Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Palace Theatre

After much speculation, it has been confirmed that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a new stage play based on the Harry Potter franchise written by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K Rowling, will open at the Palace Theatre in London's West End in Summer 2016.

The production will be the first live action stage production of Harry Potter, and will be a brand new original story. Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender's Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, dates for the production are yet to be announced, but tickets will go on general sale in autumn 2015.

The play will be directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett. It will have set designs by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Imogen Heap, sound by Gareth Fry and special effects by Jeremy Chernick.

Announcing the news on Twitter, Harry Potter author J.K Rowling said to fans:

"To answer one inevitable (and reasonable!) question - why isn't Cursed Child a new novel? - I am confident that when audiences see the play they will agree that it was the only proper medium for the story. I don't want to say too much more, because I don't want to spoil what I know will be a real treat for fans. However, I can say that it is not a prequel! It will tell a new story, which is the result of a collaboration between writer Jack Thorne, director John Tiffany and myself."

Tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will go on public sale this autumn, details of which will be announced in July 2015.