STAGE MAGIC

HARRY Potter is set to weave his magic over Melbourne in February.

Producers are expecting an unprecedented demand for tickets for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, which will go on sale in August.

The multimillion-dollar, mega-award winning stage show will make its Australian premiere at the Princess Theatre, which is to be extensively remodelled for the spectacular show.

But theatregoers should be warned. Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, is a marathon. There are four acts in the script, presented in two separate shows, which run for more than five hours.

After dazzling the West End and Broadway, critics say the show features an outstanding display of stagecraft, the likes of which may change theatre forever, and the special effects are on a whole new level of grandeur.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a father-son story. It casts Harry as a grown man, with his son Albus struggling to find his own wizard identity.

It’s also about an enduring bond of friendship between Albus and Scorpius Malfoy.

Roles in the Australian production have not yet been cast, but London and New York shows have featured unknowns in the starring roles.

Producers are also hoping Australian audiences respect a #KeepTheSecrets agreement surrounding the show.

Rowling has asked audiences who have seen the play not to reveal its major twists. The hashtag is printed on the tickets for the play.

Those buying tickets online are emailed a video after the play from J.K. Rowling asking to support the campaign.

Work has already begun to transform the Princess Theatre into Potter’s playground, Hogwarts.

Producer Sonia Friedman said similar renovations had been done at the show’s other homes in London and New York.

The play won a recordbreaking nine awards at last year’s Olivier Awards. In London, it continues to play to sold-out houses.

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