Guide to seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne

Everything you need to know to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne

What is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child about?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set 19 years after the final book in the Harry Potter series. The play follows Harry’s youngest son, Albus Severus Potter, through his schooling years at Hogwarts as he grapples with his family’s fame, his sorting into Slytherin House, and his friendship with Scorpius Malfoy: the son of Harry’s old enemy Draco.

Is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child suitable for children?

While tweens and teens will love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the production is not recommended for children under 12 years old. Children under 4 years old are not permitted into the show due to the scary nature of some scenes. If you are bringing a young child over 4 years old, please note that prams, pushers and strollers are not permitted into the venue. In addition, all children under 15 years old must be accompanied by an adult into the theatre.

What’s different about the new one-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play?

Melbourne’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child took a month’s break between 27 March and 4 May 2022, reopening as a single-act play rather than the original two-act version. The aim was to make tickets more affordable and accessible for a wider audience in Melbourne and for interstate and international visitors.

The new one-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play expertly reimagines the original version, taking audiences on the same thrilling adventure with just as much heart as ever. The story doubles down on the relationship between Albus and Scorpius, strengthening the much subtler undertones of the original two-part production.

The reimagined version also contains more magic than the original – a massive drawcard, considering how illusory and breathtaking the production’s magic spells look and feel to the audience. After all, magic performed before your eyes is infinitely more thrilling than CGI on the silver screen.

Who is the Melbourne cast in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Melbourne cast includes Nyx Calder playing Scorpius Malfoy, Ben Walter playing Albus Potter, Gareth Reeves playing Harry Potter, and Lachlan Woods playing Draco Malfoy.

The character actors in the Melbourne production include:

• Nyx Calder – Scorpius Malfoy
  
• Ben Walter – Albus Potter
  
• Gareth Reeves – Harry Potter
  
• Lachlan Woods – Draco Malfoy
  
• Jessica Vickers – Delphi Diggory
  
• Paula Arundell – Hermione Granger
  
• Michael Whalley – Ron Weasley
  
• Lucy Goleby – Ginny Potter
  
• Natasha Herbert – Minerva McGonagall (and Dolores Umbridge)
  
• George Henare – Amos Diggory (and Albus Dumbledore)
  
• David Ross Paterson – Lord Voldemort (and Severus Snape)
• Hannah Fredericksen – Moaning Myrtle (and Fleur Delacour, Lily Potter)
• Michael Bani – Sorting Hat (and Bane)
  
• Aisha Aidara – Rose (and Young Hermione)
  
• Tom Russell – Cedric Diggory (and James Potter)
  
• Katie-Jean Harding – Trolley Witch (and ensemble) 
  
• Luke Clayson – Station Master (and ensemble) 
  
• Axel Duffy – Viktor Krum (and Karl Jenkins) 
  
• Matt Holly – Yann Fredericks (and Young Harry) 
  
• Bailey Nathan-Park – Flying Captain (and aerialist swing) 
  
• Abdul ‘Min’ Muhaimin – Craig Bowker Jr
  

Ensemble actors, swing actors (who train to fill in for roles at a moment’s notice if the main actor is sick or injured) and aerial performers in the Melbourne production are: 

• Damien Avery – swing 
  
• Tamara Lee Bailey – swing 
  
• Gabriella Barbagallo – swing 
  
• Andy Conaghan – swing
  
• Shannon Foley – swing 
  
• Effie Nkrumah – swing 
  
• Harrison Riley – swing 
  
• Connor Sweeney – swing 
  
• Mark Doggett – ensemble 
  
• Guy Langford – ensemble 
  
• Naomi Rukavina – ensemble 
  
• Jeremiah Wray – ensemble 
  
• Brooke MacRae – aerialist performer 
  
• Daniel Price – aerialist performer
  
• Britney Unmack – aerialist performer.

How long does Harry Potter and the Cursed Child go for?

The new one-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child runs for approximately 3.5 hours, including interval. This is longer than average theatre show runtime of about 2 to 2.5 hours, but is a condensed version of the original two-part play, which totalled 5.25 hours.

