MAKING MAGIC

When we set out to stage Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (High School Edition), we understood that we were not simply producing another school play. We were creating a slice of theatre magic and, in doing so, making history. This was the Tasmanian high school premiere of the play and the first time audiences in the state had witnessed this remarkable story brought to life by students.

It became a production that celebrated imagination, teamwork, and a shared love of a world that had enchanted millions. The decision to stage Cursed Child was a bold one. It was a complex, technically demanding, and emotionally rich piece that moved at lightning pace between multiple locations: from the Ministry of Magic to the Hogwarts Express, from the depths of the Forbidden Forest to alternate realities where familiar characters were transformed.

Yet that challenge was exactly what had appealed to us. This show stretched both students’ and staff members’ creative and technical abilities, while giving them the chance to inhabit beloved characters in a fresh and dynamic way. The High School Edition condensed the original two-part West End and Broadway production into a single evening’s performance. This adaptation made the show accessible for schools while still retaining the heart and drive of the story. It required careful reimagining— finding theatrical equivalents for elaborate illusions, creating settings that could change with flexibility and speed, and ensuring that the magic worked within the scope of our resources. Every adjustment became an opportunity for invention.

Where the professional production might have relied on complex mechanical rigs, we instead used clever staging, lighting effects, and human ingenuity. The challenge was never to replicate the original exactly, but to capture the same sense of wonder in ways that felt authentic to our cast, crew, and audience. Creating magic for the stage proved to be one of our most exciting tasks. How could a wand duel feel real, or a character disappear before the audience’s eyes? Our solutions blended technical skill with performance precision. Actors worked hand in hand with the backstage team to ensure that illusions were seamless. Smoke effects, trap work, sleight of hand, and split-second lighting cues all played their part in creating an atmosphere where the impossible seemed to unfold right in front of spectators.

For our students, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was far more than a theatrical project. It became a masterclass in problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience. They discovered how to meet challenges with creativity, how to support one another through the pressures of performance, and how to bring genuine joy to an audience. The experience gave them not only theatrical skills but also lessons in teamwork and perseverance that extended beyond the stage.

As the curtain finally rose, we were immensely proud of every single person who had contributed to the production – onstage, backstage, and behind the scenes. For a couple of hours, audiences were transported into a story of friendship, courage, and the enduring magic of the wizarding world. And perhaps like us, they were reminded that the truest kind of magic happened when people worked together to create something extraordinary.

Andy Prideaux
Head of Performing Arts