Photo Flash: Get a First Look at the New West End Cast of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

The new West End cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child began performances at the Palace Theatre in London's West End on 23 May 2018. Jamie Ballard plays Harry Potter, Susie Trayling plays Ginny Potter and Joe-Idris Roberts plays their son Albus Potter. Thomas Aldridge plays Ron Weasley with Nicola Alexis as Hermione Granger and Helen Aluko as their daughter Rose Granger Weasley. Playing Draco Malfoy is James Howard with Jonathan Case as his son Scorpius Malfoy.

Get a first look at the new cast in the production photos below!

They are joined by cast members Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, David Annen, Jordan Bamford, Emma Bown, Adrian Christopher, Craig Connolly, Danny Dalton, Leah Haile, April Hughes, Martin Johnston, Gareth Kennerley, Susan Lawson-Reynolds, Barry McCarthy, Sandy McDade, James McGregor, Ryan J Mackay, Annette McLaughlin, David Mara, Dylan Mason, Tom Peters, James Phoon, Eve Ponsonby, Kate Russell-Smith, Sinéad Sharkey,Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, Mark Theodore and Joshua Wyatt who complete the 42-strong company playing a variety of characters, including seven children who will alternate two roles.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in June 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London.

Since its premiere, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won twenty-four major British theatre awards including the Evening Standard Best Play Award as well as a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards - including Best New Play and Best Director - the most awarded production in the history of the Oliviers. The Broadway production officially opened to equal critical acclaim at the Lyric Theatre last month and has subsequently received numerous Broadway accolades, including five Drama Desk Award awards, six Outer Critics Circle awards and ten Tony Award nominations. In early 2019 the Australian production will open at Melbourne's Princess Theatre.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany with movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe and casting by Julia HoranCDG.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings. On Thursdays there is an evening performance of Part One and on Fridays an evening performance of Part Two. On those days tickets to each part can be bought together or separately. Tickets for Wednesday matinee and Wednesday evening performances can also be bought together or separately.

The regular performance schedule is as follows - Monday - no performance, Tuesday - no performance, Wednesday - 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Thursday -7.30pm Part One, Friday - 7.30pm Part Two, Saturday - 2pm Part One & 7.30pm Part Two, Sunday - 1pm Part One & 6.30pm Part Two.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently booking until 7 April 2019. For some performances returned and other late-release tickets may become available at short notice. These are not guaranteed, but any tickets that do become available will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis, online or in person at the Palace Theatre box office at full price.

Every Friday, The Friday Forty takes place at 1pm when 40 tickets are released for every performance the following week for some of the very best seats in the theatre. Subsequent ticket releases take place each Friday for performances the following week. Priced at £40 (£20 per part) tickets will secure a seat for both Part One and Part Two on consecutive performances. Customers will be selected at random for the opportunity to buy tickets online and will be able to purchase a maximum of two tickets for both Part One and Part Two in one transaction. To ensure that as many people as possible have the chance to access these tickets, they will only be available to buy online www.harrypottertheplay.com/ticket-information

For patrons with physical access needs and enquires regarding access performances call 0330 333 4410 (please note there are no general ticket sales on this number) or email CursedChildAccess@nimaxtheatres.com

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan