Big change coming to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has announced a major change to the hit play in the hopes of enticing even more crowds to the show.

Broadway and West End powerbrokers are coming to Melbourne to reshape Harry Potter and the Cursed Child into a one show spectacular.

British director John Tiffany, who directed the Potter plays in London and New York, and choreographer Steven Hoggett, will move into the Princess Theatre at the end of March to start rehearsals on a reimagined version of the magical masterpiece.

The show’s Broadway and West End producers Colin Callender and Sonia Friedman will visit when the Potter reboot premieres in Melbourne, as an Australian exclusive, in May.

Michael Cassel, the show’s Australian producer, says the personal involvement of Tiffany, Hoggett, Callender and Friedman signals an “incredible commitment … and love and affection for Melbourne.”

Mr Cassel added: “Our company (of cast and creatives in Potter) has really stood strong and met every challenge that’s come their way. But (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) is a Melbourne icon, and it’s cemented itself as Melbourne’s own”.

A scene from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Picture: Jeff Busby.

Potter, which opened in Melbourne three years ago, will be staged in its original form, across two separate shows with a total running time of five hours, until March 27.

Then the 36-strong cast will go into rehearsals.

The condensed version of the show, remodelled by authors Tiffany, JK Rowling and Jack Thorne, has already opened on Broadway, and will start previews at the Princess Theatre on May 4.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Reimagined is staged as one show, in two halves, clocking in at three-and-a-half hours.

Mr Callender said the pandemic forced a rethink to make Potter more affordable and accessible to audiences.

Cast members Aisha Aidara and Ben Walter. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Most cuts are from the first show of the original version, including young Harry Potter, fan favourite Rubeus Hagrid, and slow-burning scenes between adult Potter and son Albus and early moments at wizard school Hogwarts between Albus and new friend Scorpius Malfoy.

Mr Callender said the “fundamental rule” for the condensed version was to keep “all the illusions, the magic, the special effects,” and powerful themes of family and friendship intact.

He added: “At the core of the play is the story of a father and son, and a story of two boys, their friendship, and what it means to them.”

Mr Cassel hopes Potter magic extends to Melbourne getting its sparkle back.

He said: “My job is to focus on the future, create opportunities and be optimistic, and we extend that to our great responsibility of bringing people back to the CBD.

“From a Potter perspective, we take that really seriously,” Mr Cassel said. “Melbourne has given us so much in terms of welcoming and embracing us. We need to give back.”

New tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Reimagined, are available from ticketek.com.au