Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Casts a Spell at the National Theatre
How did they do that?!? That’s what you’ll ask yourself during the entire show. Because while it’s taken nearly a decade since its London debut, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has finally apparated into Washington, DC, and the magic alone was so worth the wait.
Now playing at the historic National Theatre, the Tony Award-winning production brings the Wizarding World to life in a mesmerizing (almost supernatural!) experience that is as much about growing up as it is about casting spells.
Set 19 years after the original book series, Cursed Child follows Harry Potter — not as a boy wizard, but as a Ministry of Magic official and struggling father to teenage son Albus.
The tension between legacy and identity simmers throughout, as Albus grapples with his famous surname and the shadow it casts. To prove himself, he takes on the incredibly dangerous task of going back in time to right a wrong — and might just bring back the One-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the process!
All in all, it’s a story about magical time travel, yes, but it’s also about family, forgiveness, and the complicated bond between parent and child.
What elevates this production from fan-fascination to a major theatrical event is the sheer inventiveness of its staging. Director John Tiffany and movement designer Steven Hoggett craft illusions that are both breathtaking and refreshingly analog.
Cloaks billow, actors vanish, and time itself bends, all through the clever alchemy of choreography, lighting, and old-school stagecraft. No digital tricks here; the sleight of hand and illusion feel truly enchanted.
The cast brings emotional depth to characters both new and familiar. The actors portraying Albus Potter (Emmet Smith) and Scorpius Malfoy (yes, that Malfoy — Aidan Close) carry much of the narrative weight, and their unlikely friendship is the true beating heart of the story.
There are touching performances, too, from the adult trio — Harry (John Skelley), Ron (Matt Harrington), and Hermione (Ebony Blake) — now navigating middle age and magical bureaucracy with the same mix of courage and confusion that made them beloved in the first place.
DC’s National Theatre, already steeped in history, proves an ideal home for this kind of theatrical wizardry. Its intimate scale helps ground the show’s larger-than-life moments, and the crowd, ranging from lifelong Potterheads to newbie Muggles, is palpably spellbound throughout.
Is Cursed Child perfect? Not quite. The script occasionally strains under the weight of lore, and it can be difficult to understand some of the accents with such quick dialogue and peculiar jargon.
But in a city that thrives on power plays and political drama, this production offers something else entirely: an invitation to believe again… in magic, in friendship, and in the redemptive power of a well-told story.
Whether you grew up with the books or are just looking for a night of theatrical wonder, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child delivers an experience that’s visually thrilling and unexpectedly poignant. Don’t be surprised if you leave the theater humming the score — and wondering where you stored your old wand!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child plays Broadway at The National through September 7 only. Runtime, 3 hours, with one 15-minute intermission. Limited tickets remain. Don’t miss your chance to be astonished!