How long is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing in Melbourne?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child does not currently have an end date to its Melbourne season.

What theatre is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child showing in?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is showing in Melbourne’s iconic Princess Theatre, which is located at 163 Spring Street.

Shows run at 7pm every evening except Monday, plus at 1pm on weekends. Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the show to ensure that you are seated on time; latecomers won’t be admitted until interval. You can mingle at the theatre’s bars, purchase official merchandise from the gift shops, and of course snap some photos standing under the Sorting Hat poster while you wait.

The Princess Theatre holds up to 1,500 audience members over its three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle. The theatre dates all the way back to 1854 and retains its old-world charm and majesty thanks to a total refurbishment in 1989. World-class stage productions such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Mamma Mia!, Dirty Dancing, Hairspray, and Matilda the Musical have all found a home at Princess Theatre.

Does the Princess Theatre have a dress code?

The Princess Theatre doesn’t have a dress code. Many dedicated Harry Potter fans choose to dress up in costumes – most often in their coloured House robes. Others dress formally, as for a ballet or opera, while most people dress in smart casual wear. Wear what you're comfortable in. Please note, however, that you can’t bring handbags and satchels larger than an A4 piece of paper into the show.

How can I buy tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

You can buy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets from the Princess Theatre’s official ticketing partner, Ticketek. Tickets purchased from any other sources may not be valid, so make sure to buy only from Ticketek.

For accessibility bookings, contact the Princess Theatre prior to the event. 

What restaurants are near Princess Theatre?

Whether you want lunch before a matinee show, dinner before an evening show or nibbles afterwards, there are plenty of quality restaurants near Princess Theatre in Melbourne’s East End theatre district.

Try aromatic Thai sharing plates at Longrain, chargrilled Argentinian at San Telmo, authentic Italian at Pellegrini’s, or eclectic Mexican at Bodega Underground. If you’re after cheaper, more casual food near Princess Theatre, tasty options include American-style slow cooked barbeque at Fancy Hank’s, pizza slices from S.P.Q.R., or one of the many Asian eateries lining Chinatown on Little Bourke Street.

What bars are near Princess Theatre?

Whether you prefer sweet cocktails or a sour tipple, there’s a cornucopia of pubs and cocktail bars near Princess Theatre. Try the Fruit Tingle at Bourke Street Green, an Aperol Sour at Bar Bambi on Flinders Lane, a Honeycomb Highball at HER on Lonsdale Street, or the Birth of Venus at sky-high Fable on Lonsdale Street. If you want to really impress your theatre date, take them to the dimly-lit speakeasy Eau de Vie on Malthouse Lane, the glamorous Nick & Nora’s on Collins Street, or the fairytale-themed StoryVille on Lonsdale Street - some of Melbourne's best cocktail bars.

Can I get food at the Princess Theatre?

Like most theatres, you can grab drinks and snacks from the Princess Theatre’s bars before the show and during its interval. If you’re feeling fancy, the Princess Theatre’s private suites and premium lounge area hosts exclusive dinner and cocktail packages.

How do I get to the Princess Theatre?

Since the Princess Theatre is in Melbourne CBD, it is accessible by all modes of transport. Download the free arevo app to plan your route via bus, tram, train, e-scooter, car or bicycle. If you’re driving, some of the best parking near Princess Theatre is at the nearby Wilson Parking secure car parks, where theatre patrons can access discounted parking rates.

What do I need to know before I see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

For the best experience watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, it’s recommended to have read or watched the original Harry Potter series. The play contains many beloved returning characters – Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore just to name a few. At times, there are hilarious interactions that can’t be fully appreciated without knowing the original story. A particularly crowd-favourite returning character is the unhinged ghost Moaning Myrtle, who brazenly flirts with Albus, Scorpius and their fathers. You’ll also benefit from having a basic understanding of spells and the Hogwarts settings.

The books and movies in order are:

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
  
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (two full-length movies cover this book: Part 1 and Part 2).
  

If you can only watch or read one Harry Potter book before the show, choose Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. We must #KeepTheSecrets...so just trust us!