The eighth instalment of the Harry Potter story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was released in Asia on Sunday morning.
Author JK Rowling’s latest work comes in the form of a script for the play with the same name, which premiered in London yesterday. Launch parties were held hours after the play premiered in London’s Palace Theatre. 31 July is also JK Rowling’s birthday.
On the other side of the world, nearly 300 fans rushed into Kinokuniya bookstore on Singapore’s Orchard Road at 7:01 am, becoming one of the first fans in the world to see the new script.
Samantha Chua, 24, was waiting outside the bookstore since 5am,
“We were here so early that the mall wasn’t even open yet so we had to come up through the cargo lifts.. [it was] all worth it…I grew up reading the books and I have a special place for them on my shelves but this will be my crowning glory.”
This eighth instalment is set 19 years after the end of the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and features an adult Potter, who is now working at the Ministry of Magic. Potter now has three children, with his wife Ginny Weasley. The story revolves around Potter helping his youngest son, Albus, confront the family’s dark past.
Other celebrations of the eight instalment’s release included a prize-giving ceremony in Singapore for a hunt for the ‘snitch’ – a ball used in the Rowling’s fictional wizard world’s sport, Quidditch.
40 fans in Bangkok armed with wands and other wizarding paraphernalia were seen gathering outside a large downtown mall overnight. Sanpipat Huangsawat, 29, was first in line. It took him 11 hours to finally get his hands on the book,
“I feel very excited and it’s great to be the first owner of this book in Thailand.”
Sheryans, 16, feared that he would not get another chance to see another Harry Potter book launch,
“I’ve been following the Harry Potter series since I was eight years old, and it’s unbelievable that after nine years they’re keeping it going,”
Dozens of fans adorned in Potter attire were also reported to be gathering at a downtown bookstore in Hong Kong to get their hands on the latest instalment F. An anxious 10 year old Adele Leung was eager to get her hands on a copy,
“I love Harry Potter and have read all of the last ones. I think I will read it in a few days.”
