Header Image: The Australian company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo by Matt Murphy
2020 proved to be a tough year for the Australian (and worldwide) performing arts industries, as COVID-19 necessitated shutdowns of virtually all venues. After all, with a virus as transmissible as the coronavirus, during its peak, an indoor venue with people from various communities ran the risk of being a breeding ground for new cases. But after 49 weeks, another major production is returning to Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in the form of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Performances have commenced as of this evening.
Performances may be hard to get into initially, given the number of rescheduled tickets that the producers have had to arrange for those booked during the 2020 season. However, at 11am on Friday 12 March 2021, tickets will go on-sale for performances from Thursday 26 August 2021 through to Sunday 3 October 2021. Tickets for these performances (and all future performances) can be booked by clicking HERE.
For those who are waiting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to travel interstate, the producers have reinforced that Melbourne will be the exclusive host-city for the production.
The Australian cast for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child includes 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. They are joined on-stage by an extensive cast of ensemble performers and stage magic that I am not sure isn’t actual magic…
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter franchise and the first official tale to be presented on a format outside of novel or film. The play was created by Jack Thorne together with J.K. Rowling and direction by John Tiffany. It is split up into two parts, and are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings. The Australian performance schedule is below, which each part priced from $65.00 – although better seating reserves will be considerably more expensive.
Performance Schedule
The regular performance schedule (excluding variations due to public holidays) will be:
Monday – no performance
Tuesday – no performance
Wednesday – 2:00 PM Part One & 7:30 PM Part Two
Thursday – 7:30 PM Part One
Friday – 7:30 PM Part Two
Saturday – 2:00 PM Part One & 7:30 PM Part Two
Sunday – 2:00 PM Part One & 7:30 PM Part Two
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. 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
Producers Sonia Friedman (London) and Colin Callender (New York)
Today is an incredibly special day not only for the extended global Harry Potter family, but for each and every member of the Australian Production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We want to thank them for their determination and resolve in returning this beautiful story to the Princess Theatre stage. Thanks must also go to The Victorian Government and our partners Visit Victoria for their unwavering support and to Marriner Theatres for steering our COVID safe return. And finally, our audiences, who have stuck with us through these extraordinary times. Our best way of thanking you is to from tonight, with great pleasure, welcome you back to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Michael Cassel – Australian Executive Producer
