Two years ago, Harry Acklowe was a Musical Theatre student in his final year as a BA (Hons) student at Emil Dale Academy; deep in rehearsals for his final agent showcase and preparing to step into the industry. Little did he know that he would be cast as Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (West End) before he’d had time to put on a graduation cap and gown. Acklowe is now celebrating a successful two-year run in the role.
Having originally auditioned for Albus Potter, Harry never imagined that just weeks later, he’d be asked to read for another role entirely - Scorpius Malfoy.
“I didn’t even know I was in the running for Scorpius,” Harry told Theatre Weekly. “One day, they asked me to try it, and everything shifted.”
Not long after, over breakfast at his dining table, the call came through; Harry was going to have his West End debut in one of the most technically complex (and magical) productions in theatre, playing a character that would define his first two years in the industry.
Harry has now performed over 500 shows at London’s Palace Theatre, bringing Scorpius Malfoy to life in front of thousands in his remarkable two-year run.
He’s even been invited to help workshop material for international productions - a rare experience for any early-career performer, and one that’s given him insight into how a blockbuster show continues to evolve nearly a decade on.
“For me, the reason Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has lasted is the extraordinary care taken to preserve the magic that made it unique from day one,” he told LondonTheatre.co.uk.
Now, as Harry prepares to take his final bow after two magical years, one thing feels certain: this is only the beginning
