Perse Players perform magical production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The Perse Players sprinkled a touch of magic over their production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Secondary School Edition.

They were one of the first school groups in the world to stage the show, which centres on Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, the sons of Harry Potter and arch-rival Draco Malfoy, as they become best friends after joining Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sparking an epic journey with the power to change the past and future forever.

Across six performances over two weekends, the Perse Players delighted packed audiences with their staging of the show in the Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre.

Perse Director of Theatre David Barrett, who directed the production, was thrilled with how cast and crew had risen to the challenge.

He said: “It was the most rewarding and incredible thing to be involved in. What I loved was how many pupils were involved, how passionate they were about the production and how much they committed themselves to it.

“Many pupils went over and above what was needed. They were all buzzing and it was a joy to see everyone working together to create the show.”

Mr Barrett felt there was a camaraderie that quickly formed among the 70-plus students involved, whether on stage as an actor or off stage as part of the Perse Production Company.

He said: “When we got to the technical rehearsal where things were coming together, the whole PAC was buzzing like a regular theatre with everyone doing their jobs.

“It’s been a passion project for a lot of people. What’s been great is they’ve made friends with people from other year groups and the pupils involved have said it’s been an amazing experience.

“The feedback we’ve had has been so positive about the quality of the show, which is exactly what we wanted. A lot of hard work, focus and dedication went into it, and everyone had smiles on their faces the whole time.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Secondary School Edition)
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany
A play by Jack Thorne
Adapted for Secondary Schools by Broadway Licensing Global