We recently saw the magical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre. I don’t know why it took us so long to see this, but boy, we are so glad we finally did.
The much acclaimed show began in Melbourne four years ago as a two-part play of 6 hours, seen over two days. Last year it returned to the stage as a condensed single sitting 3 and a half hour show, with an interval. The previous format required a much larger commitment in terms of time, cost and commitment over 2 days. When this changed to a one show sitting, it became much more do-able. Having said that, everyone I know who saw the long version loved it so much.
The show has had a record breaking run with over a million tickets sold over the years, and many awards collected along the way, and with good reason. From start to finish it had us spellbound with all the magic that effortlessly entwines with the story. You won’t believe your eyes as spells and tricks come to life on the stage.
We won’t spoil it for you with details, but this is not a condensed version of the Harry Potter books in one sitting. This story is set 19 years after Harry, Hermione and Ron saved the ‘wizarding world’. Therefore you don’t even have to be a Harry Potter fan to see this and appreciate this theatrical masterpiece. For fans though, it is a wonderful re-visit of favourite well known characters from the books.
The sets are amazing and make you feel as though you are transported into the world of Hogwarts. The Princess Theatre is set up specifically for the show and the atmosphere is wonderful. During the show, kids (and plenty of adults too) “Oooh” and “Aaah” when surprising moments mesmerised them.
As mentioned before, the total running time is 3 and a half hours, including an interval. This should give you an idea of whether or not this will suit your child. There is a lot of darkness and scary scenes that won’t suit some younger audiences.
The storyline is a bit complicated but the show is not for young kids anyway. Kids under 4 are not permitted due to the length of the show and the impact of some scenes, and it is not recommended for children under 8 years old.
One of our group, a 15 year old teen, saw it for the second time. He couldn’t wait to see it again, and loved it just as much as the first time he saw it a year ago. The fact that it’s not a musical, seems to please the teenage boys more. It’s a really fantastic experience for those who just aren’t keen on musicals.
TIP: As with many of these older theatres, there are not enough toilets, so be prepared for a long line up at the female toilets during interval. Please note that most people queue for the lower toilets but there are also toilets on the second level – these may be a little less busy as not as many people realise they are there. A friend also went to the pub nearby instead, and was there and back again a lot faster than those of us who lined up in the long toilet line.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a must see for any Harry Potter fan, and any theatre lover. It really is magical and will have you mesmerised from start to finish.
This is only showing in Melbourne and is planned to finish up on 9 July 2023, so there’s not too much time left to see it. It is leaving Australia for now. If your kids have school holidays starting early it would be worth going that first week; for others the last weekend of the show is the first weekend of our school holidays. If you have younger kids, go to a matinee – the 7pm show won’t finish until 10.30pm so it’s a late night.
See the Harry Potter Melbourne website here for details
What: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Theatre Show
When: Until 9 July 2023
Where: Princess Theatre | 163 Spring Street, Melbourne
Who: Harry Potter fans
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: All photos by Play & Go
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