Harry Potter and the Cursed Child gets major rewrite ahead of 10-year anniversary

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is undergoing a major change after 10 years at the West End.

For the first time in London, the sequel play is being combined into one full-length production, having been two halves since its opening in 2016.

This is a significant time cut for the show, which has always run for over five hours – two hours and 40 minutes per half. Now, it will go for a single two hours and 55 minutes, with an interval included.

The two-part version of the show will continue to perform at the Palace Theatre until 20th September 2026, culminating in a final 10th anniversary performance. It will then reopen on 6th October 2026 in its new form.

Play Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said: “When Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered in the West End in 2016, it redefined what was possible in the art of stagecraft.

"This July, the production celebrates its 10th anniversary, an unprecedented milestone for a play performed in two parts and we are immensely proud of the indelible mark it has made on the theatrical and cultural landscape over the past decade.

"But as new Harry Potter fans discover these stories every day, drawn in by their enduring power and the deep affection for these characters, we felt this milestone moment was the right time to make the production more accessible than ever before.

"Now running at under three hours, the reimagined production retains its scale, illusions and theatrical magic, and emotional depth, while allowing more audiences to experience the story in a single visit"

The shortened production has already been fulfilled in Broadway and other theatres across the globe, which apparently sees the cutting of some minor characters, flashback scenes and some of the alternate timeline sequences.

For those who don't know the plot, Cursed Child follows the Hogwarts adventures of Harry Potter's son Albus Severus Potter, alongside his friend and Draco Malfoys's son, Scorpius Malfoy.

Palace Theatre owner Nica Burns said: “So exciting that 2026 celebrates the 10th anniversary of the incredible experience that is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the iconic Palace Theatre.

"This new chapter gives audiences the chance to experience this magical, roller coaster story in just one thrilling performance. All of us at the Palace look forward to celebrating the show’s 20th birthday!”

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall.

Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that “there are no trans kids” and opposed the idea that a child can be “born in the wrong body”.

In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights”.

Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community. Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received.

Buy Harry Potter and The Cursed Child tickets at LOVETheatre

When is Harry Potter and The Cursed Child getting shorter?

You can still book tickets to see the show in two halves until 20th September 2026. After that tickets will become available for the one production from 6th October 2026.

You can find tickets at LOVETheatre and Harry Potter The Play.

Buy Harry Potter and The Cursed Child tickets at LOVETheatre

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