Eve de Leon Allen, who plays Rose Granger-Weasley in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has been thrilling audiences at the Palace Theatre having joined the production just over five months ago. In this recent interview, Eve shared insights into their journey as an actor, their experience joining the cast, and the magic that makes this production truly special.
Eve’s love for acting began at a young age, inspired by classic films, “I’ve always wanted to do acting or performing in some capacity since I was a kid. I think I saw the Wizard of Oz and Singin’ in the Rain when I was three or four. I remember being like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s amazing. I want to do that'”. This early passion led Eve to pursue acting professionally, eventually landing them in the world of theatre after graduating from drama school.
Stepping into the Wizarding World
Joining the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child marked a significant milestone for Eve. “This is the first time I’ve done a play,” they explain, “But I think of it as a non-musical musical, because it is so theatrical and full of dance and crazy magic. It’s great fun. I love it”.
The audition process was intense, with Eve going through about five rounds before receiving the life-changing call, “It was weird, though, sometimes you just get a feeling about something. I’ve had it before with other shows that I’ve done where throughout the audition process, I’ve just been like, ‘Yeah, this feels right. This feels good'”.
As Rose Granger-Weasley, Eve portrays a character with a complex dynamic in the story. They describe Rose as “the guiding person in Rose and Albus’s relationship,” referring to Rose’s cousin, son of Harry, and fellow Hogwarts student. Eve brings their own interpretation to the role, focusing on Rose’s softer side.
“I really try to find her softness and care because I think she can come off as quite abrasive. I didn’t grow up with siblings, but I think for people who did, Albus and Rose might as well be siblings, they’ve grown up together and spent so much time together… I’ve really tried to bring a softness to her scenes and a care for her relationship with Albus, and also Scorpius.”
The Magic Behind the Scenes
One of the most exciting aspects for Allen was discovering how the show’s famous magical effects are achieved. “It was mind-blowing. Actually discovering how everything works was insane,” Eve says. “I’m really trying not to give anything away here… but let’s just say I had my own ideas about how things were done, and when I found out about how they were actually done, I was like, ‘Oh, I had it wrong. I was so wrong'”.
Eve emphasises the collaborative effort required to bring the magic to life, praising the dedication of the entire team, “none of the magic would work if we didn’t have every single person in the show doing it… It is mind-blowing how much effort and care has been put into every single piece of magic and how seamlessly it blends”.
The Two-Part Experience
Performing in a two-part production presents unique challenges and rewards. “It’s really great. There’s no other show that does that, it takes you on a journey throughout the entire day, or across two days depending how you choose to watch” Eve says. While acknowledging the physical demands, they appreciate the opportunity to fully immerse themself in the story and bond with their castmates.
“It is tiring. It is a marathon. You have to pace yourself. But it is great because you just get to live it, it’s just the whole day of being on stage, which is what I love doing. So it works out great”.
Eve hopes everyone can experience the magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. “It’s such a beautiful show,” they say. “Every aspect of it, the set, the lighting, the magic, the characters, it’s all really beautiful”.
They emphasise that the show appeals to both dedicated fans and newcomers alike, “it is a spectacle for sure, and that is part of the reason why people come to see it, because you see stuff that you haven’t seen before. You see incredible magic. You see a continuing story from the books and the films, which you don’t have to be completely familiar with to come. But if you are and you are a fan, you will love it because it has those characters and it’s an extension of what has come before”.
As Eve de Leon Allen continues to bring Rose Granger-Weasley to life on stage, they remain grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a beloved production. Their passion for performance and appreciation for the entire team’s efforts shine through, “I can’t stress enough how many people it takes to pull off this show every day. We’re lucky as actors, because we get to go out every night and take a bow, but there are so many people behind the scenes, working tirelessly to bring to life the magic that is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child starring Eve de Leon Allen is currently playing at the Palace Theatre, ticket information can be found here.
