Whether you are a purist loathing that the original four-act experience is being cut in half, or are excited that the barrier to seeing the show is much lower, what we do know is that come May 2022, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will look very different in Australia – with the opening of the show’s two-act, ‘Magic Reimagined’ version, which originally debuted on Broadway. With the final performance of the original version concluding a month from today, questions are afloat about who will be portraying whom once the new version commences. Michael Cassel Group, Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions has confirmed a cast list comprising of familiar faces and newcomers to the production.
Returning performers include Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Michael Whalley as Ron Weasley, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Ben Walter as Albus Potter, Nyx Calder as Scorpius Malfoy, Aisha Aidara as Rose Granger-Weasley/Young Hermione and Jessica Vickers as Delphi Diggory.
The veterans will be joined on-stage by newcomers including Lachlan Woods as Draco Malfoy. The reimagined production will also debut all-new magical aerialist performers Bailey Nathan-Park, Britney Unmack, Daniel Price and Brooke MacRae. Seven new ensemble members and swings will be joining the Australian company, including Guy Langford, Jeremiah Wray, Andy Conaghan, Shannon Foley, Effie Nkrumah, Tamara Bailey, and Mark Doggett.
The company will be completed by Michael Bani, George Henare, David Ross Paterson, Natasha Herbert, Tom Russell, Axel Duffy, Abdul Min Muhaimin, Matt Holly, Hannah Fredericksen, Luke Clayson, Naomi Rukavina, Katie-Jean Harding, Damien Avery, Connor Sweeney, Harrison Riley and Gabriella Barbagallo – for a total of 36 performers.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter canon and the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany. The show features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison and music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe. International Casting Consultant is Jim Carnahan (CSA) and Australian casting by Janine Snape (CGA).
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child remains a fixture at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, with no indication towards it ever touring to any other Australian state in the future.