Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Ticket sale, start date, storyline, cast - everything you need to know

So, it turns out the ‘cursed child’ isn’t Harry. Here are a few other things you might like to know

Many readers have grown up with JK Rowling's boy wizard Harry Potter

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What is it?

The eighth Harry Potter story is actually a play rather than a book. In fact it is a play in two-parts designed to be seen on the same day or on consecutive evenings.

Written by Jack Thorne and devised by JK Rowling, the production should be viewed “as canon” and has been split onto two parts due to its “epic” nature.

It is directed by John Tiffany and produced by Sonia Friedman.

What’s it about?

Speculation that the play would centre on Harry’s early life with the Dursleys has been cleared up by the news that the story actually centres around his middle son Albus Severus.

It will see an adult Harry, who is probably an Auror working for the Ministry of Magic, “grapple with his past” in relation to his own son’s struggle with “a family legacy he never wanted”.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child officially opens on Saturday 30 July in two parts

Full 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.

What do we know about Albus Severus?

The second child of Harry and Ginny, Albus was named for two Hogwarts headmasters, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, the latter of whom Harry describes as “the bravest man I ever knew”.

We glimpsed him and his siblings James Sirius and Lily Luna on Platform 9 3/4 at the close of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Aged 11 and about to start at Hogwarts for the first time, we see Harry smooth out his insecurities about being sorted into Slytherin House.

How do I get tickets?

Priority booking for tickets started on Wednesday 28th October but those who haven’t registered for priority get to pile in this morning at 11am.

Previews are a very affordable £10 per show and once the production has opened tickets start at £15 each meaning you should be able to see both parts for £30.

250 tickets will be available at £20 or less per performance and reduced price lottery tickets will be available for each night.

When is it on?

Previews begin on 7th June 2016 with the opening performances of Part One and Part Two on Saturday 30th July 2016.

Where is it on?

London’s West End Palace Theatre.

What has JK Rowling said about it?

“The story only exists because the right group of people came together with a brilliant idea about how to present Harry Potter on stage,” Rowling said. “I’m confident that when audiences see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child they will understand why we chose to tell this story in this way.”

Who is in it?

Casting is yet to be announced.