J.K. Rowling took part in the London gala performances of
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Sunday, which included an intro from the author about bringing the eighth installment of her famous series to life, and discussing the necessity of ending institutionalization of children in orphanages around the world, which is the goal of her charity
Lumos.
SnitchSeeker was in attendance at Sunday's performances, and witnessed give an emotional speech about how children are in desperate need of aid and that Lumos is trying to help as best they can. The performances ended with Paul Thornley, who portrays Ron Weasley, telling the star-studded audience to donate further to the cause. One way to do so is to purchase the
'Be the Light' T-shirt, which many celebs wore, as shown below.
Those in attendance at Sunday's performances of
Cursed Child included Lumos ambassadors Warwick Davis, Evanna Lynch and Jason Isaacs, who discussed their participating in getting the word of the charity across the world earlier this year, F
antastic Beasts and Where to Find Them star Eddie Redmayne, Harry Potter producer David Heyman, director David Heyman, and many more.
J.K. Rowling today joined some of the cast members on stage at London’s Palace Theatre, home to the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, in support of Lumos and called for an end to the separation of millions of children from families in institutions and orphanages.
The author addressed an audience of Harry Potter fans of all ages prior to the special gala performance to benefit Lumos, the non-profit organisation she founded to help end the institutionalisation of children globally by 2050.
“Children need, deserve and have a right to families,” she said. “Thank you, from everyone at Lumos, for helping us achieve our ambition of bringing eight million children back into the light. It is, to paraphrase Albus Dumbledore, not easy, but it is right.”
Thanks to the generosity of the play’s producers - Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions - and Lumos’ 100% Pledge, all funds raised at the gala performance will go directly to Lumos’ work to transform the lives of some of the world’s most disadvantaged children. The special gala performance today is one of a series of events in the We Are Lumos Worldwide global campaign to raise awareness and urge people to get involved with the non-profit organisation’s work to bring the hidden children to light and get them home to families. The campaign was officially launched with a Facebook Live interview the previous evening (Saturday 17 September) between J.K. Rowling and writer and broadcaster, Lauren Laverne.
J.K. Rowling and cast members from the play also supported the launch of a new limited edition T-shirt. The ‘Be the Light’ T-shirts feature inspirational words from the author’s Very Good Lives Harvard commencement speech in 2008: “We do not need magic to transform our world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already”. They are available to buy now at www.represent.com/lumos. At least 60% of the retail price will go to support Lumos programmes around the world.
An estimated eight million children around the world live in orphanages and institutions. However, more than 80% have at least one living parent and the vast majority have relatives who could care for them in a family with some support.
Order the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book hardcover on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and WBShop now. 
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J.K. Rowling introduces 'Cursed Child' Lumos gala performances, attended by casts 
