The London production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which has been running in its original two-part configuration since premiering at the Palace Theatre in 2016, will become the reduced one-part edition of the play beginning this fall. The "new" edition of the work, currently playing Broadway and various other productions around the world, will reopen at the Palace October 6.

The West End iteration of the play, the production's first staging, had been one of the sole remaining versions of the play still performing its epic story over two separate performances, asking audiences to attend on either two separate evenings or take in the complete play over a marathon matinee and evening performance in one day. The work—written by Jack Thorne from a story created by J.K. Rowling, director John Tiffany, and Thorne—opened with a similar setup on Broadway in 2018, running for a total of more than five hours. The Broadway version shortened to a three-and-a-half hour one-play edition when it returned from the pandemic shutdown in 2021, and reduced further to the current under-three-hour edition in 2024. The London production will adopt the under-three-hour edition currently performing at Broadway's Lyric. This edition of the play debuted with the launch of the play's U.S. tour, also in 2024. A revised and condensed version is also available to perform at high schools in the U.S. and U.K. via Broadway Licensing, also released in 2024.

“When Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered in the West End in 2016, it redefined what was possible in the art of stagecraft," say producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender in a joint statement. "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."

"From the outset, the Palace Theatre has been the perfect home for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," the statement continues. "The bond between play and theatre has grown inseparable, together becoming a London landmark.

"What was created there was the result of the artistic genius of an extraordinary creative team, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s beloved wizarding world, and helmed by our fearless and visionary director John Tiffany, who brought to vivid life on stage the words immortalized in the script by our magnificent playwright, Jack Thorne. Our beautiful play has endured over the past 10 years because of the remarkable actors, backstage, and technical teams we surround ourselves with, artists united by vision, rigor, trust, and a profound love for live storytelling.

"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. By shifting our beloved original staging into this stunning version, beautifully reworked by the same extraordinary creative and technical teams, we are opening our Palace doors for even more audiences to experience this unforgettable journey with just one ticket in hand."

Tickets are on sale for the now final performances of the original, two-part version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which will perform at the Palace through September 20, at HarryPotterthePlay.com. Ticketing information for performances beginning October 6 is to be announced.

The production features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music and arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison, and music supervision and arrangements by Martin Lowe. 

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