Harry Potter and the Cursed Child gets major rewrite ahead of 10-year anniversary

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Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is undergoing a major change after 10 years at the West End.

London audiences can now see both parts of the play performed together as one complete show. Previously, since its 2016 debut, it was presented in two separate parts.

The show, previously over five hours long – typically two hours and forty minutes per half – has been significantly shortened. It will now run for a total of two hours and fifty-five minutes, including a break.

The show, currently playing in two parts, will continue at the Palace Theatre until September 20th, 2026, with a special performance marking its 10th anniversary. After a brief pause, it will return on October 6th, 2026, in a revised format.

As a total theatre geek, I remember when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child first hit the West End in 2016. Honestly, it was a game-changer! Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender were right – it really pushed the boundaries of what you could do with stage productions, redefining what was possible in terms of technical skill and creativity. It wasn’t just a play, it was an experience!

This July marks the 10th anniversary of the production – a remarkable achievement for a play presented in two parts. We’re incredibly proud of the lasting impact it’s had on theater and culture over the last ten years.

With new fans constantly discovering the magic of Harry Potter and connecting with its beloved characters, we decided now was the perfect time to make the stories easier for everyone to enjoy.

I just saw the new version of this show, and honestly, it’s a fantastic improvement. They’ve trimmed it down to under three hours, which makes it much more accessible without sacrificing any of the spectacle. All the big illusions and that incredible theatrical magic are still there, and surprisingly, they’ve managed to deepen the emotional impact. It means more people can now take it all in during one sitting, and I think that’s a really smart move.

A streamlined version of the production has already been successfully performed on Broadway and in theaters worldwide. This version removes some smaller characters, past scenes, and storylines that explore different timelines.

If you’re not familiar with the story, ‘Cursed Child’ centers around Albus Severus Potter, Harry Potter’s son, and his friend Scorpius Malfoy, who happens to be Draco Malfoy’s son. It follows their experiences as they navigate life at Hogwarts.

Nica Burns, owner of the Palace Theatre, expressed her excitement about 2026 marking the tenth anniversary of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ which has been a fantastic show at the theatre.

This exciting new version lets audiences enjoy the entire, captivating story in a single, unforgettable show. Everyone at the Palace Theater is thrilled to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary!

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JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has received criticism for her opinions on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a detailed essay explaining her views on sex and gender, which was challenged and disagreed with by LGBTQ+ organizations like Stonewall.

J.K. Rowling has expressed her opinions on social media, most recently in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter). In that post, she stated that she does not believe in the concept of transgender children and argued against the idea that someone’s gender identity at birth doesn’t match their body.

In May 2025, J.K. Rowling established the JK Rowling Women’s Fund to provide financial support for legal battles focused on protecting women’s rights as defined by biological sex.

The main actors from the Harry Potter films – Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson – have spoken out against J.K. Rowling’s views and expressed support for the transgender community. However, some other cast members, like Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Jim Broadbent, have come to Rowling’s defense amidst the criticism she’s faced.

When is Harry Potter and The Cursed Child getting shorter?

As a huge fan, I’m letting you know you can still catch the show as a two-part experience until September 20th, 2026. After that date, it’ll be presented as a single, complete production starting October 6th, 2026, and that’s when tickets will be available for that version.

You can find tickets at LOVETheatre and Harry Potter The Play.

Authors

Olivia Garrett

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2026-01-28 19:38