspended on the Australian production of Cursed Child for the past 11 months, after the effects of the Covid pandemic caused theatres across the country to close. Now, with new safety measures put in place, the show will go on. 

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Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender were ‘thrilled’ to bring the play back to Australian audiences.

‘Bringing *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* back to live audiences in Australia is an incredibly special and significant moment for us and the theatre community,’ they said. ‘The unprecedented nature of the past year has been hugely transformative for all of us and we need the opportunity for escapism. The power of art, performance, communal experiences and immersion into a magical story and world is something we need now, more than ever.’

‘Live theatre offers that release and has done for thousands of years - it’s a very powerful thing. We are thrilled to bring our beloved artists back to work and that fans in Melbourne are first to experience the return of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* to the stage globally. This moment gives us great hope and optimism for our other productions along with theatregoers and fans around the world. We are so excited to bring the magic back to the Princess Theatre in Melbourne.’

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__Imagery: Matthew Murphy__

And to learn how the cast and crew felt to be reuniting after such an unusual break, [read our report here. ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/cursed-child-australia-cast-reunited)

That’s not all, either. Further performances of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne will take place from Thursday 26th August through to Sunday 3rd of October 2021. Tickets for this particular run of shows will be released for sale at 11am on Friday the 12th of March 2021.

[Visit the official website for more details!](https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/?utm_source=Pottermore&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Pottermore%20Cursed%20Child%20Hub) And to learn more about the story itself, [visit our Cursed Child hub.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/cursed-child-collection)

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Cursed Child: The Journey - Extract Part 1, Music

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Inextricable from the music and choreography of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* is the music, and from the very start, director John Tiffany and movement director Steven Hoggett had the music of Imogen Heap in mind.

Heap had met Hoggett ten years earlier at Frantic Assembly, when he was directing a new play by Mark Ravenhill called pool (no water). “He wanted me to adapt music from an album I’d just released called Speak for Yourself,” she says. “It was a unique experience having him specifically ask to extend sections or change the timing of a piece.”

The Grammy-winning musician’s songs had been featured in films and on television, most notably the song “Hide and Seek,” from the Speak for Yourself album, which has been used in hundreds of iterations, from The O.C. to Saturday Night Live, to being sampled by Jason Derulo. Hoggett approached Heap about *Cursed Child*, and she was immediately happy to be involved.

Rather than asking Heap to compose an entirely new suite of music for the play, the production drew from her back catalog of instrumentals and the stems of songs. Stem files are a musical track split into four elements: for example, a drums stem, a bass line stem, a melody stem, and a vocal stem. For Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Tiffany estimates that 80 percent was already existing material by Heap. “But they might be different versions that were never released, or stems that we and Gareth Fry could play around with. Then Imogen would build the tracks back up for us.”

Heap joined the rest of the team at the workshops with her computer, headphones, and various plug-ins. As she watched and worked, Hoggett, Tiffany, or music supervisor and arranger Martin Lowe would pepper her with ideas. “So I’d say, ‘I’ve got stems for that,’ or ‘I haven’t and need to make them.’ I’d email my assistant, Alexis Michallek, back in my studio in Havering. I was on chat with him all the time, asking for the stems and if he could send them this way or tempo map them to that,” says Heap.

“Sometimes I’d have thirty different individual tracks for each song, which would have the different drums, the different strings, all the vocals with which I’d pick and choose what I wanted.”

Heap also worked with sound designer Gareth Fry and his team of Peter Malkin and music editor Phij Adams. Heap and Fry could riff off each other, sometimes working with a sound effect, sometimes working with a music cue.
For one scene transition, Fry chose to use the sound of a foghorn. “But he took it to the key of my music from the previous scene,” she remembers. “And then I took his sound and brought it into the music.” When music needed to match the sound effect of the Hogwarts Express gaining speed along its tracks, Heap took Fry’s work and mapped the drums in her music to follow the tempo of the train. It can be challenging to discern where a sound effect ends and music begins, or vice versa.

