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Wednesday, 16 October 2024

New Cast Joins Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre

The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender, and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions—are thrilled to welcome a new cast that begins performances at the Palace Theatre this week. This acclaimed, multi-award-winning London production continues to enchant audiences, with bookings now open until 29 June 2025.

The new cast features Claire Lams as Ginny Potter, alongside David Ricardo-Pearce reprising his role as Harry Potter and Ellis Rae returning as their son Albus Potter. Eve de Leon Allen will make her debut as Rose Granger-Weasley, daughter of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, with Thomas Aldridge and Jade Ogugua continuing in their roles as Ron and Hermione, respectively. Steve John Shepherd remains as Draco Malfoy, joined by Harry Acklowe as his son Scorpius Malfoy.

In addition to the core cast, the ensemble includes Ishmail Aaron, David Annen, Nicole-Lily Baisden, Sabina Cameron, Rob Curtis, Zijuan Elsol, Gabriel Fleary, Rory Fraser, Tim Hibberd, Sally Jayne Hind, Max Hunter, Dewayne Jameson Adams, Emma Louise Jones, Julia Kass, Debra Lawrance, Tasha Lim, Matty Loane, Sophie Matthew, Jaden Oshenye, Helen Power, Jocelyn Prah, Conor Quinn, Ian Redford, Catherine Russell, Martin de los Santos, Adam Slynn, Benjamin Stratton, Alex Tomkins, Jake Tuesley, Sam Varley and Katie Wimpenny. Oliver Dawson, Layla Duke, Aubrey Hayes, Rhiannon Parry, Aljosa Radosavljevic, Sienna Sibley and Ethan Webster alternate two children’s roles.

Set 19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s legendary battle against dark forces, this new chapter invites audiences to join them on an extraordinary adventure with a brave new generation arriving at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Spectacular spells, a breathtaking race through time, and an epic showdown against mysterious forces await as the characters grapple with the weight of the future.

Tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are currently available, with prices starting at £15 per part. The regular performance schedule is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday—no performance; Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 PM for Part One and 7 PM for Part Two; and Sunday at 1 PM for Part One and 6 PM for Part Two. Access performances are scheduled, including an Audio Described show on Saturday, 9 November 2024, and a Captioned Performance on Saturday, 16 November 2024, with more access performances planned for 2025.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the first story from the Harry Potter universe to be adapted for the stage and serves as the eighth story in the series. Now in its ninth year at the Palace Theatre, the production has captivated over 1.7 million people in the West End and over 11 million globally, boasting an impressive collection of 60 major awards, including nine Laurence Olivier Awards and six Tony Awards for Best New Play. Currently, there are five productions running worldwide, including those in New York, Hamburg, and Tokyo. A North American tour began in September at Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre and will move to Los Angeles’ Hollywood Pantages from February to June 2025, before continuing to Washington DC’s Broadway At The National starting on 8 July 2025.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is crafted into a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany, featuring movement by Steven Hoggett, set design by Christine Jones, and an impressive array of creative talents including Imogen Heap, Neil Austin, and Jamie Harrison. Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender, and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, this magical experience continues to be a must-see event for fans of all ages.

photo credit: Manuel Harlan

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Wednesday, 22 May 2019

Vincent River, Trafalgar Studios | Review

Vincent River

Trafalgar Studios

Reviewed on Tuesday 21st May 2019 by Olivia Mitchell

★★★★

Vincent River written by Philip Ridley is a thought-provoking, highly-moving play which focusses on hate crime in the LGBTQ+ community whilst delicately and truthfully studying grief. Premiering almost 20 years ago, it's striking how relevant this play remains.

A teenage boy dressed in all black with an eye the colour of coal to match it turns up at a grieving mother's flat. Davey has been following Anita for weeks from a distance. But she's spotted him. He's the boy who discovered her son's dead body. She welcomes him in and it's clear the pair have a lot to discuss.

Ridley's fast-paced text allows both actors to bounce off one another, whilst embodying their own sense of ambivalence. Louise Jameson is a master of nuance. The wrenching emotions within her are delicately contrasted by her motherly figure as she supports Davey and his own struggle. Her raw grief and guilt is portrayed in an utterly truthful way which makes this already devastating story, even more traumatic.

With his South London accent, Thomas Mahy is both commanding and vulnerable. His evident denial is portrayed in a very different way to Jameson which makes the pair's discussions even more striking as the balance tips between them.

Robert Chevara directs a supremely subtle show which emphasises humour as well as horror. Ridley's writing moves from poetic to brutal as if they're entwined together and creates a play which enthralls throughout.

This is a devastatingly beautiful play which is performed so well by two nuanced actors. Fast paced, aggressive sections are perfectly contrasted by moments of unspoken emotion which cut to the core and evoke feelings of heart-break but also glimmers of hope.

Vincent River runs at Trafalgar Studios until June 22nd

photo credit: Scott Rylander

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Saturday, 24 March 2018

Vincent River, Park Theatre | Review

Vincent River

Park Theatre

Reviewed on Friday 23rd March 2018 by Nicola Louise

★★★★

Hate crimes are unfortunately, still prevalent in the LGBTQ+ community; Vincent River portrays the aftermath of these horrific events.

Set in a flat in East London, the play centers around two characters, Anita and Davey. At first it’s quite hard to establish the connection the two share but that just adds to the emotions of both people on stage.

Anita (Louise Jameson), a grieving mother who lost her child, Vincent, in an awful way. He was found beaten and dead in a hot spot known for gay activities. Anita hides her hurt well, clearly in denial. She also attempts to hide the fact her child was gay, something she didn't want to face during or after his life.

Davey (Thomas Mahy) is the character who walks into Anita’s life- he was the one who found Vincent. When this comes into light Anita wants to know more. She want’s to know what he was doing there and how he came across her child’s body.

The show will take you on an emotional journey and I struggled to keep my tears in at various points.

Both actors portrayed the emotions of love and hate very well and by the end I found myself just wanting them to be friends and to bond over the loss they both endured.

My only issue with this show is with the character Davey. I felt the director and the actor tried so hard to stereotype young men in East London, down from the way he spoke to the way he acted when Anita asked him questions. His anger is justified but there were a couple of lines where I was left wondering why he burst out into anger like that.

Vincent River, written by Phillip Ridley is a new and refreshing play focusing on the plight of hate crime on the LGBTQ+ community and it’s an eye opening, emotional piece of theatre. At only 80 minutes long you don’t find yourself looking at your watch, you’re hooked on every word the actor is saying, wanting to know more, wanting to see how the story unravels.

Vincent River is at the Park Theatre until the 14th April.

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