“If we keep trying, we can connect with the ones we love, despite our differences”: David Ricardo-Pearce and Joshua Sullivan on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre

The Harry Potter franchise seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. After the global success of the books and movies, the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened at the Palace Theatre in London in July 2016: not a reimagination of the time at Hogwarts of the famous trio, but rather the continuation of their story from where we left them at the end of the seventh chapter. This summer, the production celebrates its tenth anniversary, a magnificent achievement for any theatre work and a testimony to the unceasing appreciation of audiences. Famously made of two parts that cannot be unlinked, for a total running time of just about five hours, the show itself is quite a feat for the cast and creatives who, behind the scenes, incessantly use tricks and mechanisms to make objects float, creatures appear, and space expand at the wave of a wand.

We caught up with David Ricardo-Pearce and Joshua Sullivan, who play Harry and Albus Potter respectively, for a special father-son interview. We talked about personalising their roles, the enduring charm of the saga across generations, as well as the challenges and best moments on stage.

Congratulations on being part of the tenth anniversary production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in such a big year for the show. How does it feel to be part of such an exciting moment?

David Ricardo-Pearce: It’s a huge achievement running a play rather than a musical for so long, and it speaks to how widely the Harry Potter stories continue to resonate. It’s special to be part of the show at this time.

Joshua Sullivan: It feels so cool. I first watched the show when I was 11 back in 2016 when it came out, so now to be a lead in it for its tenth year is an incredible privilege. It’s also around the same time as my birthday, so it’ll be a great way to celebrate that too.

Not many productions can celebrate a tenth anniversary in London’s West End; it’s such an amazing milestone. What do you think has made it so magical and attractive over the years and across generations?

JS: That’s a really good question. I think it’s such a brilliant continuation of a story that’s been loved and recognised by millions of people. Someone who’s maybe just finished reading the books or watching the films may be wondering, “What happens next?” and coming to watch the show is the perfect way for someone to scratch that itch of curiosity. I think it’s attractive across years and generations because it’s a show that is not only full of magic and spectacle, but at its heart carries the same themes that we loved so dearly in the books and films: love, justice, forgiveness, hope and good triumphing over evil, to name a few.

DRP: The fact that it’s so well written means that when you take away the illusions, set, costume and movement, the basic story is extremely strong and moving and resonates with lots of people. Then you add all the other stuff, and it becomes a really unique piece of theatre.

Were you a Harry Potter fan before joining the cast? And how did the call happen?

JS: I was a Harry Potter fan before joining, although I’d only ever seen the films, so I started reading the books about a few months into the contract. I’m up to Goblet of Fire now. The call for me happened straight after I finished a rehearsal for a show I was doing at drama school. I’m pretty sure the only word I managed to say on the phone was “yes”. I could barely get to sleep that night thinking about it. A surreal moment that I’m sure I’ll never forget.

DRP: I’d read some of the books and watched some of the films, but had a lot to learn about the wizarding world!

What has been the biggest challenge for you both so far?

JS: My biggest challenge was probably getting used to the number of shows we had, and that each day was going to be different. At drama school, I was used to having maybe three or four performances of a show, and so it was relatively easy to sustain the energy needed to perform within that timeframe. But with Cursed Child, because there are so many more shows, it was very easy to compare what different performances felt like, and it got me in my head for a bit. It wasn’t until I spoke to David about it, actually. He said: “See that’s the thing with live theatre, you just never know what you’re going to get next.” Over time, I got used to the fact that some days will just feel different than others and that it’s just part of the job. Now I’m able to enjoy these differences in my performances as there’s always something new I can play with on the day.

DRP: You have to keep trying to play a trick on yourself that you don’t know what’s about to happen so that you can reinvent the story fresh week after week. That can be challenging.

And what has been the best moment working on the production?

DRP: The opening shows for me were very special – feeling the connection with the audience for the first time and the love they have for my character.

JS: Oh, there have been some really great moments while doing this show. I know it’s a bit of a cop-out, but there are too many to pick as a best moment; things like silly mistakes we’ve made or little pranks that people play on each other backstage come to mind.

David, obviously, Harry has been one of the most loved characters for so many years (in so many versions, in the books and on the screen) in the hearts of the saga’s fans. What traits in particular did you want to give to your version of Harry?

DRP: I started with the books and the words and tried to play his journey moment by moment. Spontaneity is something I try and come back to. He’s quite impulsive, and there’s a childlike quality to him, so I try to keep him fairly innocent in some ways.

