In “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” there is a Harry, a Ron and a Hermione.
British actress Noma Dumezweni has been cast as adult Hermione Granger in the upcoming spin-off stage play, while the adult Potter will be played by 36-year-old Jamie Parker (above left) and 40-year-old Paul Thornley will play Ron Weasley (above right).
Written by playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne, the play is based on a story by Potter author JK Rowling and the play’s director, and will premiere at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End in July 2016.
Dumezweni, 45, is an award-winning stage actress who won an Olivier in 2006 for her performance in A Raisin In The Sun and recently took on the lead role in Linda at the Royal Court after Kim Cattrall dropped out at the last minute.
Born in Swaziland, South Africa, and raised in the UK, she has also appeared in television shows such as Shameless, EastEnders and Doctor Who.
Dumezweni’s casting is notable because it is the first time the role of Hermione has been played by a black actress; in the films she was played by Emma Watson.
Although Rowling does not explicitly address Hermione’s ethnicity in the books, her fans have often reflected on her race, and in some fan art she is depicted as black.
Rowling expressed her joy at the selection on the Pottermore website.
“I am so excited about the casting choices for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I can’t wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul on stage next summer bringing the adult characters of Harry, Hermione and Ron to life,” she said.
Parker is best known for his portrayal of Scripps in the original production of Alan Bennett’s award-winning film The History Boys, while Thornley recently appeared in the role of Weasley in Doc Martin and London Road.
The official synopsis of the play describes the plot in detail:
“It was always difficult being Harry Potter, and now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and a father of three school-age children, it is not much easier.
“While Harry struggles with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the burden of a family legacy he never wanted.
“As past and present merge in ominous ways, father and son learn an uncomfortable truth: sometimes darkness comes from unexpected directions.”
When the first wave of seats for the shows were released last month, fans stormed the ticket counters, some waiting for hours.
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Photo credit: Rex Features/Pottermore
