The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
Published: 9th June 2016
Last night I was very lucky to watch the first ever preview of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Don’t ask me how I managed to get tickets, as quite simply, I think I was just in the right place at the right time. However I do have some tips for anybody going to see the play in the upcoming months or who would like to.
Watch the video above where I’m interviewed on Canadian TV all about the play.
While at the box office picking up my tickets, there were people buying tickets for upcoming shows. The best thing you can do is just pop over to the box office and ask. Similarly, if you re-mortgage your house to buy touted tickets, you are a fool – a night at the theatre is never worth thousands of pounds and there are still plenty of tickets around to buy.
My sister and I sat in the second cheapest seats – not great if you have vertigo but perfectly decent to see all the action and much kinder on my bank balance. Plus sitting further away actually keeps the magic alive even more. Just remember to bring £1 for the binoculars.
The theatre was boiling. This could be because this week has pretty much been the most humid week ever, but even the Singaporean guy next to us was complaining about the heat.
There are a lot of tourists watching who do inexplicably un-British things like whoop and clap when characters appear on stage. If you can’t beat them join them. The atmosphere was part of the magic.
My sister and I made the rookie error of deciding to eat after by which point it was half ten, we were beyond starving and the waitress serving us quite clearly couldn’t wait to see the back of us so she could go home. The Palace Theatre is in Cambridge Circus close to Soho Covent Garden and Chinatown so there are plenty of places to eat.
Listen to JK Rowling, and don’t reveal the spoilers. Just like the books, there are surprises and twists and turns. The best thing about the play was the gasps from the audience. The worst thing about the play was also the audience: turn your phones off. It is NEVER EVER EVER acceptable to take photos during a play. Reread my guide to the theatre.