Joshua, this show represents your West End debut, quite a big role to take on, both professionally and for the story. What has been your main inspiration in shaping your character?

JS: I didn’t really have a specific inspiration or model that I used for Albus necessarily. I understood that I had big shoes to fill, and I really wanted to do justice to a character that’s loved by so many people, but I was also keen to take ownership of the role and make my own choices with him. My biggest goal was to create a flawed human being that people could relate to, to give him enough depth and nuance through his flaws so that people could understand why he makes the decisions he does, regardless of his complex nature.

Do you go through a particular practice session together to try to create a special bond as father and son?

JS: We don’t really, but at the same time, every show we do is a practice session in a way. Due to Harry and Albus’s complex relationship, their scenes together tend to be super emotionally charged, and so a lot of focus is needed in order to be present with each other in these more heightened moments. But one of the things that I love about working with David is that every time we do a scene, there’s always something new to explore, a different energy to be played with or something we haven’t discovered yet. I don’t think there ever will be a “perfect: scene; I don’t think such a thing exists. But the spontaneity of the performances always gives us something to keep on chasing.

DRP: I feel like we both have an interest in the possibility that anything could happen on stage, so that’s quite exciting to play with together, but we don’t have any particular rituals.

What do you like most about each other’s characters?

DRP: I like that Albus remains true to himself throughout. He’s brave and deliberately different and refuses to conform. It’s infuriating to parents but admirable to observe.

JS: Harry is selfless to a fault. Even if the course of action he takes about keeping Albus safe is misguided, his intentions are pure, and most of the decisions he makes in the show are to do with protecting or looking after someone else, generally Albus. I think it’s also worth mentioning that Harry has had an incredibly traumatic childhood, and so when it comes to parenting, although he does have a lot to learn, there’s a certain degree of grace that Harry should perhaps be given, which I think is something Albus realises by the end of the show.

Are there one or two magic tricks you learned behind the scenes that you are now reusing at parties or family reunions?

JS: It would be pretty cool if I could polyjuice into someone else at a party; that would be an amazing trick. Other than that, I’d say my sleight of hand has gotten pretty nifty.

DRP: Just a couple of card tricks John Bulleid (UK Illusions Associate) taught me.

If you could create a brand new magic spell, what would it be and what would its effects be?

DRP: I’d like a trick that paused time for everyone but me, as I’m often running late or try to cram too much into my spare time. I’d call it “Pausio Timeo”.

JS: Easy, I would cast a spell that could put any meal I want in front of me.

Do you have a favourite scene or sequence in the show?

JS: I absolutely adore the final scene of the show. I think it’s such a beautiful ending to the story and a beautiful start to a new beginning of Albus’ relationship with his father. After all that they’ve been through over the course of the play, they finally understand each other.

DRP: Yes, like Joshua, it’s the last scene. We’ve been on a huge journey together, and then it’s just a father and son trying to connect.

In addition to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, what is another of the hottest tickets in town for you?

DRP: Inter Alia at the Wyndham’s Theatre looks amazing!

JS: I recently saw Les Mis, which was absolutely brilliant. I’ve got a mate in it, and it was my first time ever seeing it. I was also fortunate to catch All My Sons at the Wyndham Theatre while it had its run, so incredible, but I’m desperate to go see Paddington. I’ve heard nothing but amazing reviews, so that’s definitely next on the list.

As Harry / Albus, what are your top three spots in London, the ones either closest to your heart or the must-visits?

JS: I don’t know if I can do a top three, there’s just so many to choose from! Borough Market is one of them, I love going there once every few months or so. Then I would say Southbank around the National Theatre, it’s just so cool by the river with all the food trucks and bars. If I had to pick one more, I would say maybe Camden. I love looking around all the vintage clothes shops and, of course, the food courts as well.

DRP: Hampstead Heath is my favourite place in London. I also love the Southbank and the National Portrait Gallery.

What would you like audiences new to the production to take away from the show, and why would you like them to come back again and again?

JS: I would love for the audience to come away not only being blown away by the magic and spectacle of the show, but also by the humanity of the story. At the end of the day, it’s a story about a father and son struggling to learn how to love each other and about two boys trying to figure out their own identities. It just so happens that it takes place in the middle of a magical school somewhere deep in the Scottish Highlands that we muggles know absolutely nothing about.

DRP: I would like them to take away that ultimately, if we keep trying, we can connect with the ones we love, despite our differences.