J.K. Rowling's Blog, page 10

Further details of the exhibition at the British Library in 2017, to celebrate twenty years since the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, have been announced.

We’re delighted to confirm that the exhibition will be entitled Harry Potter: A History of Magic and will combine original material from the private archives of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury with centuries-old treasures from the British Library’s world-class collection, focusing on the theme of the History of Magic.

The structure of the exhibition has been inspired by the subjects Harry and his friends study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, from Potions and Herbology to Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures.

The exhibition will run from 20th October 2017 to 28th February 2018, at the British Library in London just a (Philosopher’s) stone’s throw from Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station!

For an interview with the British Library’s curator on Pottermore, please click here.

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J.K. Rowling, author, screenwriter and founder of international children’s organisation, Lumos, and Academy Award winning actor, Eddie Redmayne (a.k.a. Newt Scamander), opened a special advance screening of Warner Bros. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on Saturday 12th November on the Perelman Stage in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium.

In front of nearly 3,000 guests, they discussed the work of Lumos in helping children around the world leave orphanages and institutions and return to family life.

“We know children who are raised in institutions suffer developmental delays, that they tend to be physically stunted, they normally have psychological trauma,’ said J.K. Rowling. ‘It is just not what nature intended for children – to be herded together and not given individual love and care. This is an entirely solvable issue. Lumos’ ambition – and we believe it’s achievable – is that by 2050, we will have ended institutionalisation globally.”

Jo went on to encourage people – and particularly young people – in the audience to get involved with the non-profit organisation’s work.  She spoke of the urgent need to change minds, to do a little research, and support families to stay together.

Eddie and Jo went on to talk about the new film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They were joined on stage by director David Yates and cast members Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol, before introducing this special charity screening of the film.

You can watch part of the conversation between Jo and Eddie here.

This event was part of We Are Lumos Worldwide, a global campaign to raise awareness of Lumos’ greatest goal: to bring to light the eight million children hidden away in orphanages around the world, and help them back into family homes.  All proceeds, from both box office ticket sales and an online sweepstake, are going directly to support Lumos in its work.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them went on general release six days later, on November 18th, in cinemas around the world.

Lumos – www.wearelumos.org

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the stage play based on an original story by J.K.Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, has won the Best Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, whilst the production was nominated for eleven What’sOnStage theatre awards – more than any other production.

The Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play was collected on 14th November 2016 by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, who told Pottermore:

“This play was made with blood, sweat and love. Working on this show has been the greatest of things – and I know John, Jo and I could not have asked for better people to work with. The Cursed Child world is one of technical genius, acting greatness and producing prowess. This [award] is a cherry on top of a really elaborate, sugary, spicy, wonderful cake.”

Lead actress Noma Dumezweni collected the award with John and Jack on behalf of J.K. Rowling, reading out a short message from Jo: “I am incredibly proud of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but Jack Thorne and John Tiffany must take all credit for shaping and crafting it. My endless thanks to them.”

The production has also received no fewer than eleven nominations ahead of next year’s WhatsOnStage Awards.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two is up for Best Play, while five of its cast members have also been shortlisted.  Other category nominations include Best Direction, Best Costumes, and Best Set Design. The annual awards, which are voted for by the public, will be announced on 19th February 2017.

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Filming is now under way for the BBC One TV adaptation of Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series.  British actor Tom Burke will star as war veteran turned private detective Cormoran Strike, with Holliday Grainger playing his ever-enthusiastic assistant Robin Ellacott.

The Strike Series, which will air on BBC One, is based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling crime novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith: The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, and Career Of Evil.

“I’m overjoyed to be immersing myself in the role of Cormoran Strike who is as complex as he is larger than life,” says Burke. “I know I’m joining an extraordinary team of people on a series that for me is peppered with moments of real emotional depth and meticulously grounded in the page-turning momentum of these novels. Cormoran’s world is rich and raw.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the talented creative team behind ‘The Strike Series’, especially with the role of Robin Ellacott,” says Grainger. “Her grounded strength and intelligence is going to be a joy to explore. I can’t wait to dive straight into the wit and grit of Strike’s cannily well observed London.”

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BBC 6 Music Host Lauren Laverne talks to author and Lumos founder J.K. Rowling to officially launch the campaign ‘We Are Lumos Worldwide’. The campaign shines a bright light on the lives of the eight million children living in orphanages worldwide  and the work Lumos is doing to help bring them back into family life. Lumos actually means light – and you can play your part by wearing the campaign T-shirt with this message contained in a lightbulb: “We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.” (Who’d have thought you could fit so many words in a lightbulb?)

Lumos – www.wearelumos.org

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On 22nd September 2015, pottermore.com revealed its newly imagined website and positioning as the digital heart of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, with a major redesign and packed with exclusive writing, features, and news. New writing by J.K. Rowling continues to be at the core of the site which also features a never before seen article by the author, revealing the history of the wizarding Potter family from its illustrious beginnings in the twelfth century.

The new version of pottermore.com is an English-language site only and is a flexible and evolving digital platform for the Wizarding World. The Harry Potter eBooks and digital audio books remain available to buy in multiple languages via the Pottermore Shop.

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