Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Review | What The Critics Think
“‘‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is an absolute hoot, a joyous, big-hearted, ludicrously incident-packed and magic-heavy romp that has to stand as one of the most unrelentingly entertaining things to hit the West End. Writer Jack Thorne, director John Tiffany and a world-class team have played a blinder; if the two-part, five-hour-plus show is clearly a bit on the long side, it’s forgivable. ‘The Cursed Child’ emphatically exists for fans of Harry Potter, and much of its power derives from the visceral, often highly emotional impact of feeling that you’re in the same room as Rowling’s iconic characters.”
★★★★
— Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out
“I have until now been resistant to the Hogwarts background: too much exposed to boarding-school capers on the page and in political life. Thorne’s sequel slithered me round to seeing it as one version of the bewildering, bullying, beguiling nature of institutions. Perhaps other theatre-goers will be converted to the books. But I don’t think the traffic will be one-way. The live thrill of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child must bring new faces into the stalls."
★★★★
— Susannah Clapp, The Guardian
“British theatre hasn't known anything like it for decades and I haven't seen anything directly comparable in all my reviewing days. It's a triumph. Not an unqualified one - there are some quibbles - but in all key respects, it grips, it stirs, it delights."
★★★★★
— Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
“It's a raunchless Game of Thrones with heart. Crucially, it's authentic Potter but, most importantly, it's new. It's not the movie of the book. It's the real deal, live in front of you, so much better than any film could be.”
★★★★★
— Ann Treneman, The Times
“Would Harry Potter and the Cursed Child work on paper? I’m not sure. It’s quite apparent this isn’t written to be either a book or a tie-in film; it’s a spectacle for the theatre, one that is filled to the brim with fan service and magical imagery that will amaze. For any Potterhead who can get their hands on a ticket, it will no doubt be a fantastic experience; for those not already enamoured by Rowling’s wizarding, The Cursed Child is still captivating, but may be a slightly long ride."
★★★★★
— Jack Shepherd, Independent
"The big question was whether a script by well-respected playwright Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany (from an idea that the pair created alongside J K Rowling) with movement from Steven Hoggett, could also stand on its own two feet as a stage presentation. That was likely to require an entertaining tale and the kind of spectacle usually reserved for the biggest musicals in this town or any.
The answer is an indefatigable “yes”, even if there is the odd slower passage as the fantasy gets extra-fantastical. That might be expected in a two-part production that eventually stretches to 5¼ hours, plus a decent break for dinner to fill the day."
★★★★★
— Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide
