With the opening (or rather the start of previews) of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child only a week away, excitement is really starting to mount in the Potterhead camp. The Arcade reported back in October that what was quickly considered the ‘eight harry potter story’ was to begin previews in London on June 7 2016. With this date coming close, Pottermore has revealed the latest of its behind-the-scenes images from the stage play, this time some sweet family portraits of a now much older Harry Potter, his wife Ginny Potter nee Weasley and their son, and the central figure of the play, Albus Severus Potter.
It is astounding how the production team have managed to keep so much under wraps, only revealing minimal things since the original announcement last year. Through Twitter and Pottermore they have shared only snatches of costumes, wand design and one pillar at Hogwarts. Other posts show the Palace Theatre front facade along of course with casting details for only the major players in the story. Theories have undoubtedly sprung up on the internet, but as we reported in October, only a basic synopsis was released.
Along with these new images, JK Rowling has given her approval of the play’s Harry, Ginny and Albus Severus:
J.K. Rowling on Jamie Parker as Harry Potter:
‘He simply is Harry now. There’s a kind of relief in watching him, he gets it so right.’
J.K. Rowling on Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter:
‘ I think a lot of people would like to have Poppy’s Ginny for a mother. Kind and cool, exactly as I imagined her.’
J.K. Rowling on Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter:
’There’s much I could say about Sam-as-Albus, but we’d be into spoiler territory so quickly I’ll just say we couldn’t have cast better.’
The play is currently set to preview until the grand opening on Harry’s birthday on July 31 with an extended run until May27 2017, which is now sold out. The Friday Forty project however releases a set amount of tickets for £40 every week, which will start next week.
The script of the play is now available to pre-order and will be released in book form on July 31.
-Niamh Ennis
