Harry potter comes to stratford circus

By Lucy Walters on March 20, 2008 10:25 AM |

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Cramming all seven Harry Potter books into a 70-minute stage show is no mean feat – especially when there are only two of you.

But Blue Peter favourites Dan and Jeff have done just that in Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience and they’ll be bringing a touch of Hogwarts magic to Stratford Circus this weekend.

With Jeff taking the role of boy wizard Harry, Dan, who used to live in Canning Town, has his work cut out – playing every other character.

“It’s a good way to lose weight!” he said. “I love playing all the evil characters. Voldemort is probably my favourite just because you have this poor ‘great evil wizard’ who is always being beaten by a 12-year-old boy.

“And I have to play both Ron and Hermione so with them finally kissing in the last book it’s a bit like falling in love with myself.”

Dan and Jeff used to make regular appearances on the Blue Peter book club and were initially challenged to do the first five books in five minutes prior to the launch of the sixth book.

The reaction was good and with the publication of the seventh and final book they went on to expand Potted Potter and have since taken it to the Edinburgh Festival and Trafalgar Studios in the West End.

“I was a huge fan of the books,” Dan said. “I’m one of those people who was there at midnight at the launch of the books. By the time the third book came out I had finally picked one up and then I was hooked.

“Being great fans with enormous respect for J.K.Rowling and what she has done, we always get in touch with her team at Bloomsbury with our scripts.”

But Potted Potter is not just for Harry fans – it also aims to provide a neat summary for people who aren’t sure what all the fuss is about.

“We like to think we’re here to help,” said Dan. “We have hardcore fans and those who come down to watch the show so they can find out what it’s all about and finally join in the water cooler conversations.

“We do try and put in plot but we sometimes knock out 500 pages just to get in a silly wig and a funny accent.”

The show also boasts the world’s only live Quidditch game complete with audience participation, quaffles and a golden snitch.

“The dads get really into it and by the second round of Quidditch they’re pushing kids out the way to get to the goals,” Dan said. “It’s great fun to watch.”

Dan and Jeff are currently working on Potted Pirates – everything you need to know about pirates in an hour – which will premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Festival including Dan as Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow.

- Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience is at Stratford Circus in Theatre Square at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm on Saturday (March 22). Tickets cost £10/£8. Call 020 8279 1015 to book.
lucy.walters@wharf.co.uk