The Olivier award-winning West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set to be trimmed into a single, shorter show in London from October. The two-part play, which runs for five hours including intervals, will be condensed into a 175-minute performance with one interval, following the format adopted in the US, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.
Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender announced on Monday that the change aims to make the production more accessible, allowing audiences to experience the story with a single ticket and one visit to the theatre. Currently, theatregoers purchase separate tickets for each part, costing a minimum of £30 in total. Prices for the new version have yet to be announced.
The two-part production will continue at the Palace theatre until 20 September, with the one-part version opening on 6 October. The play, the eighth story in JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, premiered in London in 2016 and won a record nine Olivier awards. Rowling originally explained the two-part format was due to the epic nature of the story, set 19 years after the final novel.
Producers stated that the reimagined production retains its scale, illusions and emotional depth while being more accessible. The shorter runtime may also appeal to families with young children and those with shorter attention spans. Theatre impresario Rosemary Squire noted that long running times can deter audiences due to concerns about work and transport.
