On Saturday, September 17, Lumos launched its We Are Lumos Worldwide campaign with a special Facebook Live chat with J.K. Rowling. Yesterday, J.K. Rowling was at a special gala performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in aid of Lumos. The press release notes that
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.
Before the performance, Lumos hosted a special ambassadors event to profile their work. Among the ambassadors were Potter cast members Jason Isaacs, Evanna Lynch, and Warwick Davis.
And this is now our new favourite trio! #WeAreLumos #HarryPotter pic.twitter.com/BDEurCmYjc
— MuggleNet Live (@MuggleNetLive) September 18, 2016
The three actors joined Lumos Chief Executive Georgette Mulheir and President of Lumos USA Billy DiMichele for a Q&A session to discuss the latest projects and the trips Lynch and Davis have made on behalf of Lumos. Mulheir also talked of the importance of raising awareness, as many people don’t understand the scale of the issue, something the current T-shirt campaign is looking to tackle.
Wearing our @lumos t-shirts with pride! Who's got there's already? #WeAreLumos https://t.co/voXkcw8Bvx… pic.twitter.com/vf3MD08C2r
— MuggleNet Live (@MuggleNetLive) September 18, 2016
The limited edition “Be the Change” Lumos T-shirt is currently available to buy now. Make sure you get yours before it’s too late!
Shortly after the briefing, the Cursed Child gala event commenced. Preceding the show, Rowling herself spoke to the packed Palace Theatre audience, discussing her pride in the show, how she believes she “got it right” in allowing Sonia Friedman to adapt Harry Potter for the stage, and of course, the charity’s amazing work.
Children need, deserve and have a right to families. 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.
Now waiting backstage at #CursedChild, ready to give speech about @lumos. I really need a more exciting rider. pic.twitter.com/BnfzBQgpru
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 18, 2016
Spot the relief – speech over – and the @lumos T-shirt! Thank you to EVERYONE who's bought one so far! Xxx pic.twitter.com/oPCrDdxoKS
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 18, 2016
Just to add to the special occasional of the gala, audiences were treated to an exclusive performance by Stuart Ramsay as Harry Potter, due to the illness of Jamie Parker. While he may have lacked some of the flair of Parker’s Harry, it was a very strong performance, not least considering the pressure of this particular event.
Thank you to Stuart Ramsay and the cast of @HPPlayLDN for an amazing gala event today #WeAreLumos pic.twitter.com/WauB8CaCS1
— Lumos (@lumos) September 18, 2016
You can read more about the special gala performance in the press release below.
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