Harry Potter play star Paula Arundell says she will be ‘heartbroken’ to perform in Melbourne for the final time

The final Melbourne performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been confirmed after a record-breaking spell, with organisers planning a fitting farewell.

Melbourne’s blockbuster play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will cast its last magic spell at the Princess Theatre in July.

The record-breaking show, with more than 1 million tickets sold, and 1300 performances, making it the longest running play in Australian history, has played in Spring St for four years.

The cast, including leads Gareth Reeves (Harry Potter) and Paula Arundell (Hermione Granger), and crew, will take their final bow on July 9.

“I’ve got this goal in mind, to stride confidently across the finish line, and not crawl,” Reeves told the Herald Sun.

“I’m thinking strategically, and selfishly, about how to stay in one piece. The phantom lines from the old two part version of the show have started appearing out of nowhere in my head, which means I’ve been thinking about the beginning as we near the end.”

Harry Potter leads Gareth Reeves and Paula Arundell bid farewell to the Princess Theatre. Picture: Mark Stewart

Arundell added: “Its not just us leaving, it’s an uprooting, a finality of something that is part of Melbourne lore. It’s going to incredibly overwhelming. I’ll be heartbroken.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened at the Princess Theatre as a two-part, five-hour show on February 23, 2019. The Princess got a $6 million makeover to accommodate the show’s massive production and special effects.

Significantly, in another coup for Australia’s culture capital, Melbourne was the third city in the world, outside London and New York, to stage the Potter play.

Potter’s West End and Broadway producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender paid tribute to Melbourne’s phenomenal run on Sunday.

“Melbourne has such a rich culture of arts and theatre and we want to thank the Australian

audiences for embracing our play,” Callender said.

“Heartfelt thanks to our cast, company and creative team for getting us to this milestone and coming on this incredible journey with us.”

Friedman added: “We are extremely proud of our Melbourne production and to be the longest running play in the history of Australia is an extraordinary achievement. We look forward to an amazing final five months in this glorious city.”

Potter survived the pandemic and was the first production of the play globally to reopen in February, 2021. In May last year, the play was a restaged as a one-part, three-hour show.

The play’s Australian executive producer, Michael Cassel, said: “Melbourne has been an incredible home for Harry Potter. All good things must come to an end, and after an incredible four years it is time for the most spectacular production Australia has ever seen to play to its final audiences. I know they will ensure the show has a memorable farewell.”

Victoria’s Major Events Minister, Steve Dimopoulos said Potter delivered “major benefits to our economy, with hotels, restaurants and retailers all getting a boost.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will not tour to other Australian cities after the curtain falls in Melbourne. New tickets will be released on Monday marking the last chance for audiences to see the play in Australia.