J.K. Rowling has given the first behind-the-scenes peek inside the rehearsal room of the up-coming West End play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
An "excited and nervous" Rowling urges the play's co-creators, writer Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany, to preserve the secrets and surprise of the eighth Harry Potter story during a one-minute glimpse of rehearsals.
"One of the things that I have valued most about the Potter fandom," Rowling tells Thorne and Tiffany, "is that as a community they have really looked after each other, people have each other's backs. It's a special thing. And it's for that reason, more than any other, I would like us, if we can, to manage to keep our secrets."
"This will be such an incredible theatrical experience that I'd love us to be able to surprise people and move people, in the natural way that a story should surprise and move people."
Video of Rowling's set visit on April 18 was released on the website Pottermore, Rowling's "magic corner" into her writings, before the play's previews on June 7 at London's Palace Theatre.
It builds publicity to the play's premiere on July 30.
Exciting morning at rehearsals for #CursedChild. What do you think of our wand designs? #HarryPotterPlay pic.twitter.com/Vg1wAmi11Y— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 18, 2016
Thorne's script for The Cursed Child was written from an original Harry Potter story Rowling helped develop, and picks up where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows left off with Harry, Ron and Hermione seeing off their own children to Hogwarts.
The book of the script is expected to be a world bestseller when it becomes available online and in print the morning after the official premiere.
Rowling confesses to being excited and nervous while in the background, actors flourish wands. Actor Jamie Parker playing the middle-aged Harry Potter, takes stage directions with distinctive round lens glasses and coffee in hand. One scene features a new generation of suitcase-carrying Hogwarts recruits.
The adult Hermione Granger is being played by Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni. She will be joined by Paul Thornley as her on-stage husband, Ron Weasley.
ICYMI, J.K. Rowling gave us a first glimpse at @HPPlayLDN, including Harry's glasses! https://t.co/emmV41A8Rd pic.twitter.com/T7yywtPUTF— Pottermore (@pottermore) April 22, 2016
With the first public reviews less than 50 days away, Rowling discusses with Thorne and Tiffany rehearsal progress.
"I suppose each separate preview will be unique," says Tiffany, "in that the audience will be seeing that version – where we are in the process."
"What works here may not work on the stage in the same way" adds Thorne, "and might require quite big changes [to] make it function in a really powerful way."
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