The 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' cast celebrates 10 years of West End wizardry

A decade after its world premiere, the smash hit play is still casting a spell over London audiences, and its incantation shows no signs of wearing off.

Summary

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is celebrating 10 years in the West End
• Current cast including David Ricardo Pearce; Thomas Aldridge and Naana Agyei-Ampadu spoke to London Theatre Magazine about why the show means so much to audiences
• The show has launched the careers of many young actors

A decade after we all vowed to keep the secrets, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is celebrating a huge milestone in its West End journey. The two-part play by Jack Thorne (with collaborators John Tiffany and the original franchise’s writer JK Rowling) turned 10 in London in July, having welcomed 2.5 million audience members through the doors of the Palace Theatre since opening. The show has scooped nine Olivier Awards, launched the careers of 45 young actors, and introduced a whole new generation to the magical world of Hogwarts.

“What a privilege to be a part of something I saw as a child, and now I’m leading it,” says Joshua Sullivan, who made his professional debut in the show as Albus Potter. “This show appeals across generations because it not only scratches the itch for those who read the books and want to know what happens next, but also for the newer generations who want to be introduced to a world not only through the films and the books, but through live theatre.”

London Theatre Magazine speaks to the current cast about Cursed Child’s enduring appeal and the responsibility of playing these much-loved characters.

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

David Ricardo-Pearce: Harry Potter

How were you first introduced to Harry Potter?

I was at school, and one of my mates was reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and I was like, "Why are you reading a kid's book?” He said, “It's really good. You should give it a go.” So I picked it up, and I was like, "Oh, this is really well written. The world building. This is insane.” I was really into David Eddings and Tolkien and a lot of fantasy writers. It was actually right up my street. They're beautifully written books, and I think they stand the test of time.

Do you feel a sense of responsibility playing these beloved characters?

Harry Potter is like David Beckham, isn't he? The play is 20 years after the events of the book, so you have license to move away from Daniel Radcliffe and what he did with the character, and go “how's time changed this person?” So as much as you have a responsibility to that character and what that character stands for, you also have your own journey. Everyone in the audience has different ideas of what they think Harry, Ron, and Hermione are going to be, and we get to go, “well, this is us, and you can use us [to ignite] your imagination”. I think that's a real honour.

Thomas Aldridge: Ron Weasley

Thomas, you’ve been in the show for nearly 10 years. What makes you stay?

It's the brilliant actors! Every year, we have a new, refreshing influx of incredible people that I get to share the stage with, as well as covers who go on all the time. So there's never the same show twice. It’s the dream job. As far as being a ginger actor is concerned, you don't get much better than Ron Weasley. It's all downhill from here!

What do you love most about your character?

There's really beautiful sentimentality in the show, but I also love that just when it gets to that point where it might be getting too much, Ron cuts through all the sentimentality with a quip or a line, or just completely changes the whole tone of the scene. I find that loads of fun.

Naana Agyei-Ampadu: Hermione Granger

Do you feel a sense of responsibility playing these beloved characters?

It's a privilege to play Hermione. When the show first came out, and Noma Dumezweni was cast as Hermione, people were like, “What's happening here?” But for me, as a younger black actress, it was incredible. It was something that we'd never really seen before, because everyone had assumed that the actor playing Hermione was going to be white, like she is in the films. But then they cast a person of color, and she was extraordinary. It shows the importance of certain roles and characterisations, and what it does for the community as a whole. I think now some people will read the books and their go-to wouldn't be the film version of Hermione, but the play version, which is wonderful for any young brown girl who's reading it because they think, “well, she's just described as a smart girl with curly hair. Why can't she be me or look like me?”

What do you love most about your character?

As a working mother myself, I love that my character is somebody who is able to be a mother, love her children, be there for her family, and still hold one of the highest positions in the wizarding world. I think it's the ultimate reflection of showing young women that you can work, strive for success, be at the top of your game, and still have a family. It's not either or. You can do the things that you want to do.

Joshua Sullivan: Albus Potter

Why do you think Cursed Child works so well on stage?

There is something about that live connection through theatre that you don't get anywhere else. As an audience member, you're constantly in relationship with everything that happens on stage. There's something about seeing it in front of you live, with the magic specifically. It blows your mind because you think, “how do they do this?”

What do you love most about your character?

He's so brave. He plans everything in a split second and he's a mission maker. He's able to figure stuff out so quickly, even if it's brash and impulsive. He makes a decision and he sticks with it. And poor Scorpius has no choice but to tag along!

Kai Spackman: Scorpius Malfoy

Why has Cursed Child become such a legacy show in the West End?

I think there's a universal appeal to Cursed Child because we cover so many different age ranges, stories and characters, so there's always someone that the audience can invest in or see themselves in. I think that bringing in the new generation of Rose, Scorpius, and Albus reignites that interest. There are certain traits that Scorpius has that are quite universal, and the same with Albus and Rose. It's just so nice to see a part of yourself in someone in a world that is so fantastical.

What is it like making your professional debut in Cursed Child?

Having this scale of show as your first job really is like diving in the deep end — I don't think anyone would disagree with that. The scale of it, it's so unique, the two parts. It's a huge phenomenon with magic, but also has huge emotional stakes.

Why do you think Cursed Child appeals across generations?

Jack Thorne's writing and how he deals with the relationships between fathers and sons is so universally interesting, and also confronting, in a way that is very unique to the show.

Tamia-Renée Alexandra: Rose Granger-Weasley

How were you first introduced to Harry Potter?

I watched my first Harry Potter movie when I was about nine or 10, and I was absolutely terrified by them getting chased by spiders. I didn’t want to watch another Harry Potter movie ever again. And then cut to the present day, we got this audition, and I was like, "Oh, okay. Well, I probably have to watch all the other movies.” So I did, and I realised how cool it is.

What do you love most about your character?

I love Rose's confidence and her loyalty. She's very loyal to her family, her house, and her friends. She is kind, but she's also very strong-headed — she definitely gets that from her mum! She's not afraid to show her emotions. That's why she's the captain — because she is vocal and there for her team.

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child One Part tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: exclusive character portraits of the Cursed Child cast. (Photos by Matt Crockett)

This article first appeared in the August 2026 issue of London Theatre Magazine.