Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by BookScouter

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the eighth installment in J.K. Rowling’s well-known series, opens at the Palace Theatre in London on July 30, 2016. That’s one month away! Fans were surprised to learn Harry Potter’s story would be told as a play, but Rowling said, “I am confident that when audiences see the play they will agree that it was the only proper medium for the story.”

The play is split into two parts, much like the Deathly Hallows movies. It’s meant to be viewed twice in one day, as a matinee and evening show, or on two consecutive evenings. Two nights of tickets mean twice the cost, a revelation that angered many people. For me, the more Harry Potter, the better.

As a No-maj, I will not be attending, so I’m perfectly content. Apparently, people got over their initial anger because 175,000 tickets sold within 24 hours, making it more popular than “Hamilton.” Not bad for only being the first round of ticket sales.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Book

For those of us who can’t afford a trip to the West End for this production, our eyes move to the next day, July 31st, the release date for the hardback edition of the script. Please note the significance of the date: it’s the birthday of both Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling.

Pre-orders for the script on Amazon and Watermark reached number one within a week of the hardback edition’s announcement. Jack Thorne, NOT J.K. Rowling wrote the book. Not to worry, Jack Thorne is a veteran writer in the UK, writing for plays, television series, and movies. J.K. Rowling helped him story-board the plot as a co-author.

Plot Synopsis

Set 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, the play follows the story of Harry’s youngest son Albus Severus Potter. The official website for the play provides a synopsis.

“It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. 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.”

Rowling promises insight into the lives of Lily and James Potter, as well as Harry’s early life on Privet Drive in this new installment. Hopefully, the sequel answers many burning questions from the first seven books. Fans are thrilled to see the lives of the next generation of witches and wizards.

For those of you who can’t get enough, countless backstage information from videos and blogs give us a glimpse of the next era in the world of Harry Potter. Take a look at the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child website and Pottermore for exclusive interviews.