Hoggett and Heap's choices for the music often and unwittingly matched the original theme or lyrics of the piece. “For instance, the music behind the scene with Moaning Myrtle is from an original song called ‘Little Bird,’ where the lyric goes, ‘Little bird, little bird, what do you hear?’” says Heap. “And Moaning Myrtle hears everything in the pipes in the toilets.” Another is the use of her song “Aha!” behind the scene of Albus and Scorpius atop the Hogwarts Express, where they’re caught by the Trolley Witch. “That’s about catching somebody out when they do something that they say they won’t do,” she adds. Similarly “Lifeline”—the song chosen for the transitional scene across Albus’s first three years at Hogwarts—was selected for its rhythm and texture, not its lyrics, and yet it’s “about life before and after a moment in your life,” says Heap.

Rhythm and texture were key in finding the right piece of music for the Wand Dance, Heap’s “Cycle Song.” “I like the choice of the time signature of the song from Steven’s perspective,” says Heap. “The students are trying to figure out how to learn wand moves. And the song is a bit awkward—it’s not quite in time—so it was really fun to play with.”

This is an extract from *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Journey*.

*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Journey, by Jody Revenson, publishes on 31 October, 2019 in the UK and 5 November, 2019 in the US.*

To pre-order from different territories, follow these links: [UK](https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/harry-potter-theatrical-productions/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey/9780751576108/), [US](https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey-by-harry-potter-theatrical-productions/), [Aus](https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey-by-harry-potter-thea-productions-and-jody-revenson-9780751576108?cfclick=7f13bcf15eb243b0877563592683d084), [NZ](https://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/product/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey-6496752), [India](https://www.amazon.in/Harry-Potter-Cursed-Child-Award-Winning/dp/0751576107/) and [South Africa](https://www.takealot.com/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child/PLID56355835).

Cursed Child: The Journey - Extract Part 2, Magic

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Hermione and Ron kiss in the wake of a Dementor attack.

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What light switches and GPs are for Muggles, Deluminators and the Marauder’s Map are for the wizarding world.

Portraits that converse, papers that stack themselves, and traveling through fireplaces is a part of everyday life. The magical illusions performed in the course of the story of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* needed to be organic to that culture.

“The nature of this show is that it starts with a line of suitcases and the suitcases became a train carriage,” says illusion designer Jamie Harrison. “Staircases become bookcases. Arches become forests. The world of magic that we were to create needed to be a part of that world, to feel natural and human and handmade.”

Several years earlier, Harrison was invited to be a magic consultant on a production John Tiffany was directing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. The director had seen his work with Vox Motus, a Scottish theater company Harrison cofounded, which uses elements of illusion, puppetry, and magic effects in their productions.

“They’re not an add-on of wheeling a box onstage and suddenly we do a trick,” he explains. “What we do is create theater that uses magic as narrative.” Harrison worked again with Tiffany on Peter Pan at the National Theatre of Scotland, and when he heard rumors about Tiffany and a Harry Potter show, he was happy, scared, and amazed when Tiffany called him.

“The opportunity to be the guy who did the magic for Harry Potter? I literally went home and went through the books. Then the worry crept in—what’s he going to ask me to do?” Harrison decided that he was not going to hold back anything for fear of failure. “I said to myself, ‘You’re going to have to be really brave on this project because if we play it safe on Harry Potter, we’re never going to make anything different, we’re never going to do anything new.’ We needed to do things that could excite and create something special.” And Harrison did not want to let the fans down. As they began workshops for the show, Harrison brought on Chris Fisher as illusions associate. Harrison met Fisher during the illusions workshops for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and discovered they had a similar background in magic. “In terms of our job, you can’t get much bigger than being asked to do magic for Harry Potter!” Fisher says. “You literally don’t get a lot of opportunities like that.”

The magic of *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* is intricately intertwined with all other departments, and worked specially closely with movement director Steven Hoggett, who always reviewed what the actors were doing during an illusion. “Some of our illusions are really physical,” says Fisher. “You wouldn’t believe the stretching of the legs, all the contorting of the bodies. Because of his warm-ups, Steven gets the performers ready to do what they need to do.” Harrison explains, “For our illusions, actors would often have to do something that would look contrived if it was realized that they were about to do a trick. Steven helped normalize and naturalize these difficult moments.” Collaborations were also key with the other creative teams. “For example, there are specific moments in the show where the costume is vital, but the audience doesn’t know this,” Harrison explains.

