A spoiler-free rundown of everything we know about the new 'Harry Potter' play

Harry potter and the cursed child
The first thing fans see during "Harry Potter and The Cursed Child." Barbara Tasch/Business Insider

The eighth installment of the "Harry Potter" series — a two-part play written by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany titled "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" — has finally debuted to the public. 

Advertisement

And while spoilers of the entire play’s contents have leaked, we figured some fans who didn’t want spoilers would like a general walk-through of everything we know about the play and what you can expect.

Here’s everything you need to know about the play, free of spoilers.

Advertisement

It will take you a long time to watch the entire play.

harry potter play cast
The cast of "Harry Potter and The Cursed Child." Harry Potter The Play/Simon Annand

The play is being produced in two parts. Not two acts — two separate parts.

As a result, fans must purchase two tickets to two different shows on different days, or you can purchase a Wednesday matinee and Wednesday evening performance where you can watch Part One and Part Two in one epic sitting.

Find out more info about how to see both parts on the Harry Potter Play website.

It starts during the time period where the seventh book left off — 19 years after Voldemort’s death and Harry’s victory.

harry potter and albus potter deathly hallows
Warner Brothers

Remember the epilogue of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”? That scene with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco Malfoy’s children going off to Hogwarts is at the very start of the play.

Advertisement

The play will center around Harry and Ginny’s middle son Albus Severus Potter and Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpius.

l r Harry Potter (Jamie Parker), Albus Potter (Sam Clemmett), Ginny Potter (Poppy Miller)
Harry and Ginny with their middle son, Albus. Harry Potter Theatrical Productions

Albus, Scorpius, and Harry will be the main characters within the play, in addition to some other old favorites.

Here’s the synopsis from Pottermore:

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.

Ron, Hermione, Draco, and quite a few other familiar faces will also appear in the cast. You can see what some of the stage actors look like compared to their movie counterparts here.

We know parts of the play take place at Hogwarts, as you can tell by this picture from the Harry Potter play Twitter account.

Harry Potter Play
A scene from the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" play. Harry Potter Play/Twitter

Maybe we’ll even get to see a sorting ceremony!

Advertisement

Musician Imogen Heap did the music, and it’s said to be incredible.

Imogen Heap Grammy 2007
Imogen Heap at the 2014 Grammy Awards. Associated Press

Fans were raving about the music, saying that it’s a bit more fun and less somber and serious than the original "Harry Potter" score.

Get excited!

Advertisement

The magic special effects are said to be fantastic.

harry potter
Warner Brothers

Another rave review from fans has been how the playwrights and director were able to bring magic to the stage.

Given how wonderful the special effects from the movies still are today, we’re quite excited by this prospect.

Advertisement

There are live owls!

Eastern Screech owl
Eastern Screech owl Don Chernoff/DC Wild

Barbara Tasch, a Business Insider UK reporter, was in the audience of the first preview shows and said that one of the live owls got loose during the preview.

The preview's only malfunction was the owl (yes, there is a live owl delivering messages in the theatre) getting away and refusing to return to its handler for a while,” she wrote.

Who knows how long training those owls took.

If you don’t get to see it live, you’ll get to read the script come July.

Reading Harry potter
Lisa Maree Williams/Getty

”Cursed Child" is the first Potter play ever and it will officially premiere on July 30 and the script will be published on July 31, Harry Potter’s birthday.

Harry Potter
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.