J.K. Rowling: ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’ Script Is The Eighth Book
A new two-part play, titled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, is actually the eighth story in the series and is set 19 years after The Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling revealed in a synopsis released Oct. 23rd on Pottermore.com.
So now you know it really isn't a prequel: Harry Potter & the #CursedChild starts #19yearslater! Go to @HPPlayLDN for more information.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 23, 2015
Written by Jack Thorne in collaboration with J.K. Rowling and directed by Olivier and Tony award-winner John Tiffany, the play tells the story of adult Harry Potter and his tumultuous relationship with his youngest son Albus. According to the synopsis, a middle-aged Harry is seen struggling to find a work-life balance as Albus feels unwanted pressure due to his birthright.
“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.”
The last time fans got to see Harry in action, he was waving to his three sons at the famed Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, but now Cursed Child gives us the first glimpse into Potter’s life as an adult as he juggles the roles of husband, father and overworked employee at the Ministry of Magic.
According to a statement on Pottermore.com, Rowling, Thorne and Tiffany were excited to “explore Harry’s world in a brand new way” via the live theater format. Rowling went on to say that the team of people who collaborated on the project were key to its creation.
“The story only exists because the right group of people came together with a brilliant idea about how to present Harry Potter on stage. I’m confident that when audiences see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child they will understand why we chose to tell this story in this way.”
According to Tech Times, the production has yet to reveal who will appear in the play, but the cast will consist of 30 actors. According to what Rowling called the “epic nature” of the new Harry Potter play, it was divided into two parts, which gives audiences the option to watch the entire show in either one or two sittings.
In addition to a Tony and an Olivier, Tiffany has also snagged a Drama Desk and an Obie award. Now he’s taken one of the world’s largest literary franchises and is busy bringing Harry Potter back to life in the theatre; a process that even has him feeling a bit star struck.
“I have never experienced anything like this. People are so stoked up about it. I’m conscious of bringing the fans what they love, doing this story justice and exploring the psychology of a grown-up Harry Potter with the same epic sweep as the books and films, but in a different way.”
Thorne, a world-class wordsmith, is also a big fan of the Harry Potter books and of Rowling as a writer. Indeed he must have been, for her to entrust him with the epic job. He told Pottermore.com that the whole thing still feels a bit surreal.
“Sometimes I can’t believe it; the idea that we have written the eighth story of Harry Potter. The whole time, I’ve felt this great responsibility to the previous seven stories. Theatre is very different to film; we’ve had to find our own way into the stories. We are starting to see it all come together in workshops now and it’s just wonderful.”
The eighth story in the series will be presented at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End next summer, with the opening performances of Part One and Part Two scheduled for Saturday, July 30, 2016. Tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. GMT Wednesday, Oct. 28 on a first-come-first-served basis for everyone who has pre-registered for priority booking at www.HarryPotterthePlay.com. Tickets will be available for the general public at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
[Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images]