“Characters can’t suddenly come on wearing a special costume that looks completely out of sync with others in the scene. In order to have that one moment work, we need to feed this costume idea through the whole show.” Often, dozens of prototypes and hours of discussion would pass between Harrison and Katrina Lindsay, or Harrison and Neil Austin or Gary Beestone until a resolution would be found. “There were times when you’re thinking, ‘I’m never going to make this work,’” says Harrison. “And it would be those times that Katrina or Neil or Gary would say, ‘Come on, we’re going to get this.’ We all knew that we needed to help each other.” From Polyjuice Potion to Pepper Imps telephone boxes to the Floo Network, representing the magic of Harry Potter’s world was a collaborative effort.

Spells and wandwork were no exception. While the script for *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child* was being written, production assistant Imogen Clare- Wood was asked to make a list of every spell that was used in the play and a description from the books of what each spell looked like. Jack Thorne looked to her for further specifics. “I remember Jack asking if I could give him a list of spells that would be used in a duel,” says Clare-Wood.

“What they do and what they are so he could figure out what to put in the duel between Harry and Draco.” Thorne used what was possible but also added to the inventory of wizard spells; for example, Fulgari, where a wizard’s wrists are bound by vicious, luminous cuffs, and Molliare, the cushioning charm Albus and Scorpius use when they leap off the Hogwarts Express. These were developed by Thorne, then named by Rowling. “I always tried to name them,” says Thorne with a smile, “but she always had something better.”

*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Journey, by Jody Revenson, publishes today in the UK and 5 November, 2019 in the US.*

To order from different territories, follow these links: [UK](https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/harry-potter-theatrical-productions/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey/9780751576108/), [US](https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey-by-harry-potter-theatrical-productions/), [Aus](https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey-by-harry-potter-thea-productions-and-jody-revenson-9780751576108?cfclick=7f13bcf15eb243b0877563592683d084), [NZ](https://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/product/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-the-journey-6496752), [India](https://www.amazon.in/Harry-Potter-Cursed-Child-Award-Winning/dp/0751576107/) and [South Africa](https://www.takealot.com/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child/PLID56355835).

Number Magic: Cursed Child edition

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Sorting Hat in Cursed Child on Broadway 2019

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How are your maths skills? Find out as you apply mathematics to magic in our latest puzzle - all about the Cursed Child! 

Play away...

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https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/numbermagic/20220402/0005" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Want even more puzzles? [You can play our crosswords and wordsearches in our puzzles collection. ](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles)

The Cursed Child crossword

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Harry with Albus on bed original cast - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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From the golden trio we know and love to the next Hogwarts generation... get cosy and try out our latest crossword all about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 

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[Visit our puzzles section to enjoy more challenges](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) or visit the Wizarding World app.

What would the younger golden trio think about their adult selves in Cursed Child?

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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## Harry probably felt as though he was living his dream… for the most part
When Harry was younger, the only profession that appealed to him was being an Auror… though you’d think he would have had enough of Dark wizards by the time he left school! Fortunately for him, he made it, and he even became the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. In terms of his career, he seemed to be living his dream. We imagine his younger self would have been rather pleased about that and all the exciting adventures he had. 

However, his job wasn’t the only thing we reckon Harry aspired to. After growing up without a mother and father, we imagine he would have desperately wanted a family of his own. Though the Dursleys were technically related to him, they never gave him the loving home he needed. Luckily, he managed to start creating his own family during his time at Hogwarts and that continued after he left. When we met him in *Cursed Child*, he was happily married to Ginny, and they had three wonderful children. 

However, that is not to say that that everything was perfect. Harry had real difficulty connecting with his son Albus and found he couldn’t truly escape the past. We think his younger self would probably roll their eyes at some of Harry’s bonding attempts and would be frustrated that his fame was one of things that caused friction with his child. Although, these hiccups aside, we are confident that Harry would be amazed at how his life unfolded.

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Harry, Ron and Hermione in the library together. Ron is holding the Golden Egg, Harry is sat by some books and Hermione is standing.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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## We’re not surprised that Hermione ended up as Minister for Magic… but she might be
Ok, so the cleverest witch of her age becoming Minister for Magic might seem like a forgone conclusion, but we doubt little Hermione would have been too happy. While Harry and Ron dreamt of becoming Dark wizard catchers, Hermione had other passions – remember S.P.E.W.? As she put it, she wanted ‘to do something worthwhile’ and saw working for the rights of house-elves as just that. Working for the Ministry wasn’t something that really appealed to her. In fact, she really wasn’t a big fan of it. When Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour asked her if she was planning to follow a career in Magical Law, she said ‘No I’m not… I’m hoping to do some good in the world!’ Oh, how things change. 

The Hermione we met in *Cursed Child*, might have held the top job in the institution that her younger self regarded so warily, but we have no doubt that she still managed to meet her childhood ambition of trying to make the wizarding world a better place. Now she was the one with the power, she could work on making the changes she felt it needed. 

We also think she would have been rather happy to hear that she and Ron had finally managed to stop bickering long enough to get married, have kids and share their life together. Though she worked long hours at the Ministry and couldn’t spend quite as much time with her family as she hoped, ultimately, we feel that her younger self would be rather happy with where they ended up. She was definitely someone her kids could be proud of.

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Hermione, Ron and Harry in front of a bookcase, from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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## Ron’s aspirations changed in his adult life… but that’s not a bad thing
In their fifth year at Hogwarts, when Harry asked Ron what he wanted to do after he left school, he sheepishly replied that he would like to be an Auror. And he was for a while – but that soon changed. After a stint at the Ministry, Ron left to help his brother George run Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. We imagine that after years of fighting Voldemort and his followers, Ron was happy to help his brother and bring joy to the wizarding world. 

Now we believe that Ron’s younger self might have initially been a bit annoyed that Harry and Hermione both ended up with powerful jobs and he didn’t follow suit – especially with his insecurities about being overlooked. However, we reckon he would come to appreciate how his aspirations evolved and would realise that he wasn’t in anyone else’s shadow. 

Ron in *Cursed Child* seemed to be pretty content. He had really found his feet as a father, had not lost his sense of humour and enjoyed entertaining the next generation (Lily Potter in particular seemed to really look up to her Uncle Ron). As an excellent dad, he didn’t appear to have many anxieties about his relationship with his kids. He also seemed to be a perfect fit for Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and enjoyed using the products they sold. His marriage to Hermione was strong and he even seemed to be a bit of a romantic – what with his desire to renew their vows (so he *does* have an emotional range bigger than a teaspoon). Overall, Ron was thriving when we saw him as an adult. We figure that if his younger self saw how happy he was, they would completely understand the path he chose.

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

Complete the quote quiz: Delphi Diggory edition

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I’m a thief of course. I’m about to steal everything you own. Give me your gold, your wand and your ______! 

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Ah. Have I ______? It’s what they used to say about me at school. Delphini Diggory – there isn’t a hole she couldn’t dig herself into. 

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I can think of one reason why you should trust them, Uncle. They’re the only ones ______.  

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And – didn’t you say yourself – having someone inside ______ might be a massive advantage? 

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Consider us warned. It doesn’t taste of ______. Actually it tastes quite pleasant, yum.  

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I was ______– and then something clicked. And it will for you too.  

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Of course I’m sticking around, we’re ______ aren’t we?

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The mysterious Delphi Diggory caused quite the stir in Cursed Child. Can you remember what this curious witch had to say for herself? 

What do you know about the next wizarding generation?

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Hogwarts students of all houses gathered together shouting and cheering, some are holding banners.

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Which of these sweets did Scorpius not offer Rose and Albus on their first journey on the Hogwarts Express? 

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At the start of their fourth year, what does Scorpius say Rose smells of? 

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Which of Harry’s children was given his Invisibility Cloak? 

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Who was (falsely) rumoured to be Scorpius’ real father? 

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In which year did Rose make the Gryffindor Quidditch team? 

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And what position did she play? 

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Who did Albus disguise himself as when he breaks into the Ministry of Magic? 

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The younger generation of witches and wizards certainly made an impression in Cursed Child.  From Scorpius to Albus to Rose, can you recall what they got up to?

All the things we've learnt about the next generation of witches and wizards in Cursed Child

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Albus, Rose and Scorpius - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Melbourne

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## Rose’s Quidditch skills probably came from her Weasley side
While Rose Granger-Weasley had a lot of traits that she shared with her mother, Hermione (more on that later), one thing that seemed to come from her Weasley side was her skill at Quidditch. When Rose had her first flying lesson, she just had to yell ‘Up’ once, and her broomstick went sailing into her hand. This is in direct contrast to Hermione’s first flying lesson where her broomstick just rolled around on the ground. Rose was so talented that like Ron, Fred, George, Charlie and Ginny before her, she made her mark as a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team – where she was a Chaser. So, while her intelligence might have been all Granger, her sporting prowess was all Weasley.

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Cast 3: Ron Hermione and Rose 

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## Though she was very like her mother 
As we mentioned previously, Rose did share quite a few similarities with her mother. As Hermione revealed to Harry and Ginny, as they waved Albus and Rose off for their first year at Hogwarts, Rose was already concerned with how quickly she would be allowed to take her O.W.L.s.! Her ambition and her drive to be the best was so Hermione. And just like her mother, we can imagine Rose going on to do some great things too.

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## James seemed to be very like his grandfather
James Potter’s name suited him to a tee. He was very like his grandfather (and namesake) the original James Potter. Both James’s were self-assured with a mischievous streak. Everything seemed to come easily to James, and he breezed through his time at Hogwarts with confidence – which feels quite reminiscent of his grandfather. He also seemed to share his love for Quidditch… his trunk combination being the day he got his first broom. They also had a shared sense of humour. James seemed to take great pleasure in winding up his little brother Albus, from his teasing about Thestrals to his jokes about being sorted into Slytherin. And we can just imagine that if Harry’s dad had a sibling, he would’ve treated him this way too.

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## Scorpius was a nerd and proud
Poor Scorpius had a rough time of it. Not only did his mother pass away but he was also rumoured to be the son of Voldemort. To top it all off, his relationship with his former Death Eater father was often strained. However, none of that stopped Scorpius from fully embracing who he was. He was a nerd and proud of it. He focussed all of his Slytherin ambition into his studies and was an avid bookworm. When Albus and Scorpius broke into Hermione’s office and caught a glimpse of her book collection – he was in awe. Albus also recognised how much Scorpius loved books and even joked that a good way to take Scorpius’s mind off difficult emotional issues was to take him to the library.

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Scorpius Malfoy Cursed Child 2019

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## He also had a sweet tooth 
One other interesting thing about Scorpius was his sweet tooth. He enjoyed everything from fizzing Whizzbees to Pepper Imps. Scorpius took his mother’s advice that sweets ‘always help you make friends’ and brought an impressive collection with him on the Hogwarts Express. And while he struggled to win Rose over with his collection of yummy goodies, it was how he and Albus first bonded.

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## Albus struggled with being Harry’s son
If there is one thing that stuck out about Albus, it was the issues he had with being his father’s son. Unlike his other two siblings, James and Lily, Albus struggled with the fact he had a famous father and would lash out as a result. In many ways he was actually the most similar to Harry. Both of them were reluctant heroes who found it difficult to find their place in the world. He certainly had adventures that rivalled Harry’s, from jumping from the Hogwarts Express to changing the course of history. In some ways it could be said that they were too similar and that’s why they struggled to get on with each other. Luckily, by the end of the story, the two of them had begun to reconnect and heal their relationship.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Playwright Jack Thorne and Director John Tiffany, the record-breaking and award-winning stage production is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. 

The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Collection

Welcome to the Cursed Child Collection, where you can experience the award-winning play digitally, through exclusive videos, quizzes and features. The eighth Harry Potter story introduces you to the next generation of Hogwarts students, with some shocking twists along the way. Enjoy the magic behind the scenes of the play and explore its conception from page to stage.

Explore the Eighth Story

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child trailer

A trip back in time with the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child artwork: from then to now

Features & quizzes

Number Magic: Cursed Child edition

The Cursed Child crossword

What would the younger golden trio think about their adult selves in Cursed Child?

Complete the quote quiz: Delphi Diggory edition

What do you know about the next wizarding generation?

What would the younger golden trio think about their adult selves in Cursed Child?

All the things we've learnt about the next generation of witches and wizards in Cursed